What do you bring with you to work each day?

Do you bring materials to use like cotton balls, flour or markers?

Do you bring your lunch, a snack or a good book to read?

Do you bring with you your patience, caring, and your sense of humor?

Perhaps you bring a wealth of information on raising kids, or an article that you read or a book you studied.

You might bring a few things to work with you that you maybe should try to leave at home. You probably bring with you your own parent's parenting styles, scars (both good and bad) from past nanny jobs and preconcieved notions of what will or won't work.

You might also bring along outdated information, emotions from your own personal life and your own physical condiditon.

No matter what you bring to the table- it is worth taking a moment before you start your day to breathe.

Being a nanny is a pretty difficult job. And the main thing you bring to your job is yourself.

It is worth it to take a few minutes each morning and consider what you bring to your job. Are you bringing positives or negatives? How can you leave the bad stuff behind? What should you remember to bring every day? 

Then leave the unwanted bags at the door and bring what works and a smile. NEVER forget that smile!!

Happy birthday Mr Rogers.

Happy first day of Spring.

It is a day to help something grow. We as nannies are planting the seeds. Mr. Rogers would be the first one to tell you that planting those seeds is hard work. It is dirty. You have to be patient. Weeds will grow and take root and try to strangle out the flowers.

He knew (and I am sure you do too) that planting these seeds is worth the work. Even if you aren't around to enjoy the bouquet.

My charge and I planted marigolds.
I will enjoy the work of tending the garden. And thank Mr. Rogers and all the other gardeners who have shown me how to cultivate the fields.

One of the most interesting parts of the job is that we are getting a glimpse. 

Stay with me.... this will be a happy thought to get you thru a long Monday! 

The road to being an adult is perilous. It full of challenges that we see coming and many that hit us from behind with no warning. There are mountains to climb and valleys to enjoy. But it is a journey. 

But as a nanny for young children I get to glimpse into the future of that journey. 

I stare into those gorgeous eyes and wonder will her love of order and need to have things be just so make her a good organizer. A wonderful mother of a large family or a CEO of a huge company? Both? 

I watch his love of animals and wonder if it is just a passing phase or a passion that will lead him to wild adventures thru Africa. 

I see her struggle to explain her emotions and see a glimpse of the wife, friend and mentor she will be. 

We are lucky to be doing what we are doing. We have to be ever present so we aren't looking away when we catch those glimpses. 

Mondays are a good day to love being a nanny!!! 

Well, change is good right? 

Sometimes though it is not easy. 

This change is hopefully going to be easy and GREAT! We have a newly designed website and a new address for the blog. Hopefully you can change your RSS feed (or sign up if you haven't already) and you won't miss a thing. 

I am particularly excited to utilize some of the great features of the new website. Like more videos, and a new onsite registration process for Nannypalooza. Hopefully it will work. (crossing fingers!) 

So thanks for stopping by and supporting Nannypalooza. Be sure to share the site with your friends!