I get bored with my charges, so I'll talk to almost everyone I see when we are out. I see a mom or a nanny with a baby close in age? "Aww he is so cute, how old is he? Have you checked out the playgroup at XYZ?" I see someone with a dog? "Larla, look at the dog. Dogs say woof. [to dog owner] she just recently started noticing dogs" I see a nanny with a young child? "I love your sparkly shoes!" Or "that's a really cool superhero shirt you have on"

I may not make lasting friendships from this, but at least I have a few minutes of conversation here and there. Also, my charges are now super friendly and love to wave and say hi to everyone.

The truth is that if you are being a great nanny you are lonely. Even with charges who are old enough to talk and communicate, it is not the same as adult conversation that non-nannies have every day with their fellow employees, clients, customers, bosses and patients. Even teachers in preschool have other teachers to talk and laugh with. An occasional playgroup is nice but 90% of our time, it will be us with our sole focus on our charges.

You will get used to it, OP, as long as you fill your off-hours with friends, family and entertainment. As much as I love to read and watch TV at home alone, I had to cut way, way back on my off-hours to get the adult contact that I need to sustain me for the rest of the work week.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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 for an extrovert. 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.

There, I fixed that for you.

No, you didn't. Grow up.

um, you're the one generalizing for every single nanny saying it's "over the top" when OP knew damn well what the job would be like before she took it. It's not over the top for an introverted human to not have endless conversation with other adults all day long. Not everyone craves that. If OP does then she's in the wrong job and needs to fix that.

I'm a severe introvert, and a baby nanny to (at the moment) twin micro preemies. We aren't allowed anywhere, other than 1/4 mile away for a stroller walk once a day if we manage to get out. It's extremely isolating, and sometimes incredibly lonely. I watch tv (with the MB/DB approval), and surf online when I'm done with my baby chores and they're sleeping. I'll have these rules of no outings until summer 2015. Sometimes I feel like I'm going crazy, but then one of the babies grins when I pick her up and it keeps me going. One day at a time, OP.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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 for an extrovert. 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.

There, I fixed that for you.

No, you didn't. Grow up.

I love to read when the little one is sleeping. It is not the same as social interaction but it does provide the intellectual stimulation I crave. For a couple hours I am not a nanny, I get to be another person n another time and place.

I'm an introvert and very shy around other adults but very, very comfortable with children. And as a nanny, I still get lonely, too. I really feel for OP - the better nanny you are, the more devoted you are to your charges - the lonelier your average day is. I think it is just part of the job.

Anonymous wrote:

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 for an extrovert. 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.

There, I fixed that for you.

OP.

I am a nanny as well, but luckily I am very introverted and so the lack of adult conversation is something I handle very well.

However, when my charges were little and we were stuck at home all day I would sometimes go stir crazy. Since your charge is older, can you take him out on playdates? Meet some nanny friends, or even stay at home parents?

I wish you were our nanny, OP.

I know exactly how you feel, OP. I'm a nanny as well and I get exhausted and lonely in my day-to-day routine with a baby, too. Sometimes I come home at night and realize that I have not spoken to or communicated with one other person in twelve hours other than the baby and, very briefly, one parent.

Hang in there. I'm just trying to make it one full year and then I'll reassess.

You hit the nail right on the head OP, being a nanny is hard and lonely at the same time and it also is underappreciated too.

But from your examples shown, it also is very rewarding as well and the benefits can be very priceless such as seeing the wonderful milestones for the first time.

You sound like a wonderful and compassionate nanny to me. I think you are cut out to be a nanny in so many ways, I just think you are feeling a bit lonely and isolated with this type of work and this is completely understandable.

I have two options for you to consider.

Option A:

Why not make friends with other nannies in your local area and have a nanny meet-up/play group at a near by playground or park on a regular basis? This will give you something to look forward to daily, will give you that adult interaction you so desire as well as some socialization time for the kiddos. I would make sure it was okay with my bosses first.

If one doesn't exist in your area, why not try forming one on your own? Put out an ad and see what's out there? Or if you go to the park at the same time daily, you are bound to see many families on a regular basis. Perhaps ask them if they would be interested. Or at the very least, you can agree to meet up for lunch with the kids. Be creative!

Option B:

Have you thought about possibly working as a nanny on a part-time basis and doing something else part-time as well?

That way, when working as a nanny, you won't feel so lonely because you won't be spending so many working hours by yourself.

For instance, say you can work 20 hrs. a week being a nanny, then another 20 as a barista or a cashier, etc.



Hope this gives you some new ideas to think about!
Good luck.

I would talk to MB/DB about it and see if you can sign up for a class with your charge. Seeing the same people daily will help you start some friendships.

I would talk to MB/DB about it and see if you can sign up for a class with your charge. Seeing the same people daily will help you start some friendships.