When I was in high school and in college, I babysat on a day to day basis before and after classes. It was a job where I had control and flexibility. Seven years, 11 nanny trips and over 1400 babysitting jobs later, I have a bachelors degree in communication and tons of childcare experience behind me.
Two years ago when I attended the University of North Florida, I sought the opportunity to move out of my parents house and become a live-in nanny. It never occurred to me that I would do this. I was sold on the idea because the family I agreed to move in with was very nice and had a sense of humor.
The role as live-in nanny has been wonderful for me and I am here to share my experiences. This is meant for anyone who willing to try out the live-in nanny situation. Keep in mind that it is not for everyone. There are many benefits but also a few drawbacks.
Word of advice:
A wise word of advice for any prospect live-in nannies is to establish boundaries and create a contract with the parents that includes a clear understanding of work hours and pay.
It was important for the family to respect my values and beliefs and for me to respect theirs.
Before I made the commitment to move in with my nanny family, we did a two week trial run. This was a great way to see if we could all live together.
It was vital that I was open-minded and was willing to learn. I couldn't be closed-minded under somebody else's roof. This alone was a learning process and I gained more patience and respect for others.
My Typical Day:
My day would start around 7am. Although this may sound early, I would start by going to bed at 10:30pm the night before. I found this to be gold; just the right amount of sleep that would keep me going for 12 to 14 hours the following day.
From 7am forward, I would spend mornings getting the five year-old ready for school and driving her there. I was lucky, because the two year-old would still be sleeping. It made it so much easier just having one child to focus on.
After dropping the older one off, I would get up the younger one and play with her. I'm a multi-tasker who always stayed busy, so I would clean the house (because I wanted to, not because I had to,) while I played the two year-old.
After our lunchtime, I would put the two year-old down for a nap from 1-3pm. The father works from home, so I was able to go and pick up the older one from school while the younger one stayed home and napped.
In the afternoons, I would drive the five year-old to dance or cheer practice. In between driving and dropping off time, I waited around the house with the younger one. It's fun spending one-on-one time with the two year-old. We would throw a dance party in the living room and dance till our feet fell off.
In the evenings, I would give the girls dinner and a bath. Like any bedtime routine, I would help them put on their Pj's, help them brush their teeth and read them a story. This was some exciting stuff!
After I put the girls to bed, I finally had sometime for myself. (Maybe!) There was always the chance the girls would wake up and come out of their bedrooms at night.
It's not always glamorous. Be prepared for the poo.
There was one morning when things did not go smoothly. The two year-old decided to take a morning poop as I was getting the five year-old ready for school. I walked over to her, and found poop mounted to her back. Oh, and by the way, she hates taking a bath, and it’s 25 minutes before I have to leave to take the older one to school. It was going to take at least 10 minutes to power wash the poo off her back. It didn’t help when she was fighting me with her own life to get in the bathtub.
Regardless of the situation, being a nanny is not as hard as it sounds. At the end of the day, that morning poo made me laugh. “Wow, I really survived that, and the two year-old still loves me.”
Sometimes boundaries are crossed.
I've learned that as a live-in nanny, boundaries are often crossed. I've had to lock my bedroom and bathroom door, even when I was not on the clock. There were instances when the girls would barge into the bathroom uncalled for and make fun of me. My personal bathroom time just became their laugh-at-Sarah time. Can I just say that using the bathroom alone is now considered a luxury?
Poor mothers everywhere deal with their boundaries being invaded all the time. As a nanny, this makes me more prepared for motherhood. I won't be in complete shock when I have my own kids. I have full appreciation for privacy now more than ever.
Validation makes this job awesome!
Being a nanny isn't always glamorous. Sure, there are the trips to Disney and the nice handmade drawings, but it would be overwhelming at times.
I would get stressed, but at the end of the day I am loved by two very sweet girls. To be able to walk in the front door and have both girls run down the hallway to give me a hug is icing on the cake. Having moments like this outweighs the cons, and reminds me why I love my job.
Overall:
I loved being a live-in nanny and would recommend it to anyone who is in college and loves kids. It's a challenging role that requires patience. With the right person, it can be very rewarding.
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