Love my job but feel somewhat isolated...

[esilvera19]

I have been a full time live-out nanny in the Chevy Chase DC neighborhood for a little over a year. I love the family that I work for- the kids and parents are both fantastic. I am going to graduate school next year and I have been nannying as a way to make money for school. I'm 24 with a bachelor's degree and, while I do love my job, I sometimes find being a nanny fairly isolating. I watch a soon to be 2 year old during the day and then pick up her 5 year old sister after school. The 2 year old and I go on many walks and go to the park along with many other activities so we aren't stuck at home all day long. I have found it somewhat difficult to meet nannies around my age and make friends. I have met some people but I feel like since I'm not in a conventional office job with co-workers, it makes it harder to meet people my own age. Any advice on this? How can I meet some people my own age even with this non-traditional job?

[Anonymous]

Are you not seeing other nannies when you go out?

I've only ever felt isolated while working with young infants, because I chat up every parent or nanny I meet at playgrounds, splash parks, libraries, and community centers. Maybe you just need to get out of your comfort zone a little and approach people?

[Anonymous]

Btw, I far prefer meeting nannies to office coworkers. In an office you can't choose who you see every day, but as a nanny you can decide which folks you'd like to get together with.

[esilvera19]

I mean I see other nannies and I do my best to chat and be friendly. Most of the nannies I have met in the neighborhood are much older than I am and just at a different point in their lives/careers. They are super nice and friendly but it's not quite the same. I also talk and am friendly with many of the au pairs and parents I see as well. The issue is that it's not quite the same as really making friends to hang out with and do things with during my off work time.

I try to be very approachable and I'm not a shy person at all. I try to get out as much as I can with the 2 year old but there aren't many nannies my age in the neighborhood I guess.

[Anonymous]

Time to look elsewhere for friends then. Join a club, a league, or a meetup group.

It's a good rule to not count on your job for your friendships, no matter what you do. If you do connect with someone that's great, but even with an office full of 25 year olds you might not want to be more than casually friendly with any of them.

[Anonymous]

Join a few nanny groups there are a ton in your area. Make an effort to talk to at least 2 people a day when your out and about. Once you meet 1 good friend you will be all set its like a domino's effect 1 leads to many

For what its worth I was in your shoes when I moved to CA and didn't know anyone. It took me a good 3-4mo of actively looking for other nannies in the area/online/story times etc to find a group

[Anonymous]

1. Before you "graduate school" learn that the proper grammar would be "graduate FROM school."
2. Stop dismissing people as potential friends just because they're not in your age range.
3. You're in SCHOOL. If you can't make friends through school, you are totally screwed once you graduate. Everyone knows the easiest place to make friends is school.
4. Peruse Meet-Ups, peruse the local list-serve for friends.

[Anonymous]

Long hours of unusual isolation is a huge problems for many nannies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Long hours of unusual isolation is a huge problems for many nannies.

problem

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:1. Before you "graduate school" learn that the proper grammar would be "graduate FROM school."
2. Stop dismissing people as potential friends just because they're not in your age range.
3. You're in SCHOOL. If you can't make friends through school, you are totally screwed once you graduate. Everyone knows the easiest place to make friends is school.
4. Peruse Meet-Ups, peruse the local list-serve for friends.

hey PP - she's going to graduate school. you know, the school that comes after college? she's not currently IN school, so your third point isn't relevant either.

good for you for being snarky though. hope it made you feel better to put somebody else down

[Anonymous]

Being a nanny can be very isolating as well as lonely. Every day.

If you cannot meet other nannies at the park or library, perhaps join a nanny playgroup in your area.

Or you can ask your bosses if they know any other kids around your charge's age who you could set up playdates with.

[Anonymous]

Well first, to the person who was critical of my grammar- I'm not even sure what to really say about that. I'm sorry if I wasn't clear in my original post. I am not currently in school. I have a bachelor's degree already (I graduated from undergrad about a year ago). I will be going to Graduate School for my master's degree next year. Also, I don't discriminate against people who aren't my age. I would love friends of any age. I simply meant I find it challenging to meet nannies/ au pairs that I have a lot in common with. I think it's fairly safe to say that a 40 year old nanny might not want to hang out on the weekends with a 24 year old.

Second, thanks for all the advice about looking elsewhere such as meet ups and clubs. Since I'm still relatively new to the DC area I am not as familiar with all of the things it has to offer. I will absolutely do more research on that! I know one shouldn't count on a job to provide friends, I was mainly pointing out I think I may have more opportunities to meet people in a different job environment.

What are some good nanny groups to join? Like I said I am still new to DC and I'm not familiar with any of the nanny groups that are out there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:1. Before you "graduate school" learn that the proper grammar would be "graduate FROM school."
2. Stop dismissing people as potential friends just because they're not in your age range.
3. You're in SCHOOL. If you can't make friends through school, you are totally screwed once you graduate. Everyone knows the easiest place to make friends is school.
4. Peruse Meet-Ups, peruse the local list-serve for friends.

You are an idiot, PP. Graduate school is a noun - meaning a program after graduating from college where you attain an MA, MD, JD, etc.