It’s a question every mom has asked at least once: “Is my nanny right for my family?” The woman (or man) who holds this ever-so-important position spends hours caring for your children, so it’s only natural for you to want to feel totally comfortable with her or him. If you’re still on the hunt for the perfect nanny, rest assured that the right person is out there.
Get inspired by these five touching, real-life stories about the moment when moms knew they loved or trusted their nanny:
- Above and Beyond
Marcella, a mom of three, felt like she won the lottery when she hired her nanny, Sasha. Not only did Sasha have discipline policies that mirrored those of Marcella’s family, but she held a degree in early childhood education as well. According to Marcella, her love for Sasha was solidified the weekend that both she and her husband, Erik, were out of town on business. Sasha agreed to stay with the kids for two nights.When Marcella returned home on Sunday afternoon, she found a spotless house and three tired kids. Not only did Sasha have the kids playing in the playground, riding their bikes, jumping in fall leaves and baking cookies. “Somehow, she also got the kids to willingly clean!” recalls Marcella. “I loved her before, but I really welcomed my nanny into the family that day.”
- Mother’s Day Gift
Lana’s two kids LOVED their young nanny, Izzy. In fact, Lana often felt like her kids loved their nanny more than they loved her. “Izzy must have picked up on my feelings,” explains Lana, “because Mother’s Day that year was quite special.” Unbeknownst to Lana, Izzy made plans with Lana’s husband, Mark, to come over early that Sunday to help the kids whip up a batch of pancakes and make cards.The children surprised Lana with breakfast in bed, as well as handprints cast in plaster which they had worked on the week before. Lana was very touched by the gesture, and she knew at that moment that she had found an awesome nanny.
- No Complaining
Janet, a mom of two boys, was heading home from work one evening when she was T-boned by a speeding car. She called home and asked her nanny, Jill, to send her husband, Tom, to the scene. When Tom got home, Jill told him what happened and he rushed out the door. Then, Jill sprang into action and started dinner for the boys. She also helped them finish their homework and made sure that they took their baths and brushed their teeth.When Janet and Tom got home from the hospital, they were pleased to discover that everything had been taken care of. “Our nanny was a star and I knew I could trust her,” says Janet. “But, I knew I loved her later that night when I opened the refrigerator to find that she had also packed the kids’ lunches for the next day.”
- The Summer Scrapbook
Amy and Larry hired a part-time nanny, Susan, to pick their three girls up from school and watch them until the end of the work day. Susan turned out to be very reliable and the children loved her. So, when summer break was approaching, Amy and Larry asked Susan to nanny full-time, and she happily agreed.The girls were full of stories about swimming, playing on the playground and doing art projects, and the couple couldn’t have been happier. “We knew we had found the best nanny at the end of the summer,” says Amy. On the last day of summer break, Susan presented Amy and Larry with a scrapbook that she had filled with hundreds of pictures that she had taken over the last few months. “She knew I struggled with being a working mom,” explains Amy, “and her gift touched my heart.”
- A Little Spying
“We didn’t want to get a nanny cam, but we were curious to see what was happening at home,” recalls Raina, who recently hired a new nanny to watch her infant daughter. One day, Raina sneaked into her home to do a bit of observing. She discovered a counter with clean bottles, a vacuumed floor and a laughing baby being entertained by a devoted child care provider. “I never spied on Darlene again — I knew she loved my baby girl,” says Raina.
Once you find the nanny that’s just right for your family, you’re going to want to pay her the recognition she deserves. Check out 52 Ways to Thank Your Nanny.
What are some great moments you’ve had with your nanny? Tell us in the comments below!
Sara Ipatenco is a former stay-at-home mom who is now a freelance writer and first-grade teacher. She holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree, both in elementary education. Sara has been published in “Teaching Tolerance” and “Family Fun” magazines.
