Received Friday, April 18, 2008- Perspective & Opinion
I have a question that I was hoping the nannies and parents on here could answer...if you could post this that would be great. Thanks so much!
I've been a nanny for just shy of 5 years and have worked with the same awesome family for the entire time. I'm moving out of state next month and leaving my dear charges and employers and was wondering if anyone had any suggestions as to what I could give the family? They've been so incredibly gracious while I've worked with them and since I won't be around to see them frequently after I move I wanted to get them something. Any suggestions?
I've already started working on a photo album but was wondering if there was anything else I could do....thanks in advance for any info/advice!
The photo album is a great idea. You must know them pretty well. What do they really like?
ReplyDeleteThat's so sweet that you want to do something like that for them.
I made a picture book for my Grand children after their Mother died. I started with pictures of the birth ,with a little story under the photos. Not a great big story but the dates the pics were taken and where they were taken. How much fun they had and what they were doing.
ReplyDeleteIt helps with keeping the memoried alive and also when kids get older they don't have to ask who where why and how.
I don't know your charges agaes...but when I left my nanny families I made build a bears, dressed like the child, and at the time they had voice boxes you could add to their paws, so I added two to each one. Saying phrases and calling them by nickname ..One said "Peanut I love you" And my little guy's said "have a good day bubba" The litte biy had just started wearing big boy pants and school...so his bear had on undies and a backpack as well as clothes. To this day, 4 years later, both have them and they are totally worn, they have recieved much love...Their parents said they spent many nights hearing "peanut I love you" from the other room.
ReplyDeleteI LOVE Mimi's idea!!!
ReplyDeleteI love the build-a-bear idea, too -- I'll definitely have to remember that for the future!
ReplyDeleteI just took my son to Build-a-Bear for his Birthday, and we had a fantastic time!
ReplyDeleteMimi, what an excellent idea!
OP, if there is a certain affectionate name you called the children, you can record the name (or phrase) and have it sewn into the Bear! Then when they want to hear your voice, all they have to do is press the Bear.
They will remember you forever! ♥
the photo album idea is a great one. the little guy i used to nanny for STILL looks through is photo album i gave him.
ReplyDeletewould you be able to get someone to take a nice picture of you with the kids and give that as a gift as well?
i would also write individual notes to each child, letting them know what was so special about them and what you will remember.
the best thing you can do though? keep in touch. keeping the relationship alive even after you have left your position is priceless.
When I left I made the little boy a book (had it laminated and bound) of pictures, sort of scrapbook style. I also wrote a letter in it and put the words to two songs I always sang him to sleep with.
ReplyDeleteHow about in the photo album, you take some note cards and put little memories throughtout the book? How you thought each child was special...what you first thought when you met them, etc.,
ReplyDeleteBurn a CD with your voice singing the children's favorite songs and reading a couple of their favorite stories (nursery rhymes, bedtime songs, narration of their favorite books etc). Put a photo of yourself on the cover of the CD. Whenever they're missing you, they can still hear your voice and see your picture!
ReplyDeleteAwwww, excellent suggestion! I love it!!
ReplyDeleteThanks everyone! These are great ideas! Mimi, I really like the Build A Bear idea and think that I would probably take the 3 oldest with me so they can help build it and it can be a last project for us to do.
ReplyDeleteThe CD idea is adorable but my voice is not quite the singing type! I've got many pictures of myself with the kids, individual shots as well as group pics and I'm making one nice big album for the family and smaller more personal ones for the kids.
I also definitely plan on staying in touch, they're daughters will probably end up being in my wedding.
Thanks for the great suggestions!
Good for you, OP! I hope all of you have just as wonderful of a time as my son and I did at Build-a-Bear. (We also took pictures!)
ReplyDeleteThere were so many Bears and outfits to choose from, it took us forever!
Plan to make an afternoon of it!
I don't mean to sound dopey, but it was really special.
☺
Give the kids stamped and addressed envelopes so that they can send you mail.
ReplyDeleteYou (of course) will reply to them.
I mean, who doesn't love getting a letter in the mailbox???
When I left my last family (this was over 20yrs ago) I made a tape (back before it was possible to burn a cd lol)of me reading their favorite story books and so on. I too dont have much of a singing voice. I also made a binder with a very detailed description of our routine for each day of the week. I also put in a list of friends and other nannies in the area and so on. I just put down every single thing I could think of that might be helpful to the new nanny. I also gave them a week of me working with the new nanny to help her learn the routine. The family told me many times how much they used the binder and how often the children used the tape. nothing that cost a lot of money but things that meant a lot.
ReplyDelete