MORMON NANNY WANTED: Being Mormon may be problematic for a presidential candidate. But belonging to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a plus if you're a nanny.
"All the LDS nannies have to have a recommendation from their bishop and they are strict about who they recommend," said Kari Shafer, the non-Mormon owner of Your Child's Nanny, an agency that pairs caregivers and families.
Shafer said 90 percent of the requests for LDS nannies come from non-Mormon families and have helped boost traffic on the company's Web site, yourchildsnanny.com.
The general consensus is that Mormon Nannies are the best because they "don't drink or smoke, are modest, and are used to kids since they generally come from large families".
Question: I was just wondering what everyone thought of mormon nannys? I hear they are the rolls royce of nannys - is this true?
Thank you to 'Anonymous Reader' for their Submission and Question.
Your Thoughts?
29 comments:
Interesting topic. I don't know much about Mormon people in general, nevermind Mormon nannies. I'm interested to read what people have to say about this.
our nanny is mormon...has been for the last 3 years, and yes, totally the rolls royce of nanny's.
I guess I should elaborate...she doesn't come from a large family, but she has baby sat a lot and worked in daycare prior to coming to us. SO I don't know about that stereotype. However, its more than just the drinking/smoking thing...yeah, its nice she is never hungover. But she's also honest, I don't worry about her stealing from us. She's big into family...in fact her own mom is a part of my children's life because her mom stops by or she will take the kids to her mom's house to pick something up. Her mom comes to our children's birthday parties. And who doesn't want another person who loves your children in their lives. She hasn't ever called in sick...the only time she's asked to leave early is because she has something going on with church or wants to go to the temple which is a ways away.
Sure, I'm sure you can find these features in other people of other religions, but I've had good luck with the two Mormon nanny's I've had, and probably will stick with Mormon nanny's if I can.
And we are catholic. Our nanny has never pushed her religious beliefs on us or our children. But I've had many conversations with her about her religion, out of curiosity, because she is so into it.
I think it must depend on what you are looking for in a nanny. The above posters have mentioned the good qualities of mormon nannies, but some families need (want) someone who is a little more 'worldly' - for instance if they travel and need the nanny to be able to pick up and go or if they need someone that has lived in a big city (like NYC) and isn't concerned with the less than 'clean living' atmosphere.
I'm not sure I'd call them the rolls-royce of nannies but I have yet to meet a young mormon woman that wouldn't be a good caregiver (and I just spent 2 months in Utah)
It's funny you say that. My sister's nanny was mormon we used to drop her off at the nanny's house during the week. One day my sister came home with the book of mormon and then we got a call from their church saying they hadn't seen my sister in the wednesday church class.
I think it depends on the mormon, all the ones the I have known have always pushed religion on people and they were a little weird.
So my sister techinically became a mormon without our knowledge... not cool!
Rolls royce of nannies? Puhlease. They're like the Edsel.
The only reason people like Mormon nannies is because it is easy to take advantage of them and get them to work long hours for little pay because they have been raised to care for people. The way most Mormons are raised breeds them for a life of codependancy. Beware of the sexual repression/freakosity I have encountered with Mormons who grew up with normal sexual desires but were told that such desires were bad and evil.
Give me an Israeli nanny anyday.
I look to the day when this blog posts an article decrying the merits and glory of hiring a Jamaican nanny.
When will that be?
"See that ye bridle all your passions, that ye may be filled with love" (Alma 38:12).
Well, I guess I can only speak for myself in saying that I am freaking awesome at my job.
I am certain that one's religion is not always, or even often a reflection of what kind of a nanny they are. True, Mormons do not drink or smoke: that is a given, if they are in fact following the word of their religion. But to me, hiring a nanny based solely on their religion (unless it is your own religion and you feel comfortable with that which I can understand: it wouldn't matter to me personally though) means you could be missing out on a great deal of amazing nannies. Just because someone is mormon does not mean you do not have to worry about them stealing. People are human, and while I would never steal, it has nothing to do with being Catholic, although it is against my religion to steal. I just wouldn't because it's against who I am, above and beyond being Catholic. People do bad things though, even Mormons, I'm sure.
And Phoenix, your point is a great one: I cannot stand others who push their religion on others, or their lack thereof. It is not specific to mormons, however. It goes for every religion and non-religious people as well. I can't tell you how many times I have had my own religion (and my intelligence) insulted by atheists when I was minding my own business and not discussing religion at all.
I think it's great, OP, that you can engage in a religious discussion with your mormon nanny and each be respectful of each others' religions. I wish more people were like that.
I drink, but not when I have to work or the night before...but I'm not mormon.
I come from an extremely large family...but I'm not mormon.
I don't smoke...but I'm not mormon.
I have been changing diapers since I was 7...but I'm not mormon.
Give me a Pentecostal nanny ANY day of the week! Ours is fabulous with the kids, very outgoing/proactive finding play-dates, honest to a fault, confident, and is unbelievably diligent about raising our children the way we would like to!!!!
happy employer:
do you attribute all of those good qualities to her being pentecostal?
just curious.
any people like Mormons because they are family oriented, but that has to fit your definition too. BTW, we had a nanny here who was arrested for shaking a baby (who survived but has to be watched to see how he develops) and she was Mormon so it's not a guarantee.
Depends on the nanny. I personally wouldn't choose a child care provider based primarily on religion. There are too many other variables.
I was raised Mormon. Mormon families are traditionally large, so many girls grow up with built in child care experience. Mormon girls are taught from early on all the things necessary to become a great wife and mother and are encouraged to nurture those skills (as opposed to working outside the home or taking on traditionally male roles).
Not all Mormons or Mormon families are like this. Mormon nannies will have their own personalities, and personality conflicts as well. Not all Mormon nannies may be practicing Mormons, which means they may not be following the tennants of their faith that make them desirable (including consuming alcohol and tobacco). Some may be Mormon only because they were baptized as children, not because they are practicing their faith.
Personally, I would say choose your nanny based on who she is, not her religion. I'm sure there are great Jewish, Catholic, Budhist, Hindu, Athiest, Agnostic and other faith nannies who would be a great fit as well.
Umass;
No, of course not. I just brought up her being Pentecostal since others were raving about Mormon nannies . . lol. However, as I have met many of her friends who are a part of her church, I would have to honesty admit that the qualities I admire so much in her, seem to be abundant in her friends as well. :)
So That being said, I think a lot of those qualities perhaps being instilled in her/her friends from the time they were young because of their religion. Opportunities that might not come across to every young person, seem to exist in their church. (and probably other churches as well)
not molly:
great post! :) I completely agree. Well said!
Well said Not Molly Mormon
Last year Tibetan nannies were said to be the Rolls Royce of nannies.
I certainly wouldn't want to work for the type of person who would base a hiring decision on my religion or ethnicity, unless there was a practical reason, such as needing a foreign language, knowledge of dietary laws etc.
exactly, manhattan nanny: my thoughts too!
If I were a nanny - of any nationality - frankly I'd be a bit offended by this conversation.
I'm Epsicopal and I'm a good nanny.
I don't drink, smoke, cuss, call in, lie, steal or any other bad qualities you guys don't want in a nanny.
I also grew up around kids and have been babysitting since as far back as I can remember.
Ohh and I have one other quality the Mormon nannies don't have....a nice southern accent and the manners that go along with my southern upbringing.
It doesn't matter what the person believes in, it matters on what kind of a person they are.
there are people who aren't mormon who don't cuss, smoke or drink. families who are picking just mormon nannies are not getting a wide variety.
But my question is, if a nanny doesn't smoke drink or cuss on the job, but does while she's not at work, does that make her any less of a good nanny? I just want to hear what people think about that. Like, I honestly want to hear opinions on what you would do if you found out your nanny parties on the weekends, smokes socially when out (but not around your kids) or lets a few F bombs out once in awhile when she's off work away from your kids.
is that okay? just curious to see what ya'll think.
I don't think you have to be perfect just because you take care of kids for a living.
I think it all depends on your contract and what is stated there. If your contract says to not smoke cuss or drink on the job (most do) then don't, but I do not think any of that is a problem outside of work, usually drugs are though. I know that on my contract it states "during work hours or in front of the children at any other time". But for drugs, it says "at all". therefore I think that tobacco and drinking can be allowed OFF WORK AWAY FROM THE KIDS, and I don't think it effects your job or performance, unless you can't help your cravings for a cig or the urge to drink. in which case, you probably need help if you can't hold off while at work.
i love jason castro:
I do care about the type of person my nanny is outside of work, because I don't want her to be putting on airs around my family; I want good, polite, respectable behavior to come naturally to her, as she is partly responsible teaching and shaping and molding my children. Thus, I would try my best to choose someone who seemed like the kind of person who doesn't curse outside of work, use drugs, drink heavily, or otherwise behave immaturely or without discipline. I also make it a point to hire only non-smokers, because even those who only outside of work can expose others to the tobacco chemicals on ther skin, clothes, breath, and personal effects, and I don't want that filth around my kids. Essentially, I care about having nannies with good character who are good role models... and that means more than just the ability to behave from 9-5.
This is not a rip on anyone who has commented on nanny's ethics but I just was thinking that it is so ironic that as a society the job where we mandate the highest moral character and conduct is also one of the most low status and poorly paid occupations. What up with that?
Good point, paperbag princess. I could understand worrying about your nanny's religion if you kept a kosher kitchen or had other dietary strictures that needed to be followed. You wouldn't want someone cooking pork chops in your home if you're muslim.
Otherwise, who cares? Organized religion does not have the power to create a decent person. I went to 12 years of Catholic school and my graduating class had wildly diverging views on the various vices.
yep... totally awesome! I love our LDS nanny!
Super polite, super modest (no nanny in skanky clothes) and has great work ethic.
I never have to worry about her showing up hungover or otherwise. :)
Clearly u are not well informed or educated on anything. Nothing worse than ignorant people who have no clue about other cultures and religions. Get a clue.
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