I want to be a nanny when I grow up.

[Anonymous]

Did anyone dream of being a nanny when they were little and then became it? Because they love working with children?

Not "after my kids grew up or after I did xyz, I looked at what professions were available to me and since I loved working with my children, I became a nanny." but someone who could've chosen to be anything and became a nanny?

Please share your story. Since when did you want to be a nanny and is it all that you'd thought it would be?

[Anonymous]

This is depressing and makes me want to quit my job. I have a degree and used to teach kindergarten but enjoy nannying more, some aspects anyway. But I feel it’s look down on no matter what difference we may make in our charges lives.

[Anonymous]

*looked

[Anonymous]

pp, what made you quit being a Kindergarten teacher? That profession is not looked down upon. There is room to grow as well. You can teach different grades, become a specialist teacher, maybe even principle. You could teach at a tutoring center after you teach some upper grades and make a lot more money. What made you give all that up?

[Anonymous]

*principal*

[Anonymous]

I did and then I changed my mind. It's exhausting if you're doing it right. You will probably burn out after a few years. You most likely want children some day, right? Don't burn out before you have your own.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I did and then I changed my mind. It's exhausting if you're doing it right. You will probably burn out after a few years. You most likely want children some day, right? Don't burn out before you have your own.

So you quit in preparation for having your own kids?

Why are you a nanny then?

How much appreciation do you think mothers get?

You don't want to get sick of low appreciation jobs before you have your own kids.

[Anonymous]

I honestly never thought about being a nanny. I didn't grow up with money and never knew anyone who had a nanny or was a nanny. After I got my Bachelors in ECE, I got a job at a prestigious preschool and HATED the parents. I decided to go back and get my Masters after five years of teaching and picked up a part time nanny job and LOVED IT. That was it. I never went back to teaching in a school (I teach my charge every day).

[Anonymous]

Second career for me. I am an older nanny and I retired from my previous profession young - I always loved kids and decided to try it. Best decision I ever made! I think this job is tailor made for a healthy, energetic older woman. I have a pension from my previous career and just love the day-to-day with my charges. Perfect world!

I work for a very wealthy and high profile family and I see all of their friends with college educated nannies as well - many with teaching experience. I do think this is the wave of the future for nannies. We are all well paid with full health and dental benefits. In my employers house there is a cook who makes the staff lunch every day as well as my charge's meals.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I did and then I changed my mind. It's exhausting if you're doing it right. You will probably burn out after a few years. You most likely want children some day, right? Don't burn out before you have your own.

So you quit in preparation for having your own kids?

Why are you a nanny then?

How much appreciation do you think mothers get?

You don't want to get sick of low appreciation jobs before you have your own kids.

I am still a nanny and getting appreciation has nothing to do with why I don't want to be a forever nanny. Most nanny jobs do not offer benefits and the parents are difficult to work with. It's more like a hobby job. Your dh needs to be making a higher salary or you live with roommates etc. I know some nannies are able to earn a higher income in dc but it's not the norm. They probably don't bring their children to work and work long hours. What will op do when she has children? Send them to daycare? The main reason I can't recommend this job is because you will eventually burn out. There's a reason you don't meet a lot of forever nannies or daycare workers.

[Anonymous]

Get a college degree - preferably in Early Childhood Development/Education and get a few years of work in at a large daycare center or preschool. Learn sign language and get certified in sleep training and certainly CPR. Dress well, present yourself well and sign with a top agency. Then you can earn between $25 and $30 an hour with benefits with a wealthy family.

[Anonymous]

I got trapped being a nanny because I didn’t have a loan co-signer to allow me to complete my last year of college. I had a 3.8 average. I hate all elements of my job except the kid. I got married two years ago to someone who makes a much better salary; I’ll be leaving to start our own family soon and will probably pursue different employment down the road. Literally any other job is better than this; I feel like I’m a nanny for lazy adults more than the child. I have good memories of other families but this current one blows.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I got trapped being a nanny because I didn’t have a loan co-signer to allow me to complete my last year of college. I had a 3.8 average. I hate all elements of my job except the kid. I got married two years ago to someone who makes a much better salary; I’ll be leaving to start our own family soon and will probably pursue different employment down the road. Literally any other job is better than this; I feel like I’m a nanny for lazy adults more than the child. I have good memories of other families but this current one blows.

Why couldn't you transfer to a less expensive university and get a job, paying for school as you went?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I got trapped being a nanny because I didn’t have a loan co-signer to allow me to complete my last year of college. I had a 3.8 average. I hate all elements of my job except the kid. I got married two years ago to someone who makes a much better salary; I’ll be leaving to start our own family soon and will probably pursue different employment down the road. Literally any other job is better than this; I feel like I’m a nanny for lazy adults more than the child. I have good memories of other families but this current one blows.

Why couldn't you transfer to a less expensive university and get a job, paying for school as you went?

Finish your degree, PP - no matter what it takes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Get a college degree - preferably in Early Childhood Development/Education and get a few years of work in at a large daycare center or preschool. Learn sign language and get certified in sleep training and certainly CPR. Dress well, present yourself well and sign with a top agency. Then you can earn between $25 and $30 an hour with benefits with a wealthy family.

+1 Working for parents who are just getting by or want a maid more than a teacher will never bring you job satisfaction.