Tis the season for nanny tipping

Oh the holidays! The joy! The gifts! The little faces filled with joy as they open up.....holiday bonus envelopes! At this time of year it is good to remember the people who make life good for you, your hairdresser, mailman, doorman, oh yeah and the person who cares for your little ones all year long. When I first started as a nanny, I heard tales. The playground is a little like a locker room- the stories are a bit over the top. But there are families that do these things- I have checked. Nannies tell of families handing them $1000 checks, airline tickets home with a week of vacation, year memberships to the gym, broadway shows with hotel and dinner included. WOW! It means alot to a nanny who maybe comes from more humble beginnings to be treated in such lovely ways. Especially because nannies work hard. They go the extra mile day after day. Being alone with a 2 year old for 12 hours a day 5 days a week for a year sometimes feels like a maximum sentence. So a bonus- say a weeks pay which is what most experts reccommend-is nice. And keys to a new car really lets them know how you feel. BUT- the part most nannies won't tell you is this. We really just want a thoughtful reminder that you care about us. That you appreciate us. A handmade card- that you took the time to help the kids make- is as valuable to us as it is to you the parent. A great camera bag lets me know that you pay attention and appreciate all those pictures of the kids I take. A gift certificate for a massage or a day off shows me that you know how hard I work. Nannies, like everyone really, just want to know that they are loved. Of course my grandpa always said, nothing says love like cold hard cash! But the love is what lasts.

Sue Downey
nanny