As you have hopefully seen our “Meet Nanny” series,we wanted you to get to know our NannyFusion members too! Through many of our networking experiences the development team has had the privilege of working with many of ourNannyFusion members. We wanted to share more about them with your our readers. Professional networking is a vital part of the nanny industry, we hope that this will help strengthen your professional networking with our NannyFusion members. Today we share with you some fun information about Stef 0f Ask A Nanny!
Company Name: Ask A Nanny
Contact Stef Tousignant
Website http://AskaNanny.com
Facebook http://www.facebook.com/AskaNanny
Twitter: @askananny
Years in business? One year this March 2012.
What does your company do? Parenting Advice Blog
Member of what organizations? INA, NAEYC
Tell us a little bit about how you got into this business? For the last 5 years I worked as a professional nanny, in San Francisco, mainly for children age 4 months – 4 years. When we made the decision to have a second child I decided it was time to stop nannying full time and focus my attention on helping parents of infants and toddlers tackle these sometimes rocky and confusing ages. I started the parenting advice website AskaNanny.com a year ago, where I offer anonymous and objective advice to parents that write in from across the country.
What is one of your favorite memories since you have been in business? I had a parent write in very concerned about her toddler, who after discovering blueberries for the first time, had loved them so much that she had let him eat 2 or 3 pints of them. Worried about the effects on his system she wanted tips on what to look for if he was allergic or any other weird side effects that may happen. After explaining the tell tale signs of an allergic reaction, I did have to break it to her that his poop would indeed be black for a few diaper changes and not to be alarmed!! lol!
What is the number one mistake nannies make when interviewing? If there’s a child present during the interview not interacting with that child at all. Also, if the interview is in a home of a new baby one should always ask to wash your hands upon entering the house.
What is the most important piece of advice you can share with our readers? Don’t hesitate to talk to your employer about workplace concerns. They are parents first, bosses second – 9 times out of 10 they want to make sure that the person caring for their children is happy doing so!
What was your first job? As the oldest of five my very first job was babysitting my younger siblings! But as the daughter of a seasoned childcare provider, EEC was always a way of life. I worked my way up from Teacher’s aid, to Preschool and Infant/toddler Teacher, to Lead Infant Teacher, and finally to Assistant Director of a nationally accredited center.
When you aren’t working, what do you enjoy? Family Time! – we are always on the go, doing something fun – bike rides at Chrissy Field, visiting the Bay Area Discovery Musuem or Cal Academy, outings to Point Reyes, or Monterey, etc, etc. In my child free moments I practice yoga and try to catch my breath!! 🙂
After you retire, what would you like to be doing? I would love to write and illustrate picture books for infants and toddlers!
Tell us a fun fact about you. I am a list and post it manic! Everything gets written down and stuck somewhere, but thats pretty much where the organization ends, lol!
What’s your favorite book that you’ve ever read? A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius by Dave Eggers
Where would you take your dream vacation? Anywhere warm with a beach to myself!
If you didn’t have your current business, what would you be doing? Since I blog mainly during my “free” time, aka nap times and at night, I would probably be a well rested stay at home mom with a cleaner house – one can dream!!