Dateline Boston — I was walking down the street the other day, and I passed a mother and her son sitting on the steps of their house. The boy was a toddler, and he was holding a stick in each hand. As I passed, he said, “I have sticks!” I responded, “You have sticks! Wow!” I explained to the mom that I was a nanny with a toddler, and she understood that I really knew about sticks.
Wherever I go, I interact with children, or smile at them, or commiserate with parents who are with a child who is having a tantrum. When I was a preschool teacher, I’d put my hand on my chest and declare, “I’m a preschool teacher.” Now that I’m a nanny, I do the same thing, declaring my status as a professional childcare worker. I am very proud of what I do, in a country that doesn’t respect my job as much as it does other professions. Just once, I would like to go to a party and tell someone that I’m a nanny, and hear a pin drop as conversation ceases, knowing there is a childcare magician in their midst. I would like to trade my salary for the salary of, say, a professional ballplayer.
I have had people say to me, “Wow, that’s hard work.” Not to me. I am blessed with the gift of being able to see the world through a children’s eyes. What a wonderful world it is! That bug over there is crawling. Suddenly it opens its wings and flies away. Who knew a bug had wings? It is scary to go down a big slide that twists around. But if two people do it together, it’s fun! One time my 6-year-old asked me what a tick was. I told her it was a bug. She said, “What’s a lemon tick?” I told her there was no such thing. Then I understood. I asked her, “Are you thinking of lyme disease?” She shouted, “Yes!” Little kids can run really fast, despite the fact that they’ve only been able to actually run for a very short time. When you want to go from over here to over there, you have to go around that table/swing/chair/other child. Playing with water is fun! These are some of the observations I’ve made as a professional for thirty years. I wouldn’t trade it for the world.
I have tried other jobs. Earlier this year I was hired for a job that sounded really easy. A family with three kids needed help at the end of the day with kitchen cleanup and laundry folding. Simple, right? Just load the dishwasher, put the kids’ toys away, sweep the floor, and fold the laundry. Fold the laundry of three children. Clean the cat litter box. These are things I do in my nanny life and in my own life with no problem. The only difference with that job was that there was no childcare involved. The parents were with the kids while I did the housework part. I lasted two weeks. I wanted to take care of the children. If I’m caring for children and I happen to do their laundry, folding is a breeze! I know which clothes go with which child. I load the dishwasher in seconds. I go home and clean the cat litter of my feline toddlers. The personal connection really makes a difference.
I won’t be going on an exotic vacation any time soon. But I wouldn’t have it any other way. I love my job, and I am so lucky to be happy doing what I love, every single day.
Ms. Vaillancourt may be contacted at snobbyblog@gmail.com
