Finding the teacher-nanny and house manager

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Reading an hour a day to a newborn... ok...

NP here and I hope to God you are not a nanny.

Yes, we read to our newborn for over an hour a day - generally in fifteen minute increments. Now an very verbal two-year-old, she loves books and can recognize any of the 200 books in her bookshelf and recite the title. Reading from birth is one of the most important things a parent or caregiver can do for their child. Google it. The research is plentiful.

I'm a parent of a child who read at 3.5 and still reads hours a day. Reading to your newborn an hour a day is very bizzare.

[Anonymous]

OP, if you have the money to pay a nanny $30/hr, id suck it up and go through an agency. You will get a lot better selection and won't have to put through the time and effort to weed through 3737733 crappy nannies on care or sittercty.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Reading an hour a day to a newborn... ok...

NP here and I hope to God you are not a nanny.

Yes, we read to our newborn for over an hour a day - generally in fifteen minute increments. Now an very verbal two-year-old, she loves books and can recognize any of the 200 books in her bookshelf and recite the title. Reading from birth is one of the most important things a parent or caregiver can do for their child. Google it. The research is plentiful.

I'm a parent of a child who read at 3.5 and still reads hours a day. Reading to your newborn an hour a day is very bizzare.

NP here. No, it is actually recommended. The more language a newborn hears - the better. Just look it up.

[Anonymous]

I hate working with children under 6 months. When I (infrequently) babysit that age, they never seem used to being held while having books read. I do have to agree though, I make sure all of my charges do a minimum of an hour of reading or listening to books per day. For a preschooler who is addicted to Robo-Sauce and Dragons Love Tacos (1 and 2), we alternate which one is checked out through the electronic library, then he has a week to have my phone read it to him as many times as he wants before we return it and get the next one. I don’t mind reading the same book ten times in a row, but he likes the way the robots and dragons sound when the author reads those, so...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Reading an hour a day to a newborn... ok...

NP here and I hope to God you are not a nanny.

Yes, we read to our newborn for over an hour a day - generally in fifteen minute increments. Now an very verbal two-year-old, she loves books and can recognize any of the 200 books in her bookshelf and recite the title. Reading from birth is one of the most important things a parent or caregiver can do for their child. Google it. The research is plentiful.

I'm a parent of a child who read at 3.5 and still reads hours a day. Reading to your newborn an hour a day is very bizzare.

NP here. No, it is actually recommended. The more language a newborn hears - the better. Just look it up.

And adult droning on reading from a book is not the kind of language and newborn needs. A newborn primarily needs language that is responsive and interactive. They are not learning words at this age, they are learning through the social connection of the call and response with their caregiver and they are learning the phonemes and adult droning on reading from a book is not the kind of language and newborn needs. A newborn primarily needs language that is responsive and interactive. They are not learning words at this age, they are learning through the social connection of the call and response with their caregiver and they are learning the phonemes which make up the specific language they are hearing, which are best learned not through Shakespeare, but through the universal way of talking to Babies, which researchers sometimes call “mother-ese“ and which is usually derided as baby talk.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No advice, just a comment:. You are crazy!

No, OP is not crazy. This is the future, PP. Now that we know how important the first three years of life are in shaping the intelligence of a child, the future is the educated, teacher nanny. As more parents are desirous and willing to pay for the college graduate in Early Childhood Development or Education, the more young women will move into the field and become nannies.

You expect all of this for $20/hr? Ha!

Who said anything about $20 an hour?! OP here and we expect to pay on the $28 to $30 range.

Friends have a brilliant nanny who has a masters degree and a former career as a teacher and writer. She is 58, amazing health and energy, and became a nanny four years prior to being hired by my friend. We want someone like her. She is paid $28 an hour now (started at $27 two years ago) and my friends pay her healthcare insurance. Another friend has a good nanny, a recent college graduate in Early Childhood Education, who has nannied prior to her college education. She is in her 20's and is paid $28 an hour to start. She isn't as good as the first nanny I mentioned but still good.

Both were found on care.com but after long, exhaustive searches. Both not only placed carefully worded ads but also searched profiles to find these nannies. I was hoping not to have to go thru that but will if need be.

I think your friends have been EXTREMELY lucky to find the nannies they have at $28/hr.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Reading an hour a day to a newborn... ok...

NP here and I hope to God you are not a nanny.

Yes, we read to our newborn for over an hour a day - generally in fifteen minute increments. Now an very verbal two-year-old, she loves books and can recognize any of the 200 books in her bookshelf and recite the title. Reading from birth is one of the most important things a parent or caregiver can do for their child. Google it. The research is plentiful.

I'm a parent of a child who read at 3.5 and still reads hours a day. Reading to your newborn an hour a day is very bizzare.

NP here. No, it is actually recommended. The more language a newborn hears - the better. Just look it up.

And adult droning on reading from a book is not the kind of language and newborn needs. A newborn primarily needs language that is responsive and interactive. They are not learning words at this age, they are learning through the social connection of the call and response with their caregiver and they are learning the phonemes and adult droning on reading from a book is not the kind of language and newborn needs. A newborn primarily needs language that is responsive and interactive. They are not learning words at this age, they are learning through the social connection of the call and response with their caregiver and they are learning the phonemes which make up the specific language they are hearing, which are best learned not through Shakespeare, but through the universal way of talking to Babies, which researchers sometimes call “mother-ese“ and which is usually derided as baby talk.

Why do you drone when you read?

[Anonymous]

I have three children all of whom revceived academic scholarships to top tier colleges. Two are now in Phi Beta Kappa. I was a SAHM and too damn busy to read to them, so horsehockey!

[Anonymous]

Where are you located, OP?

I am a former elementary school teacher and have been nannying full-time for 6.5 years now. I have considered starting my own agency and staffing only nannies with the qualifications you’re seeking. Unfortunately, I think employers like you are few and far between. Too many people want the easy (cheap) way out.

[Anonymous]

My lesson learned. You'll never find it. Lower your expectations.

If there was a person who was capable of everything you said, they'd have other better career opportunities. Jobs that paid more, gave more flexibility, more RESPECT from others.

Nannies are usually nannies because their job options are something along the lines of .... taking care of babies, working at a call center, selling Avon to friends or whatever else they have these days, or target/Walmart. Of those options, those who have strong personalities (can't be told what to do) usually pick the nanny profession because there is no other grownup watching their back.

You could write a sociology paper on this topic. Anyway... conclusion, you'll never find what you are looking for. The good news is that kids turn out great even if you don't have those things and can't find that nanny. So don't despair.

Even the Elementary School Teacher... she could wax poetry about how much she likes working with kids one on one. Call me jaded after all these years but... if she became a fully qualified Elementary School Teacher.. which takes years of training, then it must've been hard to change the status quo, make a life changing decision to go into another career field. What could that be? There was something major to make her forgo all of that training and throw away all the investment of her years working as an Elementary School Teacher. Why did the nanny profession look so good to her at that point? She couldn't take the politics at the school? Couldn't stay organized? Couldn't handle the kids? It was something that she was not cut out for. I wish her the best and everyone deserves a fair wage but honestly, putting your expectations on anyone, even a former Elementary School Teacher seems unfair.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have three children all of whom revceived academic scholarships to top tier colleges. Two are now in Phi Beta Kappa. I was a SAHM and too damn busy to read to them, so horsehockey!

I loathe posts like this. First, you cannot prove a negative - meaning you have no clue how much better off your children would have been had you read to them - like gotten into an IVY or true top university (the Ivys and top universities don't give academic scholarships). Perhaps they could have been inventors or innovators while in college. You have no idea how much better off they would have been since you didn't do it. Second, you are comparing your kids IQs to another child who may or may not have as high a natural IQ - why would you disregard the proof that reading helps. Third, why the hell is a grown woman without the need for a nanny posting on a nanny forum?! Get a life, Grandma!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

My lesson learned. You'll never find it. Lower your expectations.

If there was a person who was capable of everything you said, they'd have other better career opportunities. Jobs that paid more, gave more flexibility, more RESPECT from others.

Nannies are usually nannies because their job options are something along the lines of .... taking care of babies, working at a call center, selling Avon to friends or whatever else they have these days, or target/Walmart. Of those options, those who have strong personalities (can't be told what to do) usually pick the nanny profession because there is no other grownup watching their back.

You could write a sociology paper on this topic. Anyway... conclusion, you'll never find what you are looking for. The good news is that kids turn out great even if you don't have those things and can't find that nanny. So don't despair.

Even the Elementary School Teacher... she could wax poetry about how much she likes working with kids one on one. Call me jaded after all these years but... if she became a fully qualified Elementary School Teacher.. which takes years of training, then it must've been hard to change the status quo, make a life changing decision to go into another career field. What could that be? There was something major to make her forgo all of that training and throw away all the investment of her years working as an Elementary School Teacher. Why did the nanny profession look so good to her at that point? She couldn't take the politics at the school? Couldn't stay organized? Couldn't handle the kids? It was something that she was not cut out for. I wish her the best and everyone deserves a fair wage but honestly, putting your expectations on anyone, even a former Elementary School Teacher seems unfair.

You are wrong, PP. I am a retired writer and preschool teacher who currently loves being a nanny. I did my "thing" and am now thrilled to be working one-on-one with these amazing little beings. I know I am a rarity - but I exist. I have a BA in education and a masters in liberal arts.

OP can find a great nanny because she knows exactly what she wants - and is willing to pay for it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Where are you located, OP?

I am a former elementary school teacher and have been nannying full-time for 6.5 years now. I have considered starting my own agency and staffing only nannies with the qualifications you’re seeking. Unfortunately, I think employers like you are few and far between. Too many people want the easy (cheap) way out.

OP here. I am in Los Angeles (westside). I think you should start your own agency, PP. There are more and more employers like me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

My lesson learned. You'll never find it. Lower your expectations.

If there was a person who was capable of everything you said, they'd have other better career opportunities. Jobs that paid more, gave more flexibility, more RESPECT from others.

Nannies are usually nannies because their job options are something along the lines of .... taking care of babies, working at a call center, selling Avon to friends or whatever else they have these days, or target/Walmart. Of those options, those who have strong personalities (can't be told what to do) usually pick the nanny profession because there is no other grownup watching their back.

You could write a sociology paper on this topic. Anyway... conclusion, you'll never find what you are looking for. The good news is that kids turn out great even if you don't have those things and can't find that nanny. So don't despair.

Even the Elementary School Teacher... she could wax poetry about how much she likes working with kids one on one. Call me jaded after all these years but... if she became a fully qualified Elementary School Teacher.. which takes years of training, then it must've been hard to change the status quo, make a life changing decision to go into another career field. What could that be? There was something major to make her forgo all of that training and throw away all the investment of her years working as an Elementary School Teacher. Why did the nanny profession look so good to her at that point? She couldn't take the politics at the school? Couldn't stay organized? Couldn't handle the kids? It was something that she was not cut out for. I wish her the best and everyone deserves a fair wage but honestly, putting your expectations on anyone, even a former Elementary School Teacher seems unfair.

You couldn’t be more wrong about this, but I appreciate your opinion on the topic. I absolutely ADORED teaching. No doubt in my mind, I was born to teach. Problem is, I wasn’t spending the majority of my time teaching. Instead, I spent countless hours making sub plans so that someone less qualified could do my job while I administered assessment after assessment, filled out endless amounts of paperwork on said assessments, and went to meetings where said paperwork was never discussed or needed. I was SUPER organized, had classroom management skills that were second to none, and was absolutely crushed when I realized that the only career I’d ever dreamed of having was not at all what I wanted to do for the rest of my life.

To assume I “threw away” my training and the years I spent in the classroom couldn’t be more incorrect. My education, training, and experience is exactly why I am as marketable as I am. I now have a career where I get to focus on actual TEACHING. No paperwork. No tests. No unnecessary meetings. Kids and learning and FUN. The fact that my salary has more than doubled with this career change is an added bonus. I make more as a nanny than I would have EVER made as a classroom teacher. When my first nanny family moved a year and a half ago, I was snatched up so quickly by friends of theirs, that I didn’t even have to worry about searching for a new job. Some families want a “nanny like me” and are willing and able to pay for the level of professionalism I provide.

OP does not have unreasonable expectations and I wish her the best of luck in her search.

[Anonymous]

OP, I am a professional nanny with twenty five years of experience and you basically described my dream job.