New Directions: Kat

February 2, 2012 by 1 Comment

This series called “New Directions” features  interviews with former nannies that branched out into another aspect of the business, had to add something to be able to stay in the profession, or left the profession entirely.

My goal during the course of these articles is to show you that you have choices, and that sometimes “new directions” can take you to new growth.
Glenda

Today we are talking with Kat:

How long were you a nanny? 15 years (most full time, but some part time)

How long have you been out of the field? 8 years

When did you realize that it was time to make a change? After I had my son, I wanted to be able to offer more – to have a degree and change the world for him. That is not to say that I was not fulfilled being a nanny, but I needed a new challenge and my girls (the two I had nannied for for several years) were in school full time and did not need me like they had so it it seemed like the right time. I went back to school and got my degree. It all worked out because my last day was the Friday before my daughter was born.
Having my own son and daugher on the way and looking for new challenges made me realize I did not want to go through the stress of finding a new family when I had two young children of my own who needed me.

Is parenting your own child different than parenting someone elses child/children? Totally different. In some ways, I was a better nanny than parent…While I loved (and still do love) my girls, I was not as emotionally invested in them and their happiness so I was able to set more boundaries and stick to them in a way that as a parent I can not do because above all I want my children to be happy and it is really hard to know that I ( my rules and or boundaries) am the reason that they are not happy. Plus the obvious- a bad day with my girls was over when I went home. I can’t leave my own children when there is a bad day.

Was it difficult to come to the realization that you were going to have to leave the nanny profession? Not really, I think that everyone knew it was time for me to move on.

Did it come to you gradually, or was it an epiphany when you realized there was something else you wanted to do? Both: I had not really been happy for a while, but had no clear direction of where I was going to go and what I was going to do, then one day at lunch someone mentioned what a great teacher I would be, and that was it. I had been fighting being a teacher for a long time for several reasons, but I finally realised that I could run, but not hide from what I was really meant to do (my destiny)

Did you view it as a positive change or a negative change? positive

Do you miss working as a nanny? yes

Do you stay in touch with any of your nanny friends? yes

Do you stay abreast of what is going on in the field today? yes and no

What do you miss the most? my girls

What do you miss the least? taking orders from someone else and doing what was sometimes not in my job description (grunt work)

Tell us a little bit about what you are doing now. I teach 7th grade life science and I love it. I also coach basketball at my school and sponsor several clubs. I was also honored this year as the Teacher of the Year at my school.

Tell us what you learned as a nanny that is helping you in your current job, career or profession? First – that all kids are different, even those who live in the same house and have the same parents. Second – sometimes you just have to shut up and do it, even if you don’t want to. If you don’t no one else will. Third- all kids need guidelines and rules and structure and last but definitely not least, all kids want praise and love, they need to know that you are going to be there for them, no matter what!

What advice would you give to nannies who are still in the profession but struggling with whether or not they should stay or go? Follow your heart

What advice would you give to other nannies? Know that what you are doing is important and you should do it as long as you enjoy it and feel pride in it. And above all- Do Not let your bosses take advantage of you just because you love the kids you are taking care of. Remember – you are a very important person in that family and if they do not treat you as such, it is time to move on!

What do you wish you had known then that you know now? I wish I had had more self assurance, that I would have stood up for myself a little more often. I was very young and that is a lesson I think only age can teach.

In hindsight, do you think your decision was a good one? Yes


Would you ever consider working as a nanny again?
Maybe during the summer when I am off, but probably not full time again. It would have to be a pretty amazing position for me to do that…are Will and Kate in need? LOL

I do want to comment that I try and keep in touch with all of the families that I nannied for, but I am closest to the ones that live near me. In fact, there have been days where I have had a bad day at my job and I have called my girls or stopped by just so that I can hear their voices or get a hug and feel the love and hope that they give me. I am so proud of what they have become. They will always be my girls and I will always be their Kathleen. (they still know that they can call me if they ever need anything and that will never change!)

Kat lives in Virginia Beach where she teaches  7th grade Life Science. She has two kids an 8th grade boy and a 3rd grade girl. In her spare time she likes to read, cook, hang out with friends, listen to music and watch quirky crime shows (AKA Burn Notice, White Collar, Leverage, Castle, Hawaii 5-0, etc.)… all of which are even better while  enjoying a nice bottle of wine with her husband! She doesn’t enjoy working out, but does it anyway. :) She volunteers with local groups like the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and the American Cancer Society. She works (for free wine) at a local winery occasionaly. She loves road trips, especially the types where she can stop at bizarre/cheesy tourist traps and enjoys scenic overlooks.

Filed Under: New Directions, Table Talk Thursday Tagged With: , , ,

Wax Paper and Crayons by Glenda Propst

January 25, 2012 by 2 Comments

I grew up in the 50′s. Times were different then. It was long before Wal Mart and Target, we didn’t drive to the city very often and when we did, we didn’t drive on the interstate and for most of my childhood my mom stayed home with us.
We didn’t do a lot of crafts but the crafts that we did were memorable and special.

One of the things that I have learned over the years is that the same things that amazed me as a child, usually amaze the children in my life. So today I want to remind you that sometimes the most basic art is the best.

If you have wax paper, crayons, a pencil sharpener and an iron, you create something amazing.
Use the pencil sharpener to shave the crayons, sprinkle the crayon shavings between wax paper, iron on a low setting and “Voila” magic!
My mom always let us use our Wax Paper Creations for place mats which made our dinner just a little more special.

What are some of the basic crafts that you enjoyed when you were a child?

Filed Under: Creative Nanny Wednesday Tagged With: , , ,

Fractured Christmas Carols

December 7, 2011 by Leave a Comment

Fractured Christmas Carols

No one can fracture a Christmas carol better than a kid. I found this list in an old NAN Newsletter and I thought our readers would enjoy them.

Sing along with these new takes on old favorites:

Deck the Halls With Buddy Holly

Olive, the Other Reindeer

We Three Kings of Porridge and Tar

With the Jelly Toast Proclaim

In the Meadow We Can Build a Snowman,

Sleep in Heavenly Peas


then Pretend that He is Sparse and Brown

Oh, What Fun it is to Ride With One Horse, Soap, and Hay

You’ll Go Down in Listerine

He’s Makin’ a List, Chicken and Rice

On the First Day of Christmas My Tulip Gave to Me

Later on We’ll Perspire, As We Dream by the Fire

Frosty the Snowman is a Ferret Elf, I Say

You’ll Tell Carol, “Be A Skunk, I Require”

Good Tidings We Bring to You and Your Kid!


I have a  fractured carol that I remember from my childhood.
It’s from: Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, when I was little, I would say “And they shouted on with “GLEEM”
One of my all time favorite fractured Christmas stories is from the days when I was a Child Care Center Director. We were acting out the Christmas story for our pageant, and I got distracted. I turned to the children and said “Oh dear, I forgot where we were” One of my four years shouted out “Miss Glenda…we were at the part where the shepherds were coming with the paste” (And the shepherds came with haste)
Do you have any Fractured Carols of your own that you would like to share? We would love to hear them.


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Turkey Napkin Ring

November 16, 2011 by Leave a Comment

There are so many easy, fun and colorful crafts you can do with the children in your life for Thanksgiving. If you do traditional things like napkin rings, and place cards for you table, they can be wonderful memories that you can use and treasure for many years to come.

There are lots of ways to make turkeys and the great thing about making turkeys is that they don’t have to be perfect to be adorable.
Today I am going to share with you some turkey napkin rings that I made with my now 18 year old when he was about 4.

For our turkey napkin rings, we used fun foam, but you could also use felt, or even construction paper.

I cut a strip of black fun foam about 7” long and 1.5” wide.

I made a base for the feathers to be glued on to and then we cut our feathers out of different colors of fun foam. I didn’t use a pattern, I simply drew loosely around each of his fingers for the feathers. I cut out a turkey shaped head and a gobbler and he glued it on.

You could add more details like googly eyes or other decorations but I love the simplicity of  this because it was easy for 4 year old hands to do, and when I come across them in my drawer, at this time of year, it brings back a happy memory of time spent with someone I love.

If you do this with the children in your life, we would love to see pictures!

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How Do You Know?

August 22, 2011 by 3 Comments

How do you know?

by Glenda Propst

You can find books about being a nanny, books about what a nanny needs to know, and books about how to hire a nanny but you can’t find a book that tells a nanny how to heal her broken heart when she either outgrows her job or the job ends. When I left my first nanny family in 1993 after being with them for 8 years (4 as a live in) I could find very little information about getting through this difficult time. I used what I learned as I worked through my own grief to develop a workshop called “Gentle Transitions” which I have presented at professional nanny conferences and support groups over the last 17 years. In 2009 I was inspired by Dr. Lynn Kenney “The Family Coach” to brand my “Gentle Transitions” workshop and start my blog “Nanny Transitions”.

The subject of leaving a family, and the grief that follows, is a topic that very few nannies or parents have a desire to talk about.

If we do our job and do it well, we work ourselves out of a job.

One of the hardest aspects of the nanny profession is that no matter how hard you work, or how well you do your job, it is inevitable that your job will come to an end.

Sometimes you can plan for those endings and sometimes they come unexpectedly.

Jobs end for many reasons:

• Children grow up

• Parent change jobs or have to downsize or lose their jobs completely

• Parents find alternative care that is cheaper

• Nannies find jobs that pay more

• Parent and nanny no longer agree on lots of issues

As a professional your goal should be to sit down with the parent talk about the upcoming transition and plan for it together.

But more often than not it ends badly. Even when you are trying to work together to make it a good parting, it can still end badly.

If the nanny chooses to leave, sometimes the parents can feel hurt or betrayed.

If the parent decides to end the relationship, sometimes the nanny can feel hurt or betrayed. No matter who chooses to end the relationship, it is always highly emotional and difficult especially for the nanny and the child/children who have formed very close bonds.

If the writing is on the wall, you need to pay attention and make a plan because if you don’t, you might find that your employers will make that decision for you.

It is much better for you to choose to leave, than to be told the job is over.

Emotionally, even though it is still painful, when it is your decision, not someone else’s you have a tendency to feel more in control.

To better prepare yourself, it is smart for you to know what the warning signs are that a job is coming to an end.


How do you know when the writing is on the wall?

I asked nannies online what are the signals that it is time to move on and here are their top responses:

1. When you stop communicating.

2. When the parents stop trying to be respectful or accommodating to your needs.

3. When the parents start to take on responsibilities that used to be yours.

4. When everything is an issue and you feel like you can’t do anything right.

5. When everything is an issue “for” you and you feel like the parents can’t do anything right.

6. When the parents don’t back you up even after a discussion on the importance of doing so. For example:  *You tell your charge no TV while eating breakfast but you walk in every morning to the TV on and the kids eating breakfast in front of it.

7. Your paycheck bounces.

8. Lack of respect.

9. Your employer belittles you in front of others.

10. Parents correct you in front of the children.

11. Parents disagree with everything you say.

12. When you start the day and wish it was already over.

13. When you dread going to work.

14. When your employer avoids you.

15. When you avoid your employer.

16. When the parents stop responding enthusiastically to plans you have made or things you have done.

17. When your employer asks you to return all credit cards etc. in an effort to use only cash to better track expenses.

18. You stop having regular meetings.

19. Your employers start going back on promises that they made you.

20. You don’t get a raise.

21. When you are asked to make unusual concessions.

22. You feel like you are walking on eggshells.

23. The children have outgrown your level of expertise.

24. Mysterious phone calls or messages.

25. A general feeling of being left out of the loop.

If you are seeing any of those signs in your job, it’s a good bet that changes are coming.

Filed Under: Monday Moxie Tagged With: , , ,

Weekend Round Up August 15-19

August 20, 2011 by Leave a Comment

Monday Moxie:Greta’s Nanny 101 offered great information about “Finding the Perfect Job” She was quick to point out that there is no “perfect job” but there are things we can do during our job search to be sure we make the right choices for our needs.

Tuesday Tips: Marcia Hall started her 4 part series about Familes Grown through Adoption. Her first part discussed books about adoption and included a list of books that you can share with any child to give them a better understanding of what adoption is all about.

Creative Nanny Wednesday: Glenda talked about why it’s important to be silly with the children in your life and shared with us some favorite silly songs from our Facebook fans. She also shared a great resource for songs and lyrics called Kididddles.

Table Talk Thursday :Marcia had the 2nd part of her series on adoption. She explained about different kinds of adoption, and offered some great tips.

Financial Friday: In our monthly article from Breedlove and Associates, Tom Breedlove talked about planning for retirement, how being paid legally offers you security for your future and they also offered information about IRAs and why you consider starting one if you don’t have one.

Once again we want to ask you to please vote for our blog in the Parents Best Blog promotion.

It would mean so much to us if you would take the time to vote!

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Take Time to be Silly!

August 17, 2011 by Leave a Comment

by Glenda Propst with help from our Facebook Fans

There is nothing that makes me happier than to hear children laughing and one way to make that happen is to be silly!
Sometimes, when  my tween age charge is mad at me, a surefire way to make her laugh is for me to “attempt to rap” or even better would be to “attempt to dance” because I can’t do either. But being silly is a great tension breaker, a great diversion and a great release. We should all take time to be silly.
One of the easiest ways to be silly with children is singing silly songs.
I asked some of our Facebook fans what their favorite silly songs were and here are some of their responses:

Loving Arms Orlando ‎“I have a little turtle, His name is Tiny Tim!” and “I’m a NUT!”. Makes them laugh everytime. :)
Tonya Grell Sakowicz: “Skidamarink ”
Tara Lindsay: We love the “Tiny tim turtle song”.
We love” 7-8-9 “and “The Ninja Song by Barenaked Ladies” (from the Snacktime album).
Gets my charges giggling and singing every time…and the “Popcorn song” from that album, too.

Greta Schraer RN Team
“I Never Go to Work”
“L M N O” and “E eats Everything”
“The Baby Bumble Bee Song” (hysterical instead of sad)
“Oldies “Lollipop” and “Monster MAsh”
…”I like to Move it” … 90′s song “Blue (Da Ba Dee)” is requested in every ride in my car.

Bonnie D. Mills On top of Spagetti,
“Do your ears hang low” and two Italian ones I really like, “I Coccodrillo Come Fa” and “Il Caffe della Pepina”.
The Italian ones my charge sings to me, but I really like them.
Beth Lehmann “TMBG – Alphabet of Nations”
Karen E. Yatsko:Tom Chapin songs – “The Cousins are Coming”, “Garbage”, and “Mother Earth”!!
April Krause We love the song “Who Stole the Cookie from the Cookie Jar?” It is not a silly song but you can make it one.
Deborah Brown Sandra Boynton’s “Silly Lullabye” - it’s the naptime song around here!
Deanna Weyandt Aboud “Peanut Sat on a Railroad Track”. The kids crack up everytime they do the “splat.”
Heather McKinley we’ve been singing “Down by the Bay” all week
Anne-Marie Stanley: “Shake your Sillies Out”, “Alice the Camel” for some reason my charge thinks this is hystercial.
Sue Downey “‎18 Wheels on a Big Rig” from Trout Fishing in America!
A wonderful resource for finding the words to all those songs you thought you forgot is a website called
KIDIDDLES you can look up songs by title, or category. For example there is a category for Animal Songs, Silly Songs, Learning Songs etc. They even have some files to listen to the songs so that if you can’t remember the tune you can refresh your memory!
So share your favorite silly song in the comment section and then hop on over to check out Kiddiddles. You will love it and I bet you will find some favorites from your own childhood!
Filed Under: Creative Nanny Wednesday Tagged With: , , , ,

Resources for Teaching Baby Sign Language

August 10, 2011 by Leave a Comment

On Monday we shared with you an article from Mey Lau the Project Director for Baby Sign Langauge

In case you haven’t made it over to the site yet I wanted to share with you a couple of the resources that are offered there. Even if you aren’t creative, most of us can hit the print button.
If you are creative you might print out the flash cards and find creative ways to personalize them. Just be sure you hope over to the Baby Sign Language site and check them out!

A Dictionary so that if you just want to teach a few basic signs you find them easily.

Baby Sign Language Flash Cards that you print out and use.

Sign Language Chart that you can print out to help you remember the signs as you are learning them.

and the Top Ten Starter Signs
I really hope you will consider doing Baby Sign Language with your Baby. It is such a fabulous communication tool and I found it so helpful in being able to increase communication and understanding with the infants in my care.

The best testimony I can give you for using Baby Sing Language came from my charge who was 5 when his baby sister was born.
He told everyone he saw “My nanny taught me how to talk to my sister and she can’t even talk yet!

So check out all the great resources at Baby Sign Language.

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Week End Round Up August 1-5

August 6, 2011 by Leave a Comment

Can you believe it’s August? This summer flew by in a whirl of heat waves and summer happenings.
As summer comes to an end we start to think about back to school preparations.

On Monday Moxie: Becky Kavanagh from Nannies of the Heartland told us about National Kids Day!

On Tuesday Tips Alice had tips from the DisDad on Disney Travel.

On Wednesday Creative Nanny, Glenda shared some old links and some new ideas from Textbook Mommy for some fun “Back to School craft ideas.

On Thursday Table Talk, Glenda started a new series called “New Directions” focusing on nannies who have left the profession and taken their nanny career in a new direction.

Financial Friday Alice shared some great information from the Aaron Ritmaster on what you need to know when planning a Disney Cruise.

Just in case you missed a day here are the links!

Monday Moxie National Kids Day is August 7

Tuesday Tips Disney Links for Travel and Cruises

Wednesday Creative Nanny Back to School Crafts

Thursday Table Talk: New Directions

Financial Friday An Introduction to Disney Cruises

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New Directions: Nanny Jenn

August 4, 2011 by 1 Comment

by Glenda Propst

When you enter into the nanny profession, some of us know from the beginning that this is what we want to do for “life” Some are only doing it for a few years until a goal is met. Even the best laid plans can change. You get married and move to a different city, you have children of your own, the children you care for go to school,something unexpected happens and your employer loses their job. Jobs end for lots of reasons, the industry changes, the economy tanks and there it is:
The fork in the road.

Yogi Berra (the famous baseball player) put it like this:

If you come to a fork in the road, take it.

This series called “New Directions” will feature interviews with former nannies that branched out into another aspect of the business, had to add something to be able to stay in the profession, or left the profession entirely.

My goal during the course of these articles is to show you that you have choices, and that sometimes “new directions” can take you to new growth.

I was fortunate that I started my career in 1985. I got in on the ground floor of the nanny movement that swept the country. I started my career at a time when there were good jobs, good benefits, and the nanny profession was a good career choice.

After 26 years the good jobs are still out there but hard to find, the good benefits aren’t always offered anymore and staying in this career doesn’t work for everyone. If you are one of those nannies who is standing at the fork in the road, it is my hope that something here will inspire, uplift and encourage you to find the direction you need.

The first person who responded to my questions is Nanny Jenn. You might remember Jenn. We did a series of articles counting down  her last days with the family she had been with for 16.5 years. Her career has taken a new direction and I thought she would be a great person to kick off this series.

How long were you a nanny? I was a full time nanny for 18 years.

I still  provide very part time care for my kids that I was with for 16.5years. It’s great because I still have the opportunity to spend time with them.

How long have you been out of the field? 1 year

When did you realize that it was time to make a change? As soon as I left my position I felt that I didn’t want to start over with a new family. I couldn’t see myself attaching that way ever again. It was so hard to leave a family after that long.

What prompted your change? I was working part time for another family and the mom’s job ended. After that happened I decided if I was ever going to do something different this was the time!

Was it difficult to come to the realization that you were going to have to leave the nanny profession? Yes, But I always say my foot remains solidly in it! I still own an online support group. Within a few months of starting my new job my old family asked me to work about 3-5 hours a week. Sometimes it’s more, sometimes it’s less. It’s nice to have a foot in the profession but at this point I am also ok with pulling out.

Did it come to you gradually, or was it an epiphany when you realized there was something else you wanted to do? I realized it gradually. I think I started thinking about it a few years ago when I went part time with my long term family. With the kids in school they didn’t need me as much and I started another part time nanny job. I started to realize that changes were coming.

Did you view it as a positive change or a negative change? Sooo great! I am sooo happy! I get to work with children everyday. I had an AMAZING nanny career and now am on a different path. I love that.

The change has been awesome. People do it all the time. You meet nurses who are now business people. You meet teachers who train to be nurses, so why not nannies who now do something else?

Do you miss working as a nanny? No. I don’t. I can’t believe it! I think it’s because I stay in the touch with the nannies in my online support group. I am not regretful at all.

Do you stay abreast of what is going on in the field today?

Yes!

Tell us a little bit about what you are doing now. I work in Youth Services at my local library. I do the children’s programming. I am in charge of book clubs and story times working with ages birth to teens. I’m the story time lady!!!

Tell us what you learned as a nanny that is helping you in your current job, career or profession? I have learned so much. I have learned how to interact with kids and their parents. I know what kids like so that makes a big difference.

What advice would you give to nannies that are still in the profession but struggling with whether or not they should stay or go? I think you have to try to imagine yourself in a different job. Talk to others who have done it. I would be happy to talk to anyone who wants advice. Do something you love. If you love kids like I do, you will know you have to work with them. I knew my job would have to have kids in it. I couldn’t do a job that required sitting at a desk all day. I found a job where I still get to work with kids and do other things that I enjoy. Part of my job is buying children’s’ books. It is so exciting to know that I get to be a part of introducing children to the world of books and helping to instill a love of reading. I also get to plan special programs with performers.
I also have a teen tutor program where I can see kids learn from their peers. It’s all the things I loved doing as a professional nanny and more. It’s amazing!

What do you wish you had known then that you know now? I wish I would have known that it would work out. I was so scared! One thing I realized is with my experience I could go back to the nanny profession if I wanted to. I am still learning to have confidence in my ability.

In hindsight, do you think your decision was a good one? Yes

Would you do it again? Yes

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Back to School Crafts

August 3, 2011 by Leave a Comment

Back to School Crafts gathered by Glenda Propst

I can’t believe I just typed that!

I don’t know where this summer went but it’s hard to believe that it’s almost time to send our kids back to school! Nanny Gael Ann sent me a link to this great blog the other day called TextbookMommy.

The TextbookMommy gave us permission to share her post about 3 Awesome Back to School Crafts your kids will love!

In addition to the post from Heidi  over at TextbookMommy I have included some past articles from Creative Nanny Wednesday that contain some great ideas for “Back to School Crafting”

If you do these with your kids we would love to see them! Just email them to Regardingnannies(at)gmail(dot)com and if you visit Textbookmommy’s blog be sure to leave a comment and tell her we sent you!

Don’t forget to check these out too!

http://regardingnannies.com/2010/08/my-favorite-things-back-to-school/

http://regardingnannies.com/2010/08/creative-nanny-wednesday-back-to-school-poster/

http://regardingnannies.com/2010/08/lunch-ideas/

http://regardingnannies.com/2009/08/wednesday-creative-nanny-making-school/

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