Am I burnt out, bored with this specific job, or do I really just not like being a nanny?

[Anonymous]

Here's my story below, nannies please give me your opinion on what you think in regards to my question above, thanks!!

I've been a nanny since I was 17. I took a job just out of high school for a family with one child (infant 2 months at the time). The job was in the town I was set to enroll in college in. I started school and continued the job with a very flexible schedule (thanks to wahmb!) 2 years into school and the job I decided I really really liked nannying and would finish out my bachelors (in education anyway) and keep nannying for a while until I saved enough money and eventually want to get my masters and EdD. Well now it's 5 years later, I'm still with my original nanny family I started with, I have my bachelors degree, but I just feel so bored in nannying. I was planning to nanny for at least 5 more years! The thing is I have only very small complaints about my job. The parents are phenomenal, kids are like my own (they now have two and they are now 5 & 4 and both with me full time, my schedule is still flexible, and the pay is great too. The kids can be a little whiny and overly attached to me, so on a day when Im tired it can be annoying but a lot of the time I'm flattered by how attached they are to me. MB works from home, so sometimes she's overprotective, but again I've been her for 5 years so I'm totally used to her personality and parenting style. They don't make me or ask me to do anything besides care for the kids. They treat me like their own daughter and I really feel like family. We do things on the weekend togeter, I often go out to eat with them, and I'm even the kids guardian should anything happen to both parents! So when I say we're like family, we really are. Anyway in the last few weeks, I've just seemed to become bored with work. Coming in, doing the same things every day...in the past I was never tired and enjoyed playing and teaching all day, but now I just feel like I'd rather sit on my phone while they play (which doesn't happen, but it's what I'd love to be doing!) I've even been off since last Thursday because they're visiting family out of state and I'm so happy to have this break! I feel fantastic. In the past I'd be missing the kids so much by now but right now I'm not really so much. Maybe the break will do me some good (since I don't go back till next Monday) but I really don't know!

I'm sad because I truly love this family, and planned to stay with them until both kids are off to kindergarten, but I fear I won't be happy doing that! Nannies, have you ever felt this way? I can't ruin the relationship, because I just would rather be unhappy for another year than never see them ever again. Is there a way to change up routine that could make things more fun? Ideas anyone?

[Anonymous]

What is your daily schedule like? It's hard to say if changing it up would help without knowing what you do now.

[Anonymous]

I think you need to start separating your work life from your personal, off-hours life. You're burnt out. Cultivate an active life outside of work and make sure you take vacations regularly. If you still are burnt out, you will need to find a different line of work. It's easy to let inertia make the big decisions.

[Anonymous]

Ok op here:

Here's an example sched. And it's pretty much this every day with very small things changed:

8am:
Arrival
Get kids ready (or help) dress/brush teeth/hair
Breakfast
Playtime

10am:
Practice letters, math, writing, something academic here for about an hour. They love learning put this is our time that is specifically preparing them both for the things they'll need to know for K.

11am:
Do something outside. We've done a lot of swimming lately. But we will ride bikes, or play sports outside too.
(One day a week this actually takes place in the form of a play date with another mom and her two kids--and we will do lunch together and spend most of the afternoon together.)

1pm:
Lunch
Kids get to watch a show (30 min) while I clean up/take a breather.

2-2:30pm
Art project of some kind. They LOVE crafts, sometimes we will bake or do like a science experiment here.

3:30ish
Back outside or playtime inside depending on everyone's mood and how busy our day has been! Sometimes during this time we will run errands for mb or make short fun trips like to the library or the park.

5pm
I'm off.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think you need to start separating your work life from your personal, off-hours life. You're burnt out. Cultivate an active life outside of work and make sure you take vacations regularly. If you still are burnt out, you will need to find a different line of work. It's easy to let inertia make the big decisions.

While I agree this probably would help some idk. I do a lot with friends on the weekend and have a very busy social life outside of the things I do with them.

[Anonymous]

My first thought is that for years you were a student and a nanny, which fed your intellectual needs as well. Now, you're only nannying, and it may just not be enough for you.

Some suggestions:
Pick two days a week for off-site adventures. They don't nap, so you could rework the rest of the schedule on those days.

Take a class, like a cooking class either on your own in the evenings, or with them during the day -- something to give you something to work on, too.

[Anonymous]

I agree with the previous poster. Being a nanny can be very isolating and it sounds like you are not getting much adult interaction since you stopped being a student.

Since the kids don't nap, I would start planning more out and about adventures/play dates. Do you know any other nannies or moms with kids similar ages? I know you have the one play date a week, but think everyone could benefit from more social interaction.

[Anonymous]

Ohh very boring for some .
You have nothing only income
No time to create family or study. You are tottaly izolated. Plus most izolated nanny creating trouble with other workers in the house it is became major problem of many household. Only eat and gossip

[Anonymous]

I would go back to part time.
I would find part time work at a school. Many daycare centers want part time pre-k or kindergarten teachers.
You can still keep your nanny family and gain some classroom experience and have some socialization during the work week.

[Anonymous]

This reply arrives a few years after your original post. I decided to write and check in with you with the question, "Did you end up staying with your nanny family?" I am a nanny as well- schooled in human services and taking a year or so off; human services is a heavy occupation.
Nannying and boredom go hand in hand, in my experience. The boy (19 mo.) is a real sweetheart but guess what- staying enthusiastic 100% of the time is a challenge as I have to "dumb down" my brain.
It sounds to me as if you were ready for a change. Simple.
Did you leave or did you stay?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This reply arrives a few years after your original post. I decided to write and check in with you with the question, "Did you end up staying with your nanny family?" I am a nanny as well- schooled in human services and taking a year or so off; human services is a heavy occupation.
Nannying and boredom go hand in hand, in my experience. The boy (19 mo.) is a real sweetheart but guess what- staying enthusiastic 100% of the time is a challenge as I have to "dumb down" my brain.
It sounds to me as if you were ready for a change. Simple.
Did you leave or did you stay?

If you’re bored as a nanny, do something else. Children should not have paid caregivers who dread or don’t like what they do.

[Anonymous]

This year has been really hard for everyone. I am bored in a job I normall yabsolutely love.

[Anonymous]

This is a seven-year-old thread.