I never planned on being a nanny. A twist of events in my post college life leads me to this career. If someone had told me 10 years ago I’d be spending my days up to my elbows in diapers, reading stories beneath a blanket tent, singing “Baby Beluga” so many times the words lose all meaning, tracking down a lost boot, favorite doll, or pacifier, turning the family room into an art gallery to display finger-paint art, library music time, scrubbing bottles and enjoying every minute of it I would have laughed in their faces. Sadly, I think my nanny days have come to an end. I am unable to find work. Rather, I am unable to find work that will allow me to care for myself.
Families, at first, are thrilled to find a nanny with great references, years of experiences that really love what she does until they learn I can’t work for 50 plus hours a week for $250 under the table. I can’t work under the table at all. Yes, I know times are tough, and if I could I’d work for free. But, I have bills and needs. Unlike many of my nanny friends, I am single. I don’t have the benefit of being able to depend on the solid income of a husband so I can’t as they say “just take the job.” I’d consider part time jobs, but I can find none that would allow me a consistent enough schedule for another part time job. So I have decided to turn back to daycare. I have nothing against daycare, it’s where I got my start. However, I will miss the personal interaction of being a nanny that gets lost in a classroom full of children.
I hear you! It can be so hard to find a family who is willing to pay what a nanny is worth. It is sad that people expect a great nanny with great references to work for $5 an hour. Scheduling two part time jobs is tough too, although sometimes you can make more because each family pays less. Have you considered a nanny share?
ReplyDeleteWow..seems you are finding only cheap families OP. $5/Hr is peanuts.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, your post is an excellent illustration as to how our economy is faring these days. Jobs are scarce and us Nannies do not get the luxury of "picking and choosing" the ideal job anymore. We must take what we can get if we really need the money.
Unfortunately, that's the exact reality I came too as well. Too many families want just what you said, 45-50/hours per week (sometimes more!) for $250 or less per week, under the table of course. It's not right. I recently had to get out of the nanny career path as well after that realization and now work as an ABA therapist. So, I still work with kids but it is much more challenging, but I'm getting paid triple what I was making in my last nanny position.
ReplyDeleteGood for you for sticking to what's right and I hope you find a good daycare position that will make you happy!
I don't agree with taking any old job just because it's money. The rates on my bills haven't changed and I can't work for $250 a week and leave no time to take another job to make up the rest.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately no one in my area is interested in a share.
@Elam, thanks for the well wishes!
I found something part time at a daycare and will be talking to another daycare about a fulltime yearling position next week so hopefully that turns out well.
I truly enjoyed being a nanny, but I don't see how I can continue. At least with daycare I know I'll have to be paid fair wages.
I fell into being a nanny, perhaps it's time for me to fall into something else.
Honey, if being a nanny is where your passion is don't give up on it just yet! Sure you may have to take the daycare job (I've been there) but keep on interviewing with families. You still might find the perfect fit for you.
ReplyDeletePS: Did the words "Baby Beluga" ever have real meaning?
Ugh OP, I'm right there with you! My last family's financial position changed and they had to let me go. I've been looking for another job but I'm not finding anyone who's willing to pay more than $5/hr, let alone minimum wage, let ALONE an actual fair rate for a nanny. One family I saw wanted 45 hours a week for $85! That works out to less than $2/hour! Seriously?! I'm not sure what I'm going to do yet either!
ReplyDeleteSo sorry to hear that Kazza.
ReplyDeleteIt obviously is a Parent's market right now and the parents sure are making it hard for us Nannies to find decent jobs.
Keep your head up and I hope you find something soon.☺ ♀
I'll still look, but I'm not going to hold my breath.
ReplyDeleteThe sad thing is mosdt of thesse families say they want someone longterm and someone serious about the job, and they don't seem to see that 95% of the time offering wages that no one can live on or refusing to be a part of a share gets them the exact kind of person they say they don't want.
Seeing these posts about making far less than minimum wage reminds me of the Craigslist WTF segments that use to be posted on ISYN. What happen to those?
ReplyDeleteEverything in life happens for a reason. Perhpas now you need to go back into daycare because that is where you will meet new families and eventually be able to find another nanny job. If fate is closing all your doors and pushing towards something else, even if you don't want to, follow it. The path always opens and eventually you will find why you were sent in that direction.
ReplyDeleteDo not be sad. Better things are coming, even if you have to wait a little. They do eventually arive
NannyPoppins, it's not just Craigslist I've seen some really wtf ads on Care.com & SitterCity lately. I've also run into a few agencies that don't eactly encourage families to pay a fair wage while encouragin nannies to tackle every chore under the sun.
ReplyDeletePhoeni, I tend to believe everything happens for a reason too, I just always have a hard time when something that I love comes to an end. Hopefully you're right and I'll look back months and years from now on this time and be very happy things didn't go as I wanted.
I miss the craigslist WTF too. That was always so much fun. Yall are right, lately I've been seeing a lot of WTF ads on real nanny sites. It is really pathetic.
ReplyDeleteCare.com and Sittercity.com are full of WTF. I just recently deleted my account on both sites because the ads were making me sick. Some of those parents should be ashamed of themselves.
ReplyDeleteWhen I left my $5.80/hour job (it didn't start out that way...) the MB had the audacity to complain that no one was responding to her ad on those sites.
Have you considered moving for a family? Either NYC or SF? Have you looked into an agency? Nannies can make upward of $50k a year in those areas with your experience and often agencies can make the connections. Use all your resources-Care.com, agencies, newspaper ads, etc.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately at this time, for various personal reasons I'm not in a position I can move long distance.
ReplyDeleteI have been on all those nanny siters, papers, etc. I am looking into a few new agencies ,but I've been unhappy with the ones in my immediate area , they cater to the WTF parents & or don't insist taxes be paid.
I am willing to commute during the week , but most families want someone who lives no further than 15 minutes away.
I do have a few prospects this week so hopefully something will pan out.
CL-WTF was a very time-consuming Feature... and I get e-mails all the time from Readers still requesting it.
ReplyDeleteI would love to bring it back but one of the problems was I never got enough Submissions (bad ads!)... and had to look for them on my own most of the time.
If you guys come across some really funny/crappy ads, send them in. I will let you know if I have enough to put together a CL-WTF for old times sake! ;-)
I'm cranky so forgive me for griping. but,
ReplyDeleteI'm not going to clean up after you and your husband just because baby is napping. Wash your own dishes and iron your own clothes.
There is a reason I gave you certain times to call me.
My available hours are posted with my nanny profile. They aren't going to change because you think you are special.
There is no way in hell I'm going to name a family I worked for give you their personal info, when I haven't met you in person yet. If that upsets you too bad.
I will be suspicious of you if you have had more than 1 nanny in the less than 2 years you've been back to work.