Saved by the INA!

by Cindy Wilkinson

Caring for adorable infants, toddlers, or children of any age can be a great joy!  I consider my bonds with the children that I have nannied, as well as my relationships with their parents, to be as important as those with my own family.  This profession of nannying allows me to nurture my young charges while serving their family as a whole.  And, I totally love the work that I do each day!!  That said, all jobs have special challenges and there is a downside to this line of work as well.

Not that I am complaining about getting to spend my days hanging out with young children in the comfort of a beautiful home and away from the hustle and bustle of corporate life.  I enjoy the pleasures of exploring my creativity through the multitude of art projects I participate in with my eager charges.  I appreciate the time I spend outdoors each day as I stroll through the neighborhood park, rather than working from the confined space of  a cubicle.  And, I especially love all of the hugs and snuggles I receive throughout my workday.

 So, life as a nanny does have its great rewards, certainly unique to this profession.  But, also unique to this profession is its greatest challenge:  ISOLATION!  I was once interviewed by a newspaper reporter about my journey as a career nanny and his opening quote from me was, “I’ve been at home with the kids for 20 years, and they’re still toddlers!!”  This phrase really sums up my feelings on this dilemma. 

Isolation can be hard for stay at home parents too.   It can be difficult when your days are filled with endless feedings, diaper changes, and an infant’s long naps, often with no other adult to interact with.  Add to this the feeling of being homebound much of the time.  It can be a tough transition for any parent and nannies are not immune from dealing with some of the same feelings.  Of course, a nanny is with the child for a 10 hour (or so) day usually 5 days a week while a parent is on 24/7.  And parents don’t necessarily get a break from this routine while the professional caregiver does.  But, there is one aspect of this predicament that is especially challenging for the career nanny.

A mother or father sees their child grow from an infant, to toddler, then up to tween, teen, and on and on.  Each stage brings opportunities for new experiences and new relationships.  You evolve from spending your days with a newborn in a nursery to being a helping parent at your child’s pre-school and on to the role of Saturday soccer mom.  This isn’t the case for most nannies, especially those who specialize with the youngest aged charges.  We see our lives repeating themselves as we leave one nanny position and then begin another with a new set of young children.   Eventually, most nannies will begin to experience the feeling that they too have been at home with toddlers for 20 years.

You are likely now thinking, if being at home with toddlers for 20 years is such a challenge, then why not do something else?  Well, I have actually been at home with toddlers now for 33 years and am still going strong!  The key for me is in finding ways to connect with others, especially those in my profession, since we have no formal workplace.  We need to have opportunities to share our ideas and our resources.  We need places to network with one another and sometimes just to enjoy the camaraderie of others who share our same passion for working with children.   We especially need to find others whom we can talk to about the joys and challenges unique to those of us in our line of work.

One of the most important ways that I have done this is through the International Nanny Association!  This is an amazing organization in which both its mission and membership are inclusive of all segments of the nanny industry: nannies, agencies, insurance providers, nanny tax services, and many others. 

I remember finding out about the INA for the first time back in 1988.   The conference was in Vail that year and I eagerly attended, not knowing at all what to expect.  It was really life changing for me in that it was the first time I really felt that I had “peers” as a nanny.  Prior to that, I had known summer nannies and foreign au pairs, but few real nannies, and none that were career nannies as myself.  Since that time, I have served on the  INA board of directors, as membership chair, and as a workshop presenter (just to name a few!)  In 1998, I was awarded its INA Nanny of the Year Award, a highlight of my career. 

My involvement in the INA has provided me not only with the opportunity to gain new information from workshops or network with great nannies and agencies, but also a chance to serve my peers by sharing my expertise,  gained during my three decades in this field.  It is something important to all nannies: to join together where we may support each other to be the best nannies we can be.

As of today, May 13, the 2011 INA conference will begin in Tampa, FL.  It promises to be an event filled with great networking, awesome speakers, and an opportunity to make lifelong friends.  If you are a nanny, think about joining the INA and attending an annual conference.  If you employ a nanny, please send this info on so the he/she may consider attending next year.   Here is the link to the International Nanny Association: http://nanny.org  Check it out.  You may find your experience with this organization to be life changing as well!!