nanny

The Story of a Friendship: Tricia, Ketan, and Anju

Trish3 Comments

When I started working as a nanny three years ago, Anju was six and Ketan was nine.  Now Anju is her older brother’s age, and Ketan is nearly a teenager.  I got to be a part of their lives while they were at their most creative and affectionate, and now that I’ve finished working for them, I miss them.  A lot.

Anju: Do you know what makes me sad? Matteo doesn’t tease me.
Me: That makes you sad?
Anju: Yes! One of the signs of liking someone is teasing. He never teases me, and I tease him all the time!
Me: Hahaha.
Anju: And I don’t know what to do. Last year he was in my class, so I was used to him. But now whenever I see him I just run away like a weirdo.
Me: Yeah, I’ve done that.

We listened to a lot of pop music in the car.  One summer we listened to Imagine Dragon’s album over and over and over again until we knew the lyrics to every song and could sing them at the top of our lungs.  I set a precedent of absurd dancing, and I took so much joy in glancing at the rearview mirror to see Anju and Ketan flailing and fist-pumping to the beat.  Continue reading →

Nannying Has Ruined Me For Motherhood

TrishLeave a comment

As a nanny, I:

  • arrive half an hour early to sit in a carpool lane
  • drive across town to pick up dance recital outfits
  • stock my car with snacks
  • say things like, “you’re hearing, but you’re not listening”
  • pretend to enjoy their every new interest
  • spend hours sitting through their events and practices

In a lot of ways, I’m learning how to be a mom.  And while I absolutely adore the kids that I nanny, this does not make me excited to be a mom.  Why?  Because I get paid!  All the boring parenting stuff?  Comes with a paycheck.  Real moms and dads do not get paid for all the work they do, which I think is appalling.  Whenever I have kids, I’m going to keep track of my hourly rate and retroactively charge them for my care when they’re grown and making money.

Or, put another way, I have a lot of respect for moms and dads who invest so fully in their children without getting paid.