About Rebecca Eckler
Rebecca Eckler is a top Canadian journalist and author. Since discovering she was pregnant with daughter Rowan in 2003, she has penned the hilarious books Knocked Up, Wiped! and Toddlers Gone Wild. Catch Rebecca’s unique perspective on motherhood and single parenthood weekly.
Supernanny airs on Citytv
If you’re thinking about a nanny – thanks to rising daycare costs - I have advice! Generally, I don’t like giving advice. Everyone’s situation is different. Also, I could be wrong. (Me? Wrong?)
But I do know about nannies. If you read my book, Knocked Up, you’ll know how important Nanny Mimi was to my daughter and me. She was with us from day one, and became family. (I was invited to her wedding AND asked to make a speech. My daughter was a flower girl.)
Nanny Mimi was SO good that for Christmas and her birthdays, I bought her Prada purses and Tiffany jewellery. I know this sounds completely overboard, but the fact is, no one in my life was as helpful or good to my daughter as Nanny Mimi. She deserved the best, because she WAS the best.
Nanny Mimi took care of my daughter like a mother would. When I moved back to Toronto, from Calgary, I realized just how good Nanny Mimi was. The only bad thing about her was that no one could ever live up to her. (And no one has!)
Since Nanny Mimi, I have had bad nannies (the one who stole from me) and just-okay nannies (did the basics, but that’s about it.).
This could be a sweeping generalization, but I find nannies have, for lack of a better term, an expiration date. At about two years, they get a little too comfortable and work slips, which is understandable. How many of us in our own jobs get bored after a couple of years and want to move on? (Then again, I know a lot of nannies that have stayed with families for two decades.)
Think of your children’s age. A nanny for a baby is different than a nanny for a toddler or older child. For a baby, you need a nanny who has experience with babies. They must LOVE babies.
However, with an older child, you need a nanny who will actually play and keep your child engaged. You do not want a nanny who will simply plop your child in front of the television. You want them to take them to the park or play board games and ENJOY it. You want an active nanny. Also, you want your child to LIKE them.
I’ve learned that you must set out expectations from the very beginning. This is up to you. Most nannies want to do a good job, but you have to tell them what is expected.
I find, too, it’s best not to get too close. Treat them of course with the utmost respect (they are taking care of your child) but don’t get involved too much in their personal lives. If you’re a boss, do you want your employee to cry to you? Likewise, do you want to cry to your boss?
I’ve now had a good nanny for a while. She plays with my daughter and my daughter LIKES her. I know she’s safe.
Like with most situations, trust your gut. You’re hiring someone for the most precious and important person in your life.
Any other advice for those thinking about nannies?
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