What do my fellow nannies do for their MBs on Mother's Day?
15 comments:
Nanny Jenn
said...
Maybe you can assist the children with making a homemade craft for MomBoss....a scrapbook, a picture collage, etc. Something homemade and with a lot of thought included would be perfect! ♥
I always have them make a card and an art project. This year I found a project on pinterest I'm going to do. You buy big letters from the craft store to spell out mom and take pictures of the kid (s) holding each letter and put it in a 3 picture frame. Last year I took them to color me mine and let them paint a serving platter and mb loved it. The year before I had them do big finger paintings for her since they were only 1 and 3 years old.
I help them make cards, and the older kids usually make something crafty, i.e. string a bead necklace, paint a treasure box etc. For babies or very young toddlers, I have done something with their handprints, with a poem. There are several versions of a poem about little hands. Google child's handprint poem, for poems and ideas for cards using them. I also make sure to remind DB that it is coming up!
I don't get them anything from myself. That seems to be a little too personal, I like to keep my relationships with MB/DB professional. But I will often plan an art project for the kids where they can make something for mom.
Talk to DB.* While it's sad for a mom to not be recognized on Mother's Day, it also really sucks for a busy, first-time parent to plan something out and be shown up by their employee. I've had dads tell me they have something planned or that they want to make something with their kid and I've had dads tell me (with huge amounts of relief) that they are swamped-at-work-and-when-is-Mother's-Day-and-are-they-supposed-to-do-something-or-can-I-make-that-happen?
I usually do something that fits the mom's interests and involves hand/foot prints, photographs I've taken of the kids, art, and/or quotes depending on the age of the kiddos. Definitely talk to the dad first, as while it's really nice of you to think about it, it's also an opportunity for him to thank his wife for being the mother of their children.
For now, I would send the mom an occasional picture text or email during the day, for random baby smiles while she's missing them.
*If MB is a single mom or this is a two-mom family, go for it!!!
I went and got my charges photo taken for moms first mothers day. It was from me and the baby. It was also kinda a present for dad too. Dad had a wonderful day planned for mom so my gift was nothing in comparison
I always had the kids make cards, or crafts for mom. One year we went to a pottery painting place and the kids made her some cute stuff. Nothing too fancy or expensive, but mom always appreciated it. What I loved about this family was that they gave ME a card and usually a gift card for a pedicure on Mothers day. I am not a mother, but MB always called me her "back up mommy". I was truly blessed and always felt so special that I was recognised on such an important day. I always thought that was so awesome, because even though we nannies are not moms to our charges, we a lot of times do EVERYTHING a mother would do for these kids, and it was great to know they thought it too. :)
IMO you should only get her a card and have it made by the kids. I honestly think the main responsibility of the gift giving should be from dad and kids
I agree with Z and Phoenix. Mother's day is a day to honor your own mom, and your wife if she is a mom. It is kind of weird to give or get a mother's day present from someone else.
I also think that when a mom starts calling a nanny "backup mommy," something is not right. Nanny is nanny, mom is mom, you should never confuse the kids about that. Nannies need to be careful to walk the line between employee and family member. No matter how close you get, you are still not a real member of the family, and I think it is important to keep that line firmly in place.
I also agree with the PPs who say Mother's Day should be a family matter. I suspect that nannies who go all out to make gifts for the MBs are former daycare teachers who were forced to do so at the daycare and now do it out of habit. On Mother's Day, I get a gift for my mother and mother-in-law, not my boss. I will secretly remind my DB that it is coming up because odds are he won't remember otherwise. I will also wish her a Happy Mother's Day right before I leave for the weekend. If I happen to be nannying for older children, I will break out the art supplies and have them make their mother a nice card or picture. But this year my charge is a baby so I won't be doing anything, nor do I think my MB will expect me to do anything.
LOL, I never said it is the nanny's responsibility, I just said what I tend to do! I am really close to both of my bosses and we have a joking kind of relationship so I know I can tease DB with a "don't forget!" kind of thing. Same with a DB I had a few years ago. In fact, I'll probably ask him what he's getting her for her first Mother's Day, because I'm just that nosy.
15 comments:
Maybe you can assist the children with making a homemade craft for MomBoss....a scrapbook, a picture collage, etc. Something homemade and with a lot of thought included would be perfect! ♥
I always have them make a card and an art project. This year I found a project on pinterest I'm going to do. You buy big letters from the craft store to spell out mom and take pictures of the kid (s) holding each letter and put it in a 3 picture frame. Last year I took them to color me mine and let them paint a serving platter and mb loved it. The year before I had them do big finger paintings for her since they were only 1 and 3 years old.
I help them make cards, and the older kids usually make something crafty, i.e. string a bead necklace, paint a treasure box etc. For babies or very young toddlers, I have done something with their handprints, with a poem. There are several versions of a poem about little hands. Google child's handprint poem, for poems and ideas for cards using them. I also make sure to remind DB that it is coming up!
I don't get them anything from myself. That seems to be a little too personal, I like to keep my relationships with MB/DB professional. But I will often plan an art project for the kids where they can make something for mom.
Talk to DB.* While it's sad for a mom to not be recognized on Mother's Day, it also really sucks for a busy, first-time parent to plan something out and be shown up by their employee. I've had dads tell me they have something planned or that they want to make something with their kid and I've had dads tell me (with huge amounts of relief) that they are swamped-at-work-and-when-is-Mother's-Day-and-are-they-supposed-to-do-something-or-can-I-make-that-happen?
I usually do something that fits the mom's interests and involves hand/foot prints, photographs I've taken of the kids, art, and/or quotes depending on the age of the kiddos. Definitely talk to the dad first, as while it's really nice of you to think about it, it's also an opportunity for him to thank his wife for being the mother of their children.
For now, I would send the mom an occasional picture text or email during the day, for random baby smiles while she's missing them.
*If MB is a single mom or this is a two-mom family, go for it!!!
I went and got my charges photo taken for moms first mothers day. It was from me and the baby. It was also kinda a present for dad too. Dad had a wonderful day planned for mom so my gift was nothing in comparison
I always had the kids make cards, or crafts for mom. One year we went to a pottery painting place and the kids made her some cute stuff. Nothing too fancy or expensive, but mom always appreciated it.
What I loved about this family was that they gave ME a card and usually a gift card for a pedicure on Mothers day. I am not a mother, but MB always called me her "back up mommy". I was truly blessed and always felt so special that I was recognised on such an important day.
I always thought that was so awesome, because even though we nannies are not moms to our charges, we a lot of times do EVERYTHING a mother would do for these kids, and it was great to know they thought it too. :)
IMO you should only get her a card and have it made by the kids. I honestly think the main responsibility of the gift giving should be from dad and kids
I agree with Z and Phoenix. Mother's day is a day to honor your own mom, and your wife if she is a mom. It is kind of weird to give or get a mother's day present from someone else.
I also think that when a mom starts calling a nanny "backup mommy," something is not right. Nanny is nanny, mom is mom, you should never confuse the kids about that. Nannies need to be careful to walk the line between employee and family member. No matter how close you get, you are still not a real member of the family, and I think it is important to keep that line firmly in place.
I also agree with the PPs who say Mother's Day should be a family matter. I suspect that nannies who go all out to make gifts for the MBs are former daycare teachers who were forced to do so at the daycare and now do it out of habit. On Mother's Day, I get a gift for my mother and mother-in-law, not my boss. I will secretly remind my DB that it is coming up because odds are he won't remember otherwise. I will also wish her a Happy Mother's Day right before I leave for the weekend. If I happen to be nannying for older children, I will break out the art supplies and have them make their mother a nice card or picture. But this year my charge is a baby so I won't be doing anything, nor do I think my MB will expect me to do anything.
Yes. I come rom a daycare background so I was wondering if this was a nanny thing to do.
Reading throught this post I've gained some more insight, and think I'll just wish her A Happy Mom's day and be gone.
How is it the nanny's responsibility to remind dad it's mother's day?
As you said she's not family and should stay out of family matters.
LOL, I never said it is the nanny's responsibility, I just said what I tend to do! I am really close to both of my bosses and we have a joking kind of relationship so I know I can tease DB with a "don't forget!" kind of thing. Same with a DB I had a few years ago. In fact, I'll probably ask him what he's getting her for her first Mother's Day, because I'm just that nosy.
Flowers or a nice touching card.
I you're caring for older kids youc an break out the construction paper, crayons, and markers and have them make her a card.
As the nanny just wish her a happy day when you go home or the weekend. I wouldn't get involved in gift giving.
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