Nannes, is it hard for you to find friends?
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Anonymous
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I work 50-60 hours a week and obviously have no coworkers. It seems most people become friends with coworkers, and in this profession it can be isolating.
I don't really belong in STAHM groups, and always feel really weird going to them with my charges. I wish there was a way for me to make friends easier, or a group for nannies to meet up with our charges or a parenting group that was more welcoming to nannies. |
Anonymous
| *nannies |
Anonymous
| Where do you live? |
Anonymous
| I agree but I tend to be a bit introverted which doesn't help. I have met up with a nannies group in my area once or twice but I didn't really click with the other nannies I met. They seemed a little strange. Probably bad luck and I should keep trying. |
Anonymous
| I really wouldn't want to be friend with another nanny, they really are a bitchy bunch. But I have plenty of other friends. |
Anonymous
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I haven't made any nanny friends (or any real friends for that matter) but I do enjoy spending time with some of the mothers and grandmothers in play group and music class.
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Anonymous
| Do meetup.com. Less sketchy than it sounds. It lists all the clubs you can join in your area, from hiking to book clubs, etc! |
Anonymous
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There is a very active nanny group in the DC metro area. ADCAN ~ Association of DC Area Nannies has monthly meetings, socials, nannies meet for playdates, play group outings, etc.
www.dcareanannies.com. I know they have a meeting on the 17th in McLean, a play date outing to National Building Museum, Lunch and a movie at Tysons, a Valentine party in early feb, ice skating the end of february, and many more things planned throughout the year. |
Anonymous
What's the leadership like? |
Anonymous
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Not quite sure what you mean by 'what's the leadership like". It's a casual group, run by nannies. It was founded by nannies, and continues to be run by local nannies. Leadership is made up of nannies, including 2 INA Nanny of the Year recipients, and they care for ages newborn to teenagers. They realize that everyone is busy, and that the group covers a vast area - DC, VA and MD and work hard to bring events to each area, and work hard to bring educational speakers and topics to the meetings.
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Anonymous
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I have been a nanny for years, and relocated to a new town on the other side of the country two years ago. I had friends in DC, where I'm from, but found it incredibly difficult to make friends in the new city. I work 50 hours per week. I'm always meeting parents at play groups and parks but every time the conversation goes the same: they seem interested in chatting, until they find out I'm a nanny. Then they end the conversation pretty abruptly. Of course, when I'm out with my charges and see other adults (without kids) then the conversation is over before it started; they assume I'm a parent and are less interested in talking to me.
I also don't drink, which definitely makes it hard because meeting people at bars is popular here. I've tried meetup.com before, i went on a hiking meet up, a kayaking meet up, a board game meet up, and a knitting meet up. They were all a total bust; the hiking and kayaking groups were mostly older folks, the knitters were really rude and snooty, and the board game folks all already knew each other which made it hard (they were all chatting about their friends and "last weekend" so I had nothing to contribute to the conversation). Sometimes it's just plain hard to make friends, and being a nanny is, in my opinion, by far one of the worst professions for making new friends. I've managed to make some friends here, but I've met them all through craigslist (which is not a particularly safe, easy, or recommended way of meeting new people). |
Anonymous
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being a nanny can be VERY isolating. there are several online facebook groups for nannies ... nanny care tribe, nanny sisters, professional nanny chat, just to name a couple. there are even specialty groups ... nanny moms - nannies who bring their own kids with them to work, nannies for divorced parents, baby-wearing nannies, nannies who work for families in the military ... and so many more. There is a list of nanny groups across the country at www.nannygroups.com to see if there is one in your area.
I also have had luck meeting others by attending conferences such as INA, Nannypalooza and National Nanny Training Day. Agencies will also hold training events at their offices and these are great opportunities to meet other nannies. Good luck! |