Now you see us?

Lately I’ve been pondering what it means to truly be seen as a nanny. We operate an industry where privacy, discretion and amenability are often job requirements, with many nannies signing nondisclosure agreements before even landing the position. Add to that working in a home where you rarely have a coworker and you’ve got a recipe for invisibility.

As a result, general society doesn’t really have a handle on what nanny life truly entails, or how this path affects those who choose to walk it’s length. From a distance, we look a lot like placeholders. A warm body in place of a working or otherwise occupied parent. To the untrained eye, we appear unskilled and two-dimensional, executing the mundane and menial household tasks many choose to outsource in this day and age. The low barrier to entry disguises the magnitude of the task of supporting a family without a manual, human resources or even a labor union to ensure fair and safe working conditions.

Instead, we seek and accept positions based on a short description of the family’s needs, the promise of a decent wage and our first impressions of the vibe of the household. We then spend the honeymoon period comparing the job description to the actual scope and hope the vibes stay high while we attempt to assimilate into a family with many masters (whom we refer to as clients for dignity’s sake) and do our best to meet their expectations with a smile. Luckily for us, baby giggles and little kid logic provide those smiles, and often a positive perspective.

Nanny life is a delicate balance between two worlds. Your office is someone’s home, your position a participant in their community and your purpose to move seamlessly in and out of their lives the way many others clock in and out of the office. Some days your job is clear cut child care and others require a bit more of you. Encouraging a frustrated parent, hosting extended family and friends, learning common core math to help with homework, capturing memories that make parents feel like they were there, maintaining community connections, attending events (we don’t say no to the tiny humans!), and listening to the latest favorite song 72 times in a carpool line are rarely listed in the ad, but you never know what the day will bring when nanny is your professional title. Then at the end of your shift, you return to your own home, your own chores and your own world. And at the end of your position, you start the process all over again. No fanfare, no bon voyage, no guarantees and in the saddest scenarios, no contact.

International Nanny Recognition Week was created to bring awareness to the nameless, faceless pillars of society who make countless tiny contributions to the greater good on a daily basis. The magical, reliable, irreplaceable and too often anonymous support staff who uplift and assist families through the formative years and beyond.

To the nanny who hasn’t found community.

To the nanny who never takes their sick days.

To the nanny who doesn’t get a break during their shift.

To the nanny who has to explain they aren’t a babysitter.

To the nanny who rarely hears “thank you.”

To the nanny who doesn’t have guaranteed hours.

To the nanny who neglects their own needs.

To the nanny who stayed for the kids.

To the nanny who is invisible until they make a mistake.

To the nanny who advocates for other nannies.

To the nanny who may never have kids of their own.

To the nanny who chose purpose over prosperity.

To the nanny who emanates joy, love and stability.

The anchor.

The rock.

The secret ingredient.

I see you. I hear you. I applaud you.

Happy International Nanny Recognition Week!