Received Wednesday, July 23, 2008 - Perspective & Opinion
I am currently a nanny in Newton, MA. I love the baby that I spend my days with. He is just over a year and LOVES to be outside and around other kids. Unfortunately, he can't have a conversation with me so I end up spending most of my day singing songs to him and not talking to another person. I attend playgroups at the library and frequent free concerts, parks, and playgrounds. I have run into quite a few stay at home moms in this community, but have yet to meet any other nannies. Stay at home, married, mortgage-paying moms are cool and all, but I am 22 and don't have much in common with them. Any ideas on how I can seek out fellow nannies to buddy up with?
26 comments:
Hi, I'm interviewing for a nanny positon in the Newton/Brookline area. I have my second interview tomorrow, so it looks promising. Hopefully I'll get the job and then you will at least have one play date!
I don't know how to contact you. I'd rather not put my email out for everyone to see. I'm new to the site, so if there is a way to contact a person directly, please let me know =)
Ellie
I'm not sure how far you want to trek, but when I was a nanny, I always brought my charge to the Boston Children's Museum. There were usually a lot of other nannies there as well.
Its too bad I didnt think to post here before...I am a nanny is andover with 20 month old twins..and I was always looking for playdates (but moms are kinda rough, I am 23 with no kids of my own). but I am leaving my job in less than two weeks...perhaps we could connect and plan something for next week...it could be fun. get in contact if you want...eamitchell06@yahoo.com
There is a meetup group for nannies and au pairs in Arlington, MA. Here's the link.
http://nanny.meetup.com/249/
Ok, I sent you a friend invite on facebook. Maybe we can get a facebook group going for other nannies in the area.
I live in Boston and have had the same problem. I have run into a few other nannies at the Museum of Science in Boston, however, that wouldn't be much fun for a 1 year old.
The Children's Museum has an area for very young children and it's usually filled with nannies sitting around while the kids play. That may be a good place. I watch a 16 month old and a 3 year old. The 3 year old is way too active for me to even sit down and try to have a conversation with someone!!
Haha I can imagine that a 3 year old would be busy. I am not looking to sit around, maybe just somebody with similar age children to run around with.
Lizz and OP,
Why does the prospect of the two of you meeting up for a playdate give me the willies? Maybe you are both very nice...I assume that you are, in fact...but I suppose if my nanny (if I had one) were to mention on a chat site that she is lonely during her workday and another person on the chat site offered to meet up with her...WITH MY KIDS IN TOW...I would completely FREAK OUT...and FIRE HER IMMEDIATELY. This would not be a shining display of good judgement in the eyes of any normal parent.
Believe me, I KNOW how lonely it can be when you are spending your entire day with a little person who cannot yet talk...but PLEASE don't meet up in person with anybody you meet on the internet...ESPECIALLY if you are going to be taking kids with you.
Keep your eyes out at the park and library and wherever you are with your charge. You will probably find a compatible nanny friend in due time. But remember, as nice as that would be, your first responsibility is to your charge...not to build your workday social life.
O.k., I won't lie. But I thought the same thing. Maybe I didn't get the willies, lol - but I thought it was strange. But, what you can do is be careful -- talk a bit first, get a gut feeling, we all have them. Chat on the phone -- decide to meet in PUBLIC some place NEUTRAL, and the 1st time out, DO NOT bring the kids with you!!!
Have fun! :D
I have the opposite problem; I like to find moms when finding play date friends. Nannies come and go, but if you're connected to the parents, then even if nanny leaves, your charge still has a friend. Sad to say, I speak from experience.
Anyway, I digress...
I've met a LOT of nannies (with 1-2 yr. old babies) at
Auburndale Park (Right off Commonwealth over by the St. Charles River)
Newton Free Library (Check out their Drop-In story times~chock FULL of nannies with little ones). They also have sing-a-longs there every other week.
Albamarle Park. Check out the FREE kiddie pool. Tons of nannies there....every single day.
Anyway, I think it might be very appropriate to talk to the parents of your charge before you meet ANY new friends.
Good Luck!
Now....where are the mommies???
Thanks for the info midwest nanny. Maybe if more nannies, or even moms for that matter, were to come on here and relay the places that they hang out, it could help other nannies/mommies that are lonely, feel shut out, are new or just don't know where to go to meet and to hang out.
mom and bebe,
I think I forgot to mention that this children are also my cousins. Their mother, my aunt, has encouraged me to join online nanny groups to get the kids and myself out of the house. We are also a memeber of several mothers groups where I would meet mothers and nannys(who I have never met before) at the park to play with their children. I have never done it until now. I would treat this as I would treat online dating...in public and around many other people. I would never do anything without asking my aunt if it is okay...and also if I hadnt been encouraged to do so. I also get names and numbers from moms at parks for playdates. Finally...this is not for my own benefit..if I wanted to socialize I would go to the mall with my friends and the kids in tow...this is for the children to make new friends and see other peoeple besides me during the day.
thanks!
ps...I never said I was lonely or looking to socialize...but for playdates for the kids...not my own benefit.
That's great Lizz. I'm glad to hear it. Just please be very careful because we have all heard the stories about how young, trusting, innocent women, such as oyurself have been duped and harmed by internet predators claiming to be everything they are not.
Best of luck to you!
I was quite lonely when, in the months folloowing th ebirth of my first son we moved back ot my old city...but since we were all adults, my old friends all had day jobs or had moved away. I met tons of new moms at a weekly walk organized by our local hospital...and 22 years later am still in contact with a couple of them...even though we all live thousands of miles apart now. Also, by striking up conversations at ballet, gynastics, story time, pool etc., I made even more friends. The best part about doing it that way was that I was also able to see which children my children liked the most and make an extra effort to be friends with those moms/nannies. If you're really just going to visit and have playtime, it really won't matter if they are moms or nannies. Most young moms, even though having a mortgage, will be in a similar place in life emotionally to you.
who said I was innocent or trusting? :) Just kidding of course...
Go to a local pub. I'm sure you'll find a host of fattened up, pushing thirty frat boy types. They are usually lonely, drunk and bored. Enlighten them.
no me gusta...what does that even mean?
Lizz
"I do not like" .... (baraq & Michelle Obama)
Let me say, I copied their spelling of "Barack".
thanks MPP, but i meant her comment...i am just trying to understand what she is getting at...
I took it to mean she doesn't like the Obamas...Michelle or Barack. Seems pretty self explanatory to me since it's Spanish for "I don't like Barack and Michelle."
I'm sorry Lizz, lol. I think "me gusta" is just being extremely sarcastic. If you'll notice, almost every thread they commented on is like that.
haha thanks MPP...I was just trying to understand the relevance of her comment to the thread and also i needed to know if I should be mad :)
Just another thought for all you nannies in the Boston area . .
if you go to www.bostoncentral.com, then click under events, you'll find a host of kid related activities, the cost, if any, and the area that they are located in.
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