Tuesday, October 31, 2006

Being a nanny

Most people in the United States don't grow up wanting to be nannies. If you are good with children and want to do that sort of thing you want to be a mom or a teacher. I would venture a guess that most people in the United States don't even know really what being a nanny is all about. I know this because as a nanny I get all kinds of questions. Things like: Do you have to put the kids to bed every night? (not usually) Do you ever get a day off? (I work a regular M-F work week) Don't the kids bother you when it is your time off? (No, they would rather be with thier parents!) Why do people have kids if they aren't going to take care of them? (Well, they are taking care of them- they hired the best nanny in the world to make sure their needs are met and that they are safe and happy. There are all kinds of parents.) Nannies are still a mystery to many. But I am glad I am not a mom. I am glad I am not a teacher. I am glad to be a nanny. It is the right place for me to be- despite the questions. Now if I could only get people to stop asking me if I could jump into chalk drawings and fly on umbrellas!
--Sue Downey
nanny for 14 years

Wednesday, October 25, 2006

Welcome to our blog

Here it is - an online forum to talk about NANNIES! And by talk about nannies, I mean talk about how fabulous we are! Hopefully these pages will fill with great stories about how nannies make a difference in the lives of children. Stories of nannies giving exceptional care. It will be a forum for discussion regarding our quest for a credential. It can be another way for us to define who we are, what we do and where we as a profession are going!

Do you have something to say about being a nanny? Do you have something to say about what nannies need to know? Maybe you have something to share about how nannies have made your life better. Let us know! You could be the next guest blogger!

--- Thanks!
Sue Downey- NANC publications chair