1. What is your current nanny position?
I currently care for two wonderful children in Mt. Lookout, OH full-time. I work four days a week from 8-5:30 and one day (either Monday or Friday) from 9-1.
N just turned 3 and is very high energy. He has an amazing imagination and surprises me all the time with the things his little mind comes up with. J is 14 months and is just as energetic as her brother. She is so smart and makes me laugh everyday.
2. How/Why did you decide to become a Nanny?
From the time that I was very young, I’ve loved children. Early on, I made the decision that I wanted to do something with my life that included them. All through high school I babysat to earn money. While in college pursuing my elementary education degree, I nannied part-time for several families. It was something that I loved to do. Upon graduation, I was not able to find a job teaching in an elementary school. I began working at the child care center at Children’s Hospital while I continued to look for teaching jobs. While at Children’s, I met my current family and they approached me about being their nanny. I was at a place in my life where I wanted to feel like I was doing something that mattered; something that made a difference. I started with my current family in January of 2010 and I couldn’t be happier.
I still have the dream of teaching in an elementary school and would eventually like to pursue that again. Most recently, I was accepted to graduate school and will start the two year process of working on my Masters in Special Education at the end of August 2010.
3. Why are you passionate about working with children?
I feel that I have always been passionate about working with children. I have two brothers who are significantly younger than me. Caring for them came very natural to me and I knew that I wanted to work with other children, too. I have always been the one that is naturally drawn towards children. I love their innocence, curiosity, and humor.
Children have also always been drawn to me. I think they can sense my calming, motherly nature. In addition, I have a great love of music and enjoy sharing that with children. It is neat to see children singing and dancing as a result of music that I share with them. With my current family, I have the privilege of being able to share my faith with the children I care for. Never before have I had a job where I could openly talk about God. My faith is a huge part of my life and I can see how sharing it with the children I care for is positively affecting them.
4. What is a misconception of your peers or family about the nanny profession?
The people closest to me are extremely supportive of what I do and know that it makes me happy. One comment that I hear occasionally from people is, “…the kids you babysit.” The term babysit bother me because I am so much more than that. I am a part of these children’s lives and ultimately have a direct path in how they are raised.
5. In what areas do you currently feel challenged?
This is the first full-time nanny position I have ever accepted. While I absolutely love it, there are some things that I find challenging. As time has gone on, I have become more aware of how different my style of nannying is to how my employers parent. We agree on many things, but I definitely disagree with how they do some things. Learning how to accept that and know that I am not the parent is a challenge.
Something else that I feel challenged by is providing the most enriching activities/experiences for the children I care for. I am always looking for new classes to take, places to go, and activities to do at home.
6. What about CincyNanny has been a benefit to you?
Since meeting Greta and discovering CincyNanny, I have gained a huge amount of support that I didn’t know was out there. I had a friend who is a nanny prior to finding CincyNanny, but she was the only nanny I knew. I am thrilled to have so many nanny friends to turn to for advice or even just to vent to. CincyNanny has also been great for playdates and nanny nights out.
7. What is something in your life, that is affecting your life in a positive way, and therefore affecting the children in your care?
Probably the most positive thing going on in my life right now is my recent acceptance to grad school. I will start working on my Master’s in Special Education at the end of August 2010. After being out of college for 5 years, I think I’m ready to go back again. I keep telling N that we will both be starting school soon. He will be starting school at the end of August, too.
I am also in the process of starting a respite ministry at my church for special needs children. I volunteer at a church in Cincinnati that has a very successful respite ministry and would love to bring that kind of program to my home church.
8. What is a goal for the future?
My goal is to remain with my current family for at least two years while I pursue my Master’s degree. I would then like to begin searching for a teaching job in an elementary school.
9. How do you refresh/re-coop/prepare from and for your nanny position?
When I’m not with the children I care for I try to spend a lot of time with my family and friends. My parents and two brothers live close by so I see them very often. I also enjoy catching up with my friends over dinner or while scrapbooking.
Reading is also something I really try to make time for. It helps calm me down and keeps my mind working.
One of the biggest things I do that helps me be the best I can be is getting enough sleep at night. I am a huge believer in at least 8 hours of sleep a night. If for some reason I don’t get 8 hours, I know I will need some extra coffee the next day to get through.
10. What changes would you like to see changed or questions to be answered in the nanny Industry?
The biggest thing I would like to see changed about the nanny industry is a bigger understanding of what nannies truly do and how important we are.
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Thanks so much, Sara, for sharing your life and career. What a wonderful example of a nanny you are!
