nannying

Gifting the Village

| Mary Stoffel, MOT, OTR/L

“It takes a village to raise a child” is one of those sayings that sounds nice until you become a parent. Then, you realize just how true it is.

Behind every thriving child is a whole cast of supporting characters. There are teachers who spark curiosity, therapists who celebrate hard-earned milestones, coaches who build confidence, caregivers who provide comfort, and countless others who cheer from the sidelines every step of the way.

While the holidays naturally inspire us to focus on family and friends, they’re also the time to recognize the people who make up our children’s village. These are the individuals who invest their time, energy, expertise, and heart into helping our kids learn, grow, and thrive throughout the year; extending far beyond the classroom, playing field, therapy room, or after-school program.

Continue reading →

Child(ish) Reads: Wanted: Toddler’s Personal Assistant

| Patti Webb

In December, I usually pick a fun book to review; mostly to whiz through it and have a light-hearted post. This one changed up a bit on me.

Wanted: Toddler’s Personal Assistant: How Nannying for the 1% Taught Me about the Myths of Equality, Motherhood, and Upward Mobility in America by Stephanie Kiser

Blurb: When Stephanie Kiser moves to New York City after college to pursue a career in writing, she quickly learns that her entry-level salary won’t cover the high cost of living―never mind her crushing student loan debt. But there is one in-demand job that pays more than enough to allow Stephanie to stay in the city: nannying for the 1%. Desperate to escape the poverty of her own childhood, Stephanie falls into a job that hijacks her life for the next seven years: a glorified personal assistant to toddlers on Manhattan’s Upper East Side.

Continue reading →

The Babysitter

| Mary Stoffel, MOT, OTR/L

911: 911, what’s your emergency?
Cole: My babysitter is trying to kill me.
911: Are they still in the house?
Cole: They’re downstairs having a blast.

Finding someone to care for your kids isn’t just about hiring help—it’s about trust. And that’s not always easy to come by. Some families are lucky enough to have nearby relatives who happily step in so parents can sneak away for a date night or a breather. Others, like me, don’t have that built-in support system. So we turn to babysitters, hoping to find someone who our kids adore and who we feel safe with.

Continue reading →