The children I nanny for have all the best parts of me. They have my whole heart, all the love that I have to give them. love taking kids on adventures- to libraries, museums, playgrounds, zoos, aquariums- everywhere! I have an encyclopedic knowledge of what’s good around here for kids. I like to share my own interests with kids- for example, I’m a big fan of local children’s musician Matt Heaton, and sometimes I’ll tell the kids about my favorite gymnasts. I believe in supporting their interests, so if a kid is currently into dinosaurs, we’ll get books from the library, maybe visit the bones in one of the museums (Harvard and the science museum both have some) and we will learn all we want to learn. I will also answer questions about scientific and social topics, from sex to evolution, with honestly and age appropriate material. I good at playing pretend and have no problem putting on a silly voice to be the bad guy or, once, the pet gorilla. I love reading to kids and can do it for hours, and I’m quite good at finding books for kids. I am very silly and make lots of little jokes (only some of which the children find funny, alas) and I’m not afraid to look like a goof. I live my values in caring for kids; I pay attention to what language I’m using around race and gender to ensure that I am being as inclusive as possible. Kids tend to fold into my life; “my” kids love visiting my house, reading my books, and playing with my toys. Sometimes they meet my friends, or have play dates with other kids I know. I also seek to expand their world, and in addition to taking them to sing a longs, storytimes, and more, I will actively seek out other folks for us to play with. In general, kids tend to really enjoy me and spending time with me. At all three of my very long term jobs, I have ended up friendly with the family and we have done things together outside of work hours, I’ve taken the kids for special adventures, the kids have done sleepovers….I am still in touch with kids I used to nanny for and they retain a lot of affection for me. It is- honestly- something I am tremendously proud of and honored by. My ideal job is parents who genuinely trust me and who want to work together to provide the best care for their children. They give me autonomy to do things a little differently than they do and understand that kids thrive with a variety of adults who love them. They appreciate that I love to take kids out and about. They are understanding that sometimes life interferes and while at work I may need to call a doctors office or check in on my mom who has Alzheimer’s- they know that most of my attention is on the children most of the time and that I will always prioritize the safety of the children over everything else. They have a good sense of humor! They understand that while I am more than happy to do basic tidying and kid cooking it is not my strength and sometimes I need to be shown how to do something. They are fairly cognizant of public health issues- everyone is fully vaccinated, and when they present symptoms they test for flu and COVID (as do I!) I’m quirky, and sometimes socially awkward, and not for everybody, but for families where it’s a good fit, I can make an extraordinary impact in your children’s lives. . |