Another year that seems to be going by so fast, I can’t believe it’s May already! Working with children, the gap between school holidays seems to get ever smaller. For those who don’t know already, alongside my writing, I’m a career Nanny. Starting at 18, I’ve had the pleasure of working with many lovely families in my career. The first and eldest of the children is now in her 30’s and I had the joy of attending her wedding not that long ago.
     If you’ve read my other blogs you’ll know that all my children’s books have a connection to the children in my life, so I thought I’d write this blog about where the rest of my imagination goes if I’m not writing. Of course there are many types of childcare, and different ones will suit different family dynamics. For me, the role of a Nanny is unique and special, and no two days are ever the same!
     It doesn’t suit everyone, but my workplace is the family’s home. I’m there to help the children grow and learn. When they’re little and are dependent on me, I’m there. As they move through each milestone, I teach new skills and encourage them towards age appropriate independence.
     Throughout this time, we play, cook, craft, explore, visit interesting places and discover nature. All this is educational in itself, but my role includes helping with more traditional learning topics too, like reading, writing and arithmetic. Once the children are school age and the homework starts then the dynamic of being a Nanny shifts again, and continues to change as they get older.
     Of course, most families that I’ve looked after have siblings of varying ages, so I have to be versatile. I make time for us all to play together and have separate time for individual pursuits. For most Nannies, part of the job is to do housework associated with the children as well. Each household is different, and I pride myself on leaving their home each day as I would like to find it, no matter how much mess we’ve made during the day!
     Time management is key, and that just comes with experience. Getting to know how long it will take to cook meals, do laundry, etc; and, more importantly: to set up, do, and clear up an activity. That last one is definitely the hardest to judge, but the most rewarding. I get to be sensible, silly, playful, steadfast when there needs to be clear rules, but also versatile and adaptable when necessary. Oh, to have the magic of Mary Poppins and Nanny McPhee!
     Highlights for me have been the trips out and the places I’ve explored with the children over the years, along with the numerous crafts we’ve made and the activities we’ve done. From paper craft to making music videos on iMovie, anything is possible with a bit of imagination. Here’s a few of my memories of some of the things we’ve done or the places I’ve been with the children…