It has come to my attention that people in my profession are considered "the help". This has been something I have tried for a long time now to ignore. I have been fortunate enough not to have experienced this first hand, really. The families I have been lucky to become a part of have treated me just as so, family.. my current and newest family included. Remembering back to a time, working in a daycare, a passing parent made a comment to another parent about my particular classroom and the ages of the children in it. They chatted about the ages of the children and how based on their ages, they were not really in "school". Along with that came how the teachers within the room were simply there to care for their children.. "glorified babysitters" is a term I have heard before. That was, well... shitty. So, take that experience and place the "glorified babysitter" in your home, at your beckon call. Available 24/7 if you wish, the new Mommy or Daddy.. at your service- yes, "the help". We do not need or want to be treated like it though! Not by you, and especially not by your children.
I think this may somewhat be stirring from a recent play date where a friend of M&A referred to me as "the nanny" instead of asking me my name again or anything remotely polite. "Hey M get your nanny to make us some cookies" M ignored her. Good girl, M. There was more, but I do not want to become too heated about this, plus I do not want to take it out on the little friend. Come to find out, she had once had a nanny of her own. Grrreeeat. This was a little girl, I cannot even imagine how her parents acted if she had this type of attitude. Their poor, poor nanny- I hope she escaped with dignity intact. I know for a fact people look down on this job, but you know what... I have something to say about that...
Everyday I am surrounded with bright colors, new ideas and views of the world. Art, music, drama of all kinds; serious amounts of energy, laughter, emotions created of the highest highs and lowest lows. Each day I am able to make a tear turn into a smile, I turn pillows into extravagant forts fit for a Queen, and I am welcomed into the world of extraordinary, imaginary things. I answer very important questions like 'why is the sky blue?' and 'May I have ice cream for lunch?'- I do all of these things with a smile on my face, kindness in my voice and the most positive attitude. Why? Because I am not simply 'watching kids'... I am helping to shape small adults. I am someone who is a part of a child's life; no matter how short or long, these children become a part of mine, too. I build trust, love and long lasting bonds; these bonds, although made sometimes with very young children, help them learn to love, trust and build bonds of their own.
I help create polite, smart, creative, fun, energetic, tiny humans... what do you do?
