I shared this with the Nannies at our Nannies Night Out, Sept. 26th. I thought this may be helpful to also post on the blog.
I am 31, married and live in Batavia. I have just recently gotten a clearer view of my purpose and vision.
Like many of you I am sure, I had my first babysitting job at a young age. When I cared for a baby girl, Blair a couple of Saturdays a month when I was 12. My mom suggested that I take a “Red Cross Babysitting Course” before starting my part-time job – and I received a bear pin and card that stated “Red Cross Certified Babysitter”. I am sure that little burst of pride encouraged me some, but it was the love for kids that came out in that first job. They job continued for several year, another baby girl and now a Summer everyday job, and by the time I was 15, I was already experiencing my passion.
I continued with many babysitting jobs, then part-time nanny jobs while I was in college, then my first full-tme nanny job of 2 years for the Wilsons. From there I stepped out of the Nanny field and worked at church in the Youth Ministry focusing on grades 6-12., all the while always caring for younger children on the side. While working in youth ministry, I was able to use my giifts of administration and found a passion for mentoring and leading others where I had gone. One of my main jobs was communicating to a team of 40-50 high school and adult leaders and encouraging them in the volunteer role. I learned about creating websites and forums and found I also have a love for technology….if you haven’t heard me talk about my Mac computer or my iphone, you will! I remained at the church 7 years until some major changes began to happen which ended up in pastors resigning and the church merging with a larger church. I knew that it was my time to go. My first thought was to find a job in the administration field, but feeling emotional drained from all the church drama, I thought I would enjoy myself for a little while. AAH, a nanny job! My job with the Wilson’s was always my favorite job memory. I remained their weekend/vacation nanny and loved them like my own. I thought, that is what I will do, I will take a Nanny job for a year or two, before I have to jump back into the work force.
In August of 2007, I interviewed with about 6 families and 1 childcare center as a head teacher before I found a family with 9 month old triplet boys. They were looking for someone with my experience and values to care for their boys. I accepted the job. Friends and family around me would get WIDE eyes when I told them how I was looking for a “break” from all the previous stress – as I decided to spend 10 hours each day, home with 9month old babies. But, you Nannies will understand, there was something in me bringing me back to my love. I cannot tell you how caring for these boys healing my spiritual scars and brought so much joy back to my life. I felt like I was restoring the years I had lost. I was energized even while being exhausted. We have experienced a lot together over the last years and now the boys are going to be 3 in December! They started 1-day a week preschool a couple of weeks ago and are challenges are now toddler focused – potty training is my next feat. – – 3 boys!
Last year while doing some research on pay raises for Nannies, I stumbled upon the International Nanny Association website. This is where I first heard the term “Professional Nanny” or “Career Nanny”. I began to explore their site and resources and realized there must be some kind of “Nanny World” out there. They even had a conference in the spring.
In April of this year, 3 weeks before the conference I got back on the site and thought I need to go. My employer helped me pay for a portion of the conference and my affiliation with INA and I was off. Not really sure why I was going, but I was intrigued with this Professional Nanny world out there.
Let me tell I was blown away with the Nannies and professionals in the industry I met. Nannies that have written books, started agencies and businesses, and the very own “Travel Nanny” who told me all about her next International month long “Job”. WOW! So many of them like me – loving my job, loving my kids, and wanting to help other in our industry. So many of them way ahead of me leading on me on to the future I want to have.I brought so much back from the 4 day weekend. I gained about 25 friends I am in contact with on facebook, blogs and email. But, most of all I brought home a desire to have THAT in Cincinnati. I knew that I had about 4 Nanny friends (all who are not here tonight :)) and that there must be more of us….wondering where we all are and how to find each other.
From there I began to dream about the community that we could build together and how that would indeed enrich the lives of the children we care for, not to mention our own.
So here we are National Nanny Recognition Week – Cincinnati’s Own! I am hoping that this is the beginning of a Professional Community, and I need your input along with the other Nannies in our city. I was able to contact of 50 Nannies and I will be following up with them with all the information we have here tonight.