I have been a nanny for a family for the past year. I am leaving at the end of the month to pursue another nanny job. I am wondering what I should get them as a present when I leave, or even if I should. The family has treated me fairly well and has overworked me a little. We are on friendly terms and got each other presents at Christmas. They gave me $100 gift card to Target and flowers. I'm not sure if I'm expecting something when I leave, but I just don't want to show up empty handed or under gifted when I say goodbye. What do you think I should give them? What have you given your charges when you left? Any advice is appreciated!
Thursday
Good bye Gift
Received Thursday, May 6, 2010
I have been a nanny for a family for the past year. I am leaving at the end of the month to pursue another nanny job. I am wondering what I should get them as a present when I leave, or even if I should. The family has treated me fairly well and has overworked me a little. We are on friendly terms and got each other presents at Christmas. They gave me $100 gift card to Target and flowers. I'm not sure if I'm expecting something when I leave, but I just don't want to show up empty handed or under gifted when I say goodbye. What do you think I should give them? What have you given your charges when you left? Any advice is appreciated!
I have been a nanny for a family for the past year. I am leaving at the end of the month to pursue another nanny job. I am wondering what I should get them as a present when I leave, or even if I should. The family has treated me fairly well and has overworked me a little. We are on friendly terms and got each other presents at Christmas. They gave me $100 gift card to Target and flowers. I'm not sure if I'm expecting something when I leave, but I just don't want to show up empty handed or under gifted when I say goodbye. What do you think I should give them? What have you given your charges when you left? Any advice is appreciated!
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For the past few summers I have worked for the same family, leaving at the end of the summer to return to college. At summer's end, I always make the point of getting the children a leaving gift (and the parents always get me one as well). In years past, I have sent them on a scavenger hunt that ended with a "goody bag" of some fun games, treats, and a magazine subscription (to American Girl and National Geographic Kids). They LOVED that! I've also done a specially decorated "book bag" filled with fun books I got at a used book store. Much cheaper than new books, and very well received. I've done several different things for the kids over the years, and they are always well received.
The point, really, is that I would get the kids some sort of leaving gift (does not have to be expensive), but don't feel like you need to get the parents anything.
At least, that's my opinion!
Good luck on your new job :)
I agree with Blythe....you really do not have to get the parents a gift, but I think it would be really sweet for you to get the children something. Maybe a token that they can remember you by. It really does not have to be expensive or anything like that. Perhaps a scrap book of pictures of you all together, or even one of something they are interested in. I like the idea of a magazine subscription. That way they can remember you every month or so! And the best gift of all can be a promise from you that you will keep in touch over the years! :)
I'm getting to leave my family after over 2.5 years with them. I'm making them a photo book on Shutterfly for the family and another copy for myself. Also, I'm thinking of buying the kids a few books.
When I left my last job, my charge was just an infant and it was shortly after Christmas. I spent quite a bit on him at Christmas. Anyway, so instead of getting him something I took a cute posed picture of him, blew it up a bit, and had it framed for his mom's desk.
I wouldn't get the parents a gift. maybe a card with a note letting them know how you've appreciated them. Any time I have left a job, I give books as gifts (i also do this for birthdays) In the book i write dear________ and then a short note with the date. and i sign it. I think books are a great gift, and are fairly affordable granted you don't care for 5 children, as i currently do.... $$$
All are good suggestions. As a mother who has been on the other side, I always would rather have a card or letter and either a photo or scrapbook than a "thing." The memories are priceless and I love having something to keep those memories strong. My children (10 and almost 8) also enjoy looking back at scrapbooks that have been made for them and reading the stories that go with them.
When I left the family that I had worked with for almost 5 years I also struggled with this. I wound up making each of the girls a little scrapbook of pictures from our times together and wrote them each a letter (even the baby) telling them how much I care about them and some good memories. I didn't get anything for the parents and I would have made them a scrapbook for the entire family but they had literally over 5,000 pictures that I had taken over the years so I skipped that part! I still keep in contact with them and the mom tells me that the older girls pull out their letters about once a week and still read them and how they look at the pictures all the time (I've been gone almost 2 years!)
It would be lovely for the children to have something as a memento - your favorite childrens book with an inscription from you, for example. I don't feel you should give the parents any gift. You are their employee and I sincerely hope they have a parting gift for YOU - if you watched my kids, I would
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