heyjulie asked: That's so great! I've always had nannying in the back of my mind. May I ask how you got into it? Through an agency or a different story? And any advice or words on it?

A friend of mine worked as a full time nanny for a family many, many years ago, and needed someone to fill in for her for a month while she took time off to have her daughter. I had just moved home from North Carolina and was more than happy to help her out. It turned out that that family was getting an addition put on their house and the man putting the addition on, was looking for a nanny… So, that’s how I started.

After I worked for that family, I went on to find a long term family on Craigslist. I just posted a little ad about myself, how I’m from a large family, how I babysat and helped out with my family, and then the previous two families were used as references. 

I recently used Craigslist again and found a great little family. It is much different to be hired as a single lady, and to be hired as a Momma, with my child in tow. You can say you’re as awesome as Mary Poppins [I call myself the modern day, heh..] but your child will prove your parenting/nannying skills all by him/herself with their behavior. 

My advice is be honest about everything. Don’t over exaggerate yourself to be this awesome caretaker, be real about what you’re willing to do as a nanny. Because kiddos will tell their parents everything you do, say, don’t do, don’t say. You have to REALLY be open to the idea of becoming apart of another family and be committed to helping shape the little people that are put in your life. It’s not just babysitting. Nannying is intimate, it’s really LOVING these other people just as much as you would love your own. 

talk to me.