Most of my nanny positions began with friends. People I knew in real life BEFORE I became their nanny. In these situations the interview appointment is often moot, but for the occasions that I have actually interviewed for a position, there are questions that seem to be the norm. I thought you might be interested in reading my answers and possibly what I think about the questions.
What do you like most about being a Nanny?
There are many things I love about my job. Every day I get to play with toys, imagine, pretend, be silly, and in general avoid acting like an adult. And who can deny that I'm a love junky? The hugs, kisses, snuggles, and general affection often make my world a better place. However, when I look intently at the episodes that bring me the most joy, I am always brought back to points where I have helped my charges to learn something. It could be a life skill--dressing themselves, setting the table, brushing their hair--or something educational like counting, number/letter recognition, or how things work. Whatever the skill, I find the biggest sense of accomplishment when I see that light of knowledge in their eyes. I love the smiles, the sense of pride they acquire, and above all the realization that I am helping to prepare them for a happy and productive life.
I think this question can be very telling and informative for parents searching for a nanny. Obviously no one wants to hire someone who thinks the best part of watching children is when they are asleep. (Though I must admit that nap time IS a very important time of day for nannies who spend hours pretending they have as much energy as little people less than 1/3 their age.) ;-)
This has always been the first thing that came to mind when I was asked what is my favorite part of being a nanny. There is no doubt in my mind that the daily instruction I give is an incredibly important part of moulding these little minds. I take this job very seriously and I find it terribly rewarding.
Stay tuned for the next installment of "Questions to Ask A Prospective Nanny!" I will be addressing the opposite of this topic, what I like LEAST about being a nanny. That will surely prove interesting.
Monday, March 28, 2011
Friday, March 25, 2011
On Sibling Love
APC and DLC had a weight check up at the doctor's office. That left me home with RBC. He was silly all morning. Enjoying the one-on-one attention. It was obvious he missed his brother and sister though. The moment they came home and sat down on the carpet to play with us he said,
"I was staying home all day and i missed you"
He proceeded to give them both kisses and hugs, to which they responded with whines and not-so-gentle nudges to leave them alone. Turns out they weren't missing HIM so much.
It's really interesting to experience each of the triplets by themselves and it's nice to see that even if they spend much of their time together fighting over toys and annoying one another, that they do notice when the other two aren't around.
"I was staying home all day and i missed you"
He proceeded to give them both kisses and hugs, to which they responded with whines and not-so-gentle nudges to leave them alone. Turns out they weren't missing HIM so much.
It's really interesting to experience each of the triplets by themselves and it's nice to see that even if they spend much of their time together fighting over toys and annoying one another, that they do notice when the other two aren't around.
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
On Music
Recently, a friend of mine relayed this story to me. He and his daughter were driving in the car. He had some not exactly kid friendly music playing on the stereo. Soon enough Baby Girl requested, "can you put on some more music? Not this music." Confidently solidifying her point she added, "This is yucky music." Although this story amuses, it also illustrates the point of this post perfectly. It is incredibly difficult to find music that will entertain both parent/nanny and child.
Throughout my experience as a nanny, this story has repeated itself in many incarnations. Most frequently I have seen where the parents give no notice to the music they play in the car and I later hear the children repeating lyrics that are generally inappropriate. For example, J's favorite song as a toddler was M I A's "Galang" At first it was amusing to hear him sing along to this catchy tune. However, as the lyrics became more familiar, the drug references were obvious and soon we had to fib a bit and say the "Galang" disc was broken. EVENTUALLY he stopped asking for it.
This was not to bed outdone by the two girls of the yellow brick house. One day as we were out on an adventure, I was surprised to hear them both behind me singing, "Like this, like this, like this..." from Mim's song of the same title.
Much like my "On Parroting" post, it is obvious they are listening and taking the words in, though they may not be aware of the meanings. (At least we hope not!)
So how do we avoid this pitfall? No man (ie. parent/nanny) can musically live off of "The Wiggles" oeuvre and discs of other childrens' songs like "This Old Man" alone. Thankfully for me, there are discs like "No!" and "Here Come The ABCs" by one of my favorite bands, They Might Be Giants.
I find this music, produced by musicians I know and respect, much more tolerable than the random arrangement of "Old MacDonald" found on any number of CDs geared at youngsters.
Being a classically trained musician, I also enjoy any of the four "Beethoven's Wig" discs that take classical works and add historically related lyrics to make them interesting and funny. I sure could have used these during my music history "drop-the-needle" tests!
Music with the C family is a bit tough when older brother H is around. He often enjoys pop hits that may prove inappropriate for his younger siblings. (The current favorite is the relatively inocuous "Dynomite." It is not uncommon for me to hear little APC singing Taio Cruz's lyrics in her sweet little voice. Obviously it is risky to set the dial to many regular radio stations while in the car. We often resort to Radio Disney, though it's not my favorite.
I suppose what I want to accomplish with this post is a reminder to parents and caregivers: they are listening. Even though the music seems like background noise to you, they are ingesting it and learning from it, good or bad. We can't always prevent them from acquiring a colorful vocabulary, so my advice is to be aware and attempt to find things that the whole family can enjoy. It may be a pain, but you can rest easy knowing that your child won't be the one reciting Eminem lyrics at school.
Throughout my experience as a nanny, this story has repeated itself in many incarnations. Most frequently I have seen where the parents give no notice to the music they play in the car and I later hear the children repeating lyrics that are generally inappropriate. For example, J's favorite song as a toddler was M I A's "Galang" At first it was amusing to hear him sing along to this catchy tune. However, as the lyrics became more familiar, the drug references were obvious and soon we had to fib a bit and say the "Galang" disc was broken. EVENTUALLY he stopped asking for it.
This was not to bed outdone by the two girls of the yellow brick house. One day as we were out on an adventure, I was surprised to hear them both behind me singing, "Like this, like this, like this..." from Mim's song of the same title.
Much like my "On Parroting" post, it is obvious they are listening and taking the words in, though they may not be aware of the meanings. (At least we hope not!)
So how do we avoid this pitfall? No man (ie. parent/nanny) can musically live off of "The Wiggles" oeuvre and discs of other childrens' songs like "This Old Man" alone. Thankfully for me, there are discs like "No!" and "Here Come The ABCs" by one of my favorite bands, They Might Be Giants.
I find this music, produced by musicians I know and respect, much more tolerable than the random arrangement of "Old MacDonald" found on any number of CDs geared at youngsters.
Being a classically trained musician, I also enjoy any of the four "Beethoven's Wig" discs that take classical works and add historically related lyrics to make them interesting and funny. I sure could have used these during my music history "drop-the-needle" tests!Music with the C family is a bit tough when older brother H is around. He often enjoys pop hits that may prove inappropriate for his younger siblings. (The current favorite is the relatively inocuous "Dynomite." It is not uncommon for me to hear little APC singing Taio Cruz's lyrics in her sweet little voice. Obviously it is risky to set the dial to many regular radio stations while in the car. We often resort to Radio Disney, though it's not my favorite.
I suppose what I want to accomplish with this post is a reminder to parents and caregivers: they are listening. Even though the music seems like background noise to you, they are ingesting it and learning from it, good or bad. We can't always prevent them from acquiring a colorful vocabulary, so my advice is to be aware and attempt to find things that the whole family can enjoy. It may be a pain, but you can rest easy knowing that your child won't be the one reciting Eminem lyrics at school.
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
On The Teratoid Threes
It isn't uncommon to hear the misplaced fear in new parents voices as they mention the dreaded 'terrible twos.' It makes sense that children would experience a greater need for independence and freedom to make more of their own choices at this age. This of course can lead to defiance and many frustrating arguments, for both parents and children alike. Sadly, the most natural outlet for a child's frustration is characterized by the two most dreaded words in the parental/caregiver vocabulary--temper tantrum. However, this 'terrible twos' distinction is misleading. We often avoid mentioning that it only gets worse by age three.
The teratoid threes as I like to call them, literally meaning "resembling a monster," can be even more frightful than the previous year. Children are more mobile, willful, and constantly struggling to determine/hold onto their place in the world--both in their home life as well as the world outside. Every conversation seems to be met with a question, "why, Norie," or a defiant "No, I don't want to...(insert anything under the sun here.)" Even if I am offering their favorite snack or activity, the triplets choose the exact opposite just for the sake of making their own choice. Heaven forbid I put my foot down. It's then that they deteriorate into tears, wailing, and gnashing of teeth. Characterized by faces such as this:
Though this picture is amusing now, at the time I admit, I was a bit frustrated. Yes, even nanny.nora gets frustrated.
Thankfully, our 365 monstrous days of the teratoid threes pass and we negotiate these struggles day to day picking our battles and using methods of distraction to keep the peace.
I find it interesting how little talk there is of the "frightening fours." Thankfully, I have another 327 days to prepare for those. ;-)
The teratoid threes as I like to call them, literally meaning "resembling a monster," can be even more frightful than the previous year. Children are more mobile, willful, and constantly struggling to determine/hold onto their place in the world--both in their home life as well as the world outside. Every conversation seems to be met with a question, "why, Norie," or a defiant "No, I don't want to...(insert anything under the sun here.)" Even if I am offering their favorite snack or activity, the triplets choose the exact opposite just for the sake of making their own choice. Heaven forbid I put my foot down. It's then that they deteriorate into tears, wailing, and gnashing of teeth. Characterized by faces such as this:
Though this picture is amusing now, at the time I admit, I was a bit frustrated. Yes, even nanny.nora gets frustrated.
Thankfully, our 365 monstrous days of the teratoid threes pass and we negotiate these struggles day to day picking our battles and using methods of distraction to keep the peace.
I find it interesting how little talk there is of the "frightening fours." Thankfully, I have another 327 days to prepare for those. ;-)
Monday, March 21, 2011
On First Meetings
Children are often wary of new people. It is not uncommon for even the most outgoing children to hide behind their parents' legs when the new babysitter/nanny arrives. It's hard not to take it personally, but I have found that the best method to winning over a new charge is a polite hello and then basically ignoring them until they make the first move. I engage the parents and ask questions about the household, finding topics that may encourage the child to speak to me. Above all I don't pressure them. When you force the issue they are even more likely to bury their heads and cry.
This works for infants as well. When they are comfortable in their parents arms, smile and say hello, possibly taking their hand or stroking their cheek. Above all avoid getting in their face, startling them, or trying too soon to hold them. You can't rush their adjustment period and taking things slow can really help.
This is why I often plan to come early or at a time when the parents will be home in order to get to know the children. This small gesture can make all the difference when the parents leave us for the first time.
These strategies don't always prevent the tears, but we'll save my tricks for calming children for another post.
This works for infants as well. When they are comfortable in their parents arms, smile and say hello, possibly taking their hand or stroking their cheek. Above all avoid getting in their face, startling them, or trying too soon to hold them. You can't rush their adjustment period and taking things slow can really help.
This is why I often plan to come early or at a time when the parents will be home in order to get to know the children. This small gesture can make all the difference when the parents leave us for the first time.
These strategies don't always prevent the tears, but we'll save my tricks for calming children for another post.
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
On Books: "Pinkalicious"
Pink just happens to be nanny.nora's favorite color, so when a friend introduced me to this book where the main character shares my rosey obsession, I was thrilled.
The basis is simple. Girl eats excessive amounts of pink cupcakes and wakes up in the morning to find she has turned a lovely shade of pink. At first she is delighted, but after an additional cupcake turns her red, she decides to take the Doctor's advice to get back to her normal color.
Sadly, this is where the book loses my allegiance. The prescription for de-coloring this little girl is to eat lots of green veggies. This in it self would not be a problem, except that the author puts a negative spin on eating vegetables, using words like "yuck" and "ick" to describe the experience.
Over all this book is entertaining and inventive even with the less desirable view of all edible greens. (My second favorite color, by the way.)
I believe with the right attitude and an open dialogue about the themes in this book, "Pinkalicious" can entertain ever the most anti-pink person.
There's even a surprise at the end! I won't spoil it her. You'll just have to read to find out. ;-)
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
On Omnipotence
As a nanny you are required to know everything: where the extra diapers are, where the kids are, and according to the kids, where every last tiny toy in the house is.
Not a day goes by that I don't hear,
But NORIE, where IS the...?
(Imagine a tiny, whiny voice and fill in the blank.)
This "need to know" often extends past the children to the parents. As an integral member of the household it is often left to me to have the whereabouts of important school and medical papers in mind. However, with 3 adults in house and six hands sorting through all the things that come in and out, this can get a little tricky.
Above all a nanny must be organized and attentive. If something slides under the couch or falls behind a the book case, I am paid to notice.
Case in point: APC acquired the book "Pinkalicious" for Chanukah. (More on this title soon, stay tuned!) Somehow, within a few days it had disappeared. Every adult searched. Multiple times. Finally, I suggested an unlikely hiding place. There is a tiny space under the large bookshelf in the living room. I have saved books from disappearing into this space before. Perhaps it slid under there? Dad (GMC) was kind enough to tilt the heavy shelf so I could poke underneath. To our surprise, out slid "Pinkalicious." (Along with a few other titles.) This discovery might not have been made had I not been in tune with the smallest detail of the Cs home.
Beyond skills of organization and attention to detail, I come back to the idea of communication. The reason the house runs as smoothly as it does is this simple technique. I may be forced to be omnipotent, but I couldn't succeed in this task without constant communication with the parents.
As you can imagine, I make lots of lists.
Not a day goes by that I don't hear,
But NORIE, where IS the...?
(Imagine a tiny, whiny voice and fill in the blank.)
This "need to know" often extends past the children to the parents. As an integral member of the household it is often left to me to have the whereabouts of important school and medical papers in mind. However, with 3 adults in house and six hands sorting through all the things that come in and out, this can get a little tricky.
Above all a nanny must be organized and attentive. If something slides under the couch or falls behind a the book case, I am paid to notice.
Case in point: APC acquired the book "Pinkalicious" for Chanukah. (More on this title soon, stay tuned!) Somehow, within a few days it had disappeared. Every adult searched. Multiple times. Finally, I suggested an unlikely hiding place. There is a tiny space under the large bookshelf in the living room. I have saved books from disappearing into this space before. Perhaps it slid under there? Dad (GMC) was kind enough to tilt the heavy shelf so I could poke underneath. To our surprise, out slid "Pinkalicious." (Along with a few other titles.) This discovery might not have been made had I not been in tune with the smallest detail of the Cs home.
Beyond skills of organization and attention to detail, I come back to the idea of communication. The reason the house runs as smoothly as it does is this simple technique. I may be forced to be omnipotent, but I couldn't succeed in this task without constant communication with the parents.
As you can imagine, I make lots of lists.
Monday, March 14, 2011
On games: "Shape-O"
Another easy project that has yielded much fun and laughter is my simplified version of "Bingo." We use shapes and small objects around the house as markers. (Today APC chose Barbie shoes and the boys small wooden blocks.) The best part is when someone achieves 3 in a row and gets to yell, "Shape-O!!!" I mean, what game isn't fun with an exclamation when you win? The parts are easy and self explanatory to make.
The card
The call squares
Happy "Shape-O" players
Not only does every one enjoy getting a little loud, but they practice their shapes to boot.
This game is easily modified and can be used to practice numbers and letters as well. What variations can you all come up with? I hope you'll share!
The card
The call squares
Happy "Shape-O" players
Not only does every one enjoy getting a little loud, but they practice their shapes to boot.
This game is easily modified and can be used to practice numbers and letters as well. What variations can you all come up with? I hope you'll share!
Friday, March 4, 2011
On Appreciation
If you don't like potty talk, you may want to skip this post. They always said I had a potty mouth... ;-)
RBC just pooped on the potty. (Told you there'd be potty talk! Don't say I didn't warn you.) As I was wiping him he says unprompted:
"Thanks for wiping my bum all the time, Norie."
How cute is that?!? I mean really. I'll be the first to say this is generally a thankless job, but when a 3 year old somehow recognizes the fact that helping him is worth appreciation, well, that just makes my day.
I'll leave the rest of my potty talk for another post on potty training. Right now I want to revel in the fact that I'm helping to raise not only polite but appreciative children.
RBC just pooped on the potty. (Told you there'd be potty talk! Don't say I didn't warn you.) As I was wiping him he says unprompted:
"Thanks for wiping my bum all the time, Norie."
How cute is that?!? I mean really. I'll be the first to say this is generally a thankless job, but when a 3 year old somehow recognizes the fact that helping him is worth appreciation, well, that just makes my day.
I'll leave the rest of my potty talk for another post on potty training. Right now I want to revel in the fact that I'm helping to raise not only polite but appreciative children.
On Best Friends
My best friend L just had her second child. Congrats lady! Just before his birth we had the chance to catch up (since she sadly lives really far away from me.) During that conversation I received one of the greatest compliments a nanny could ever hope to achieve.
"I told [my husband], the only way I'd consider going back to work full time is if we could afford to fly you out here, set you up to live, and have you be our nanny."
"Of course he asked, 'Are you serious?'"
"And I told him, 'Yes! She's the only one I'd trust with my children!'"
I do not take compliments such as these lightly. I know that the choice to leave your children in someone else's care is extremely difficult. I'm honored to be held in such high esteem.
I really wish this could happen though! I would love to be able to see my bestie more than once every 5 years.
"I told [my husband], the only way I'd consider going back to work full time is if we could afford to fly you out here, set you up to live, and have you be our nanny."
"Of course he asked, 'Are you serious?'"
"And I told him, 'Yes! She's the only one I'd trust with my children!'"
I do not take compliments such as these lightly. I know that the choice to leave your children in someone else's care is extremely difficult. I'm honored to be held in such high esteem.
I really wish this could happen though! I would love to be able to see my bestie more than once every 5 years.
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
On Anniversary Presents
I received a little surprise when H got home from school today. It seems he had picked me out a couple of anniversary gifts. He was very excited and had to show me how he had taken great care to make sure the stones and metals matched. (A skill that he and I have been perfecting when he picks out his clothes in the morning.)
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
On Anniversaries
It's official! I have been working for the Cs for two years now. I started when the triplets turned one and they are now thriving three year olds. It has been an amazing and exhausting ride. We have all learned and grown.
Sometimes things are crazy.
(As shown below)
But in general we get along great and have lots of fun.
And sometimes we get good pictures of it.
Thank you C family for a wonderful two years. I look forward to many more!
*These pictures (aside from the snowman one) were graciously provided by my sister-in-law. Her work with children is absolutely AMAZING. She is testing the waters at starting her own photography business. Leave her some comment love so she'll know just how successful she actually already is!*
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)