I don't think I'm cut out to be a nanny anymore.

[Anonymous]

I've been the nanny for a sweet baby since his birth but I feel so lonely during the day that I can't stand it. He's almost ten months now and is smart and interactive but I just crave adult conversation so much that I'm beginning to doubt my ability to be a good nanny for much longer. I'm exhausted from talking to him all day and pointing everything on earth out to him (which I know is exactly what he needs) that I count the hours left in my day until I can go home. On the other hand, when I sing him to sleep for his nap, I look at that magnificent little face and my heart swells! He trusts me so completely and always greets me in the morning with the biggest smile while he reaches for me. I doubt any other job would ever make me this happy to see my "boss".

I taught in a preschool for the last five years and thought that being a nanny would be a nice shift - and in many ways it has been. I love taking long walks with him during the day and being outside. I love having been present for all of his changes and developments since birth.

I don't know - maybe I'm just venting... Being a nanny is a physically hard and lonely job. I guess I am just realizing how hard it is...

[Anonymous]

You ARE the nanny good parents dream about.
Isolation is no good for anyone.
Not for mothers, and certainly not for nannies.
How might the problem be remedied, OP?

[Anonymous]

Even in just your short post, I think it's clear that you are an amazing nanny and that alone tells me you are cut out for the job. I don't have any advice for you but to stick with it for a while longer. I know when my children got older I felt infinitely less lonely during the day. Maybe you and your charge could join a play-group a couple times a week so at least you'd have mothers and other nannies to talk to for that hour.

I know that being a good nanny is a very difficult job. I truly wish you the best. (And I would love to call your MB and tell her how lucky she is to have you!)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Even in just your short post, I think it's clear that you are an amazing nanny and that alone tells me you are cut out for the job. I don't have any advice for you but to stick with it for a while longer. I know when my children got older I felt infinitely less lonely during the day. Maybe you and your charge could join a play-group a couple times a week so at least you'd have mothers and other nannies to talk to for that hour.

I know that being a good nanny is a very difficult job. I truly wish you the best. (And I would love to call your MB and tell her how lucky she is to have you!)

Not the OP, but I love your kind words of encouragement.
Thank you so very much.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've been the nanny for a sweet baby since his birth but I feel so lonely during the day that I can't stand it. He's almost ten months now and is smart and interactive but I just crave adult conversation so much that I'm beginning to doubt my ability to be a good nanny for much longer. I'm exhausted from talking to him all day and pointing everything on earth out to him (which I know is exactly what he needs) that I count the hours left in my day until I can go home. On the other hand, when I sing him to sleep for his nap, I look at that magnificent little face and my heart swells! He trusts me so completely and always greets me in the morning with the biggest smile while he reaches for me. I doubt any other job would ever make me this happy to see my "boss".

I taught in a preschool for the last five years and thought that being a nanny would be a nice shift - and in many ways it has been. I love taking long walks with him during the day and being outside. I love having been present for all of his changes and developments since birth.

I don't know - maybe I'm just venting... Being a nanny is a physically hard and lonely job. I guess I am just realizing how hard it is...

Don't worry OP, you're almost through the loneliest months! Once he's walking (and running and climbing) you'll meet nanny, au pair, mom, and/or grandma friends when you take him out to classes and activities. Do you go to a story time now, or anything like that? It makes a world of difference.

Hang in there, you sound like a wonderful nanny and you are almost through this stage!

[Anonymous]

i think you have to be fairly introverted to be a nanny. some people enjoy not being around other people all the time and would find a job that required it exhausting. Go with what fits your personality.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:i think you have to be fairly introverted to be a nanny. some people enjoy not being around other people all the time and would find a job that required it exhausting. Go with what fits your personality.

Maybe. But having zero adult communication/association all day long is over the top. Every normal adult deserves the option of forming adult/social relationships during the course of a fulltime job. Nannies don't sign up to become clandestine nuns, for God's sake.

[Anonymous]

As a one time SAHM I completely understand your feeling lonely, OP. I felt the same even though I was with my own child. It will get easier, as it has been suggested, once the boy gets a little older and you can spend time in the park playing with other children and having access to other nannies and parents.

You really do seem like a very responsible, caring nanny and the little guy and his parents are damn lucky to have you!! And I do also know that a nanny job done right is a very difficult job.

[Anonymous]

Why aren't you trying to meet other moms and nannies? Arrange play dates to give yourself some adult interaction.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As a one time SAHM I completely understand your feeling lonely, OP. I felt the same even though I was with my own child. It will get easier, as it has been suggested, once the boy gets a little older and you can spend time in the park playing with other children and having access to other nannies and parents.

You really do seem like a very responsible, caring nanny and the little guy and his parents are damn lucky to have you!! And I do also know that a nanny job done right is a very difficult job.

Nicely said, but OP should not wait any longer to start forming some daytime friendships.

[Anonymous]

You clearly are perfectly cut out to be a nanny, OP, and an excellent nanny at that. Please don't give up.

[Anonymous]

Where do you work, OP?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why aren't you trying to meet other moms and nannies? Arrange play dates to give yourself some adult interaction.

Agree with this. Our manny takes the kids out every single day to parks and story time and to people-watch, dog-watch near the dog park, to do errands, to farmers markets, etc. You gotta get out of the house, OP.

[Anonymous]

I'm the OP and I thank you all for your kind words.

Another teacher once told me that just when you feel you have to quit one of your students will do something that makes it all seem worthwhile - I had one of those moments this morning. My little charge and I were playing on the floor when he crawled over to me and he gave me a big, opened mouth kiss on my cheek for no reason. And then he sat back and gave me a huge smile. That should keep me going for another week or so.

My charge and I are out of the house all the time - we go for long walks, to the grocery store, to the park and to the library - I just don't get to talk to any other adults which is why I get so lonely. It's just little charge and me - for ten to eleven hours a day - with me talking/narrating to him nearly all the time. There are no baby classes in our area. No story time at our library. I just don't see many other nannies and the ones I do see generally are speaking to their other nanny friends in Spanish and I don't speak Spanish. I just get lonely - its okay.

We don't live in DC, in fact we are on the other side of the country.

I'll spend the rest of my weekend with friends and come Monday morning, I'll look forward to that big smile and the little chubby arms reaching for me.

Thank you again - I just really needed to vent this morning. It was a long, tiring and lonely week last week. But I'll be okay.

[Anonymous]

I hope your NF appreciates you, OP. You are giving that little boy a wonderful and secure start in life. I hope you can find someway to relieve the loneliness so that you'll stay his nanny.