“This is one of the only professions where you get paid to be passionate about someone,” says Shateara H., a Boston-based nanny and babysitter. “Who doesn’t want to get paid for caring?”
Indeed, the 27-year-old former middle school teacher puts her passion to work: She fields three to four new requests a week, adding to a schedule that requires two calendars to stay on track. In fact, she left her job as a teacher so that she could have a less formal structure and take on everything from after-school pickups to date nights and long-term nanny and adult care assignments.
Families have taken note. Take, for instance, how one of her 9-year-old charges greeted her after a vacation: “She actually barricaded me in her room and said, ‘I’m not letting you go!’” Shateara fondly recalls. “I told her I missed her too — but that I’d see her tomorrow.’”
But the self-described “friendtor” — “I’m a friend and a mentor,” she says — knows that she needs to take care of herself, in addition to others over the course of a 40- to 50-hour work week.
“I’ve had to tell some that for my schedule or where they’re located, the job isn’t going to benefit any of us,” she says. “You have to be honest with families. …You want to cater to a family’s needs, but you need to make sure your needs are met, too.”
Here are a few more ways Shateara balances both herself and her families:
Keep an open mind.
“That’s one of the adjustments for this job. You’ve got to work with different families, and everyone has different backgrounds and expectations.”
But find the gig that’s right for you.
“There are so many [families] out there. You want to be able to support what parents are doing and the decisions they make. If you can’t do that for the good of the kid, then it’s not going to be a good fit.”
Handle your finances like a pro.
“[Starting out] I wish I’d known how to negotiate and specify my role for the family’s tax purposes and mine. Since I’m self-employed, I need to plan strategically to cover my benefits. [For instance], you need to go to your state site and set up a way to pay your taxes.”
Think like a kid.
“I think I have a great ability to see things through [kids’] eyes. One of my kids comes home from school now and says, ‘Let me tell you all the gossip!’ I understand her world.”
Remember that little things can mean a lot.
“In the winter, I always carry powdered hot chocolate. I get a lot of overnight requests, and they’re like, ‘You have that all the time? We really like you.’”
Read next: On the Park Bench with Jessica
On the Park Bench is a series that spotlights caregivers and their stories. Have an interesting story to share? Email our community manager.
