If you clicked on this tab then you are probably curious about my background. So this page is for you!
My Story
It’s very difficult to sum up your life without boring everyone to tears! However, I’m in such an unusual occupation that you may want to know all the roads I’ve traveled. Perhaps I should start out with the fact I am a mother of three children, two by blood and one by love. In 2008 I lost my son to cancer at the age of 28 and his best friend stepped into our lives and is indeed my third child by love. You may wonder why I list this information, being that it is very private, but parents talk about their children and you will hear the name of Adam often as he was my strong willed child and what I learned from him (as he was fond of saying) is what makes me so good at what I do! I don’t want you to be uncomfortable because I am always comfortable talking about him.
The first eight years of my working career was in business. It gave me a salary, but I found myself bored and restless.
I was 26 when I started work as a teacher assistant for a third grade class in California. I ran the creative writing center, and found myself working the most with the children who had behavior problems. I was surprised and pleased when I realized for the first time that that I had a special way with children of all backgrounds, talents and needs.
At the age of 29, I moved back to my hometown of Louisville, KY to accommodate my husband’s education. I started work as a teacher’s assistant with delinquent teens in a school that was court appointed. While I may have been frustrated with the system, I loved my kids. It was quite a challenge, but what I learned about behavior modification and learning disabilities started a life long quest for understanding children.
By the age of 33, I had two children and a husband who had completed his degree. When he was hired by IBM, we moved to upstate New York, where I geared down to part time work as an administrative assistant to the Rural and Migrant Ministry. I worked with the director to organize a one-week summer camp for rural and migrant children. Since our camp was run by volunteers and free to the children, I spent a good portion of each year helping to fund raise and recruit counselors. I also worked with our lay ministers for weekend programs for children.
A few years down the road, I took on a Cadet and Senior Girl Scout Troop. At one time I had 35 teen-age girls in my troop! My daughter was in the troop and we created some wonderful memories together. I credit Girl Scouting for the leadership skills I developed in those years. They taught me how to write grants and dream big. I would eventually write and get accepted for a Reader’s Digest Grant program that allowed me to take 8 teens and two adults to the Girl Scout National Center West camp site in Ten Sleep, Wyoming. Later I would take 3 girls and myself to the Girl Scout/Girl Guide World Center in Cuernavaca, Mexico.
At age 46, I found myself moving to Tallahassee, Florida when my husband accepted a job there. I took a part time job with a large church as their nursery supervisor of birth to two. I also ran programs for all ages on Wednesday night. It was a great two years, but an offer to do private nanny work for one of the church members appealed to me. I worked for that family of four for two years, moving on when the youngest child entered school full time.
My next job was with a family of twin boys for two years. Twins will teach you to multi-task quickly!
What amazed me was that every skill I had acquired in my years of working—from office management to teaching assistant to motherhood—had prepared me for this one fantastic career. Sometimes I wish I had been a nanny earlier in my career but upon reflection, I wouldn’t change a thing. I always tell my teens who feel like they master nothing that everything you learn prepares you for another step in your life. Nothing is wasted if you use it.
I’ve traveled many roads during my years of working with kids. I have worked with several disabilities including Autistic, Williams Syndrome, and ADHD, as well as a host of other learning and behavior problems. The sensitivity it takes to work with these children carries over into all my work. It has helped me develop patience and put problems in perspective.
I am a member of the International Nanny Association. I continue to learn about children and their needs by attending the INA’s annual conference whenever possible. I also attend when possible, the Nanny Palooza Conferences. I belong to the National Association of Professional Women.
However, the only credentials that really matter come from parents and I can provide you with testimonials from satisfied parents. We start out as client and employee but end up as friends.
