Expert Advice: Nanny Tells All

A nanny or a regular babysitter is one of the answers to happiness in a home with nutso, small children. The good ones are part Mary Poppins, part Super Nanny and part child therapist. Because when your 3 year old clocks another kid on the head with a truck at the playground, 3 days in a row, it’s Nanny’s shoulder that you’re going to be crying on.  And she’s going to be the one who reminds you of all the reasons why your kid is just a normal kid and not a Mike Tyson in-the-making.

After staggering through parenthood for a few years, like blind men in the dark, we finally saw the light and found a nanny to help us part-time. Not just any nanny. The best nanny West of the Mississippi. Her name is Yanira, and she is a child whisperer and mother whisperer and dog whisperer too.

 

Yanira’s no longer with us on a regular basis, but we still see her every few weeks because she’s part of the parenting team. We forged a bond over vomit and pink eye and chronic ear infections and potty training. Yanira made all of these experiences better because she’s raised lots of kids. She’s seen it or done it all before. She’s a professional, and thus, one of my “industry experts”.

Here’s what Yanira says would be great for parents, with a nanny or regular sitter on the team, to know: Courtesy and having a clue are important. Say you’ve booked a trip to Mexico for spring break for the family. Let your nanny know the dates that you’ll be in Mexico and won’t be needing her. Do this at least a month in advance, but it’s even better to do it as soon as you’ve booked the trip.

 

Everything you’ve got going on? Nannies have the crazy long “to do” list too, only without the job flexibility to get stuff done during the week. Your small courtesy lets your nanny schedule a dentist or doctor appointment for herself or her kids, invite her mom out for a visit and jam a million other things in. This consideration also allows your nanny to have a bit of balance in her life and a lot more control, at least for the week you and your spitfires are away.

Balance and a sense of control are the first things out the window when we become parents. That’s why we treasure the brief windows of time, say date night or a girls’ trip, when we get them back. Give your nanny this gift. It’s better than any scarf or earrings. Plus, it breeds good will, and you need some good will in the air for a job that requires management of booger flicking charges on a daily basis.

While you're on vacation, doing this...

and this...

and this...

let your nanny know, so she can plan some relaxing activities

 so she can keep up with your crew once you get home!