I enjoy reading this blog and get good advice. There seems to be a ton of knowledgeable nannies here. I've noticed the last few weeks posts with specific ideas on how children should be raised and it got me thinking. So here is my informal survey:
Nannies, are you a parent? If Yes: How many kids do you have? Are your children raised? If you were a nanny before becoming a parent do you think your experience as a nanny has helped you in some ways as a parent? Do you think you are a better nanny now that you are a parent? Do you find it easier to find work now because you are a parent? Do you find parents that employ you respect you more because you are a parent?
If No: Do you feel the parents you work for would respect you more if you had children? Do you feel they find it strange someone without children wants to care for children? Do you find it hard finding work because of your non parent status? Do you plan on having children? If you have children do you think your experience as a nanny will help you be a better parent? For parent and non parent nannies do you think parenting and nannying compare?
For the parent posters: Would you prefer a nanny who is also a parent? Why? Would you feel threatened by a nanny that was also a parent? Do you value the childcare opinions of nannies with children over nannies without? Do you feel nannies without children "don't get it" and are far too judgmental of parents? Thanks everybody. - Anonymous
12 comments:
No: Do you feel the parents you work for would respect you more if you had children? No, I think my employers like that I am open to various parenting styles. Plus my focus is on THEIR KIDS
Do you feel they find it strange someone without children wants to care for children?
No, I think they admire it. They understand it as well.
Do you find it hard finding work because of your non parent status?
I feel I would have a hard time.finding work if I WAS a parent. Parents want the focus to be on their.children and their family.
Do you plan on having children?
I do not. At this.point I.feel.as if I have raised all the kids I want. If I have a baby fine if I don't that is also fine
If you have children do you think your experience as a nanny will help you be a better parent?
I have certainly learned patience
For parent and non parent nannies do you think parenting and nannying compare?
A parent once told me you like your own kids far then anyone else's.
I have no children.
I don't think they find it strange, or fault me for not being a parent. I think they appreciate me for the skill set I have.
Haven't had trouble finding work. I don't apply for jobs that specify they prefer a parent.
Yes I plan to be a mother.
I don't know if being a nanny will make me a better mother, but maybe it will provide some different techniques to try in various situations.
The biggest thing I've taken from being a nanny is that I want to be SAHM when the time comes.
I don't think you can fairly compare being a nanny and a parent. Yes there is overlap of tasks and little people, but they are entirely different roles and emotions.
I'm not a parent yet (give me 6 months!), but I've never had an issue. My thought has always been that I've raised WAY more children than these parents will ever raise. I've been raising 2 and 3 year olds for 10 years. I've got a bit more experience than the parents ;) I do think my years as a many will be helpful when I have my baby. Throughout the years I've really been able to decide what kind of parent I want to be. I've seen different techniques and what works and what doesn't. I'm grateful for my time as a nanny, but I admit, I can't wait to be a SAHM!
*nanny, not many
Congrats Melissa! Are you going to quit your job when the baby comes?
I am not a parent (yet) but I know I will be staying home when I have a baby...hopefully soon. My MB knows my husband and I would like to get pregnant but i haven't told her I'm planning to quit. I'm fairly certain she and DB were specifically looking for people who wouldn't need to bring their children with them because that is a big liability. I know they take me seriously and ask me parenting questions all the time. I do think my job has prepared me to be a parent because I have been able to try out a lot of different parenting styles and I have learned what I prefer for my own children.
I am going to quit- I would have anyway though because my husband finishes his training in June (I'm due 6/3). So, regardless of my pregnancy, we would have been leaving anyway, which the parents knew when they hired me. It's going to be sad to leave, but so exciting at the same time!
I do not have any children of my own at this time, but do aspire to have my own littles when I am in a better place (specifically financially) one day, and have finised my degree. I absolutely believe that my experience as a nanny will play a huge role in my parenting style, and my ability to parent a child. I am a firm believe in the practices of attachment parenting, and have aquired a small stash of carriers, which I use with young children in my care. Working as a nanny has not only inspired me to learn more about attachment parenting and the benefits, but has allowed me to actually put those research notes to the test.
As far as the other questions go, I do not believe it is difficult to find work as a child care provider because of my non parent status. If anything, I think most parents in my area actually prefer someone with no children, since nannies with out children can often be more flexible than nannies with children. I have always found that families I work with really respect my opinions and advice, since I have worked with many children in my time, and seen many different circumstances.
Miss Mannah- congrats in advance if you get pregnant!! You will no doubt be a great mom!!!
Thank you Tessa.
No.
I think they value me partly because I don't have any children. I am available at all sorts of hours during the day (and night) and I have "no" responsibilities in other places.
I have never had a hard time finding work, ever.
I plan on having children, hopefully many :) And yes, I feel that nannying has helped me a great deal. I am more open to different kinds of parenting than I would be if I hadn't been a nanny, and an added bonus is that I know what kind of clothes, stroller, etc. etc. are the best so I don't have to think about that when I have children - I'll just know it from experience.
I don't really think parenting and nannying compare. I mean, both know how rewarding and how tought it can be to be around the children all day, but for the nanny it will always be a job no matter how much s/he loves his/her charges, and for the parent... it's their children, their lives - not their job. This is kinda hard to explain, especially since English is not my first language, but I hope I've got the ppoint across.
I am a nanny with no children. I don't think the ones I work for would respect me more if I had children but I am sure I missed some job opportunities because I'm not a parent as well. I don't thik anyone finds strange that I take care of children yet have none.
Maybe if I had children it would be even harder to find work because people get concerned with nannies' children getting sick or not showing up because child is sick. I'll have children. I learned a lot as a nanny so I'm sure I will put that in good use when I have my own children :)
Nannies have to keep children happy and away from parents and parents get all the love so no, I don't think nannying and parenting are the same.
When I've interviewed for nanny jobs, parents have wanted to know if I have my own children for two reasons. First, they don't want me to have children that will interfere with the care of their own children. Secondly, they want me to have or have had children that will not interfere with the care of their own children. So, they value the experience, but don't want me to get distracted by my own children if they are still young enough to be at home. As a parent, I almost never go seek advice about child-rearing from someone who has not raised children of their own.
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