My good friend Etienne (author of this beautiful Having it All Project) works a full time, demanding job outside of the home, as does her husband. As many of you in the same situation know, managing work, their children, childcare, and all the other household and family responsibilities is a seemingly impossible task. Recently, she talked to a group of other full time working mothers who set up their childcare with the same brilliant tactic…
Tip: Finding the Perfect Nanny
“I was enlightened to learn that they ask their nannies to do a lot of the things I just assumed I ‘had’ to do as a parent. Things like music practice and homework, playdates, packing lunches, and folding laundry. I put these things into the job description I posted.
Our nanny has become a good friend, amazingly caring and fun with the kids, cooks, folds laundry, and helps the kids do their music practice and homework. And she even packs lunch for the next day. Essentially, It’s been really eye opening to me to realize how much I can effectively outsource so that I can better connect with our family in the few hours we are together.”
I’m really inspired by how much she’s able to let go without guilt, and how much more balance and order it’s given her family. “Our nanny really is a partner with us in raising our children. She’s a member of the family”. Do you expect the same when you hire childcare?
Check out her Having It All project where she’s interviewed dozens of women on the subject. Also, this Sarah Lacy article is really good. It has so many great snippets of brilliant thoughts on the subject of women and life/work balance.
(Images from the post last year we did with Etienne and her family about quality family time)
I think it’s really good advice about not having to “do it all”. But the comment about feeling like those are tasks that “a wife” would do (while maybe true in many households) is probably not the best message. Words are powerful, as noted in a recent post you made about cliches.
Totally, I think she just jokes about that with her friends 🙂 But you’re right, words are powerful, thanks for pointing out that reinforcing traditional gender stereotypes is definitely not a message we want to be promoting!
This is great…for those that can actually afford a nanny! It’s a luxury that I think most families can’t afford.
I think it’s lovely how Etienne’s nanny and the family are so close! It’s definitely important! 🙂
Charmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog
http://charmainenyw.com