What a surprise when I learned that I had been chosen the 2008 Nanny of the Year!

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About 3 years ago I was attending an INA conference in San Diego and to keep costs down, I asked a nanny friend to room with me. Marni, NOTY in 2002, said she was rooming with a friend, Christy, and did I want to share with them? Naturally I said yes and what a great decision that turned out to be because I met this very sweet, intelligent nanny Christy. There are some people you have to get to know to really like them and some are like Christy, you just love them immediately!

In 2007 I arrived in Alexandria, VA for the INA conference; I was delighted to find out that Christy had won the Nanny of the Year Award. With her easy smile and great sense of empathy, INA could not have a better representation of the nanny field. Her bio and acceptance speech can be found on www.nanny.org under the Nanny of the Year section. She has had an interesting life and if you have a few moments, wander over there and read it.

Christy was a stay at home mom and devoted herself to her 4 children and husband. For her, it was the right choice and she loved being a part of her children’s life and giving up her former paralegal job wasn’t that hard of a choice. Christy found her true vocation; loving children and helping them reach their potential. Sooner or later our children grow up and have their own lives and we must decide what to do “with the rest of our lives”.

It seemed a natural choice for her to choose being a nanny for her next career. Christy says that “I loved being a stay at home mom, being around children all day and when I decided to become a nanny, I wanted to provide for that family all of the things that I felt would have made my life easier being a parent.”

In recent years there have been discussion on how the best adjusted people are those whose jobs give them personal fulfillment as well as a decent paycheck. When I questioned Christy about this she said, “I do feel this personal gratification because every day I can see the ways in which I have made a difference in these kids’ lives. With kids, you get a “bonus” every day, whether it is in the form of a hug or an “I love you”.”

Christy said that if she had chosen to back to the paralegal field she would have to go back to school in order refresh her skills. She felt blessed to have come into a field where she had the knowledge/skills and found the salary to reflect those qualities. Her good friend Marni suggested she join the International Nanny Association and told her about the conferences. She began to attend them and found the opportunity to continuing learning through workshops and networking with other nannies. She first joined a small nanny group but decided to start her own nanny group, Denver Area Nanny Association which now has 60 members.

I have started groups and I know how hard it can be to get the word out, find activities that keep members interested and keep people united in a common goal. I am sure the success of the Denver Area Nanny Assn is due to Christy’s ability to reach out with great empathy to her sister nannies.

When I asked what made her want to do this she said, “What made me stay involved was the camaraderie, and the opportunities for education. I enjoy connecting with others who are as passionate about this amazing profession as I am.” If you ever feel discouraged about the profession, you can spend ten minutes with Christy and come away totally renewed!

The Nanny of the Year application is long and it takes an investment of time to get through it. It is not an easy decision to let yourself be nominated. I asked Christy what influenced her letting her boss nominate her. I thought her answer reflected her character:

Jill had asked me for several years if I would let her nominate me and I always felt that I was not ready. Last year when she asked, it was after a very difficult and challenging year at my job. We were helping the children adjust to a divorce, and I was learning how to work with a single parent. I felt we had come so far, and by then I had been with the family for almost 5 years. I was finally ready, and very proud that she wanted to nominate me.

I still feel humbled but proud to be elected as Nanny of the Year. I know so many amazing nannies, many that could be Nanny of the Year. But I am grateful to have been chosen. To have been NOTY I think has encouraged me to raise the bar. I need to strive to be NOTY every day that I am with this family. They deserve no less.

I am always awed by the Nannies who stand on that platform. While only one nanny can be chosen, there are no “losers” on that platform. Everyone who stands up there represents quality and makes all of us sitting in that audience proud to be a nanny. In 2007, I was especially proud to see my friend Christy step forward to receive the award.

It is rare that I miss two INA conferences in a role and I was especially sad this year I was unable to attend when I heard Becky had won NOTY. I can remember when I first became a traveling nanny and attended my first INA conference. I was so scared walking into that big room with all these professionals. I was sure they would run me out! I mean I wasn’t even a full time nanny on their scale! I will never forget how welcomed everyone made me feel. Especially this one nanny that just seemed to be laughing all the time! Becky endeared herself to me from the beginning with her kind and friendly manner. She makes all nannies feel respected and appreciated. She has been active in the INA since 1989 and was one of the first to take the INA Nanny Credential Exam. She also served as the INA President for two years and has been on the Board of Directors for six years as well as many INA committees.

I was not surprised to learn that in 1998 Hillary Rodham Clinton presented her with one of the Parent Magazine’s awards for outstanding achievement in the childcare field.

That is enough to amaze you right there! BUT it gets even better! She is one of the few nannies that I know of that has been with the same family for over 16 years! From birth to their teens, this amazing nanny keeps her family on schedule. She has seen her family through divorce and the blending of two households. I think no one said it better than her oldest charge Cassie, “She has a presence that somehow always communicates a sense of her absolute confidence in us, not only at every dance recital and orchestra concert, but every day. I have a deep and tremendous respect for Becky, and I consider myself profoundly lucky to have had her as my nanny.”

When I read what the father Paul Kunkel wrote, “More than anyone else in my life Becky has taught me how to be the father I hoped and dreamed I would be. For me she has been the “owner’s manual” that children don’t come with.” I knew that first impression of Becky years ago was totally correct. She is an amazing nanny.

Her involvement with children doesn’t stop with her family. She is also an active volunteer in the Girl Scouts as the leader of two troops, also the event chair and in serves at the leadership level in Prairie Star Service Unit. Becky was awarded the Outstanding Leader and Valued Volunteer honor.

The nominating committee made a great choice when they chose Becky for she is indeed one of the truly giving nannies of this generation. She is inspiring and represents the profession at the highest level.

I wasn’t able to go the 2005 INA conference so I had to wait to find out who got Nanny of the Year and was excited to learn it was Jenny Brown. You meet so many nannies at these conferences and yet, some stand out and Jenny is one of those. Jenny is always full of life and smiles and I know her little charges must adore her. I had a chance to do an email interview and would like to share her story with you. Another Amazing Nanny of the Year!!

What was were you like growing up? What age did you decide you wanted to work with children?

I was always outgoing. I had a lot of great friends. I was a hard worker and earned my own money at an early age. I earned most of my money babysitting through middle school and high school. It made me realize at an early age that whatever profession I chose, it had to involve children.

What careers did you think of after you graduated from high school?

When I was a junior in high school I started working in a daycare after school. Once I graduated, I went full time in the summer before starting community college in the fall. I really fell in love with the teaching aspect working with the kids at the daycare.

I became very close to a particular family. When they were expecting their third child they asked if I would consider being their nanny. I said yes, and the rest is history. I worked for them for six years and still remain very close to the family, five years after ending my job with them.

How many jobs have you had as a nanny?

My first job as a nanny was three days a week, so I found a two day a week job that would work with the first job. In total, I have had six nanny positions. I will be celebrating my five year anniversary with my current job on March 7th.

We all find areas we need to improve on as a nanny and that first job often teaches us what we need to improve on, need to be more assertive about etc.. What was it for you?

I know I am definitely more active in my field than when I first started out as a nanny. In my search to connect with other nannies I joined my local association and eventually became its president. I made the decision to national and joined the International Nanny Association and began to come to the INA conferences. It was great to be able to attend training workshops, conferences and I feel I never stop trying to improve my nanny knowledge. I still enjoy reading any literature I can find regarding nannies and childcare.

We are all different and unique. If someone asked you, “what makes you different than the crowd”, how would you answer?

That’s a hard question because I think all nannies are unique and special. I guess I genuinely have a passion for the nanny industry. I want the industry to be respected. I hope to be an example that there are professional nannies that have chosen this field as a career. I strive to keep that positive attitude locally and nationally.

What advice would you have for nannies wanting to go into this profession?

I would definitely say to get involved with a support group. My first year as a nanny was a bit lonely because I didn’t know any other nannies. I met a Jennifer Erickson, who was an active member in the Northwest Nanny Association. She introduced me to the organization and my life changed for the better from that day on. We had play dates, activities and functions all the time. It was a time of creating wonderful friendships for me and the kids.

Do you think nannies should be certified to be a nanny?

A few years back, when I first heard that nannies might have to be
certified to be nannies, I was very scared. I started to feel that I didn’t know enough about my job. I definitely believe in continuing education and keeping current on first aid/ cpr.

When I attended my first INA conference in Boston in 2004, I decided to take the Credential Exam. I decided too late to actually have time to study, but thought that I wanted to take it anyway. I was extremely proud when I passed the test. I just feel, for me, when I look for a new position in the future it shows my potential employers that I am a true professional. I know that not everyone takes tests well, but I definitely wanted to try the test for myself.

How long do you want to be a nanny in term of years? If long term, what about your financial future?

I can see myself being a nanny for many years to come. I have met with a financial planner and set up mutual funds. I have thought about the future and wanted some security for when I do retire.

What are the thoughts or feelings that went through you when you found
out you had won?

I was elated. I felt I was being honored for something that I truly loved and that felt so good. I loved how my two kiddos reacted. The oldest, Sofia, who was 4 1/2 at the time, was telling everyone, “My nanny is the Nanny of the Year.” It was so great to see their excitement, too. My family, friends and peers were equally supportive. Their were several “surprise” parties in my honor, which truly meant a lot.

What has it been like to be NOTY?

It has been a truly amazing year! The recognition from peers, industry and press was almost overwhelming, but I loved the positive influence this has been for the great northwest. I often find my family or friends mentioning the award to new people. Everyone is very impressed that there is such an award.

I feel very grateful and honored to have won this award.

I will always have the certificate and trophy, and great trip to Vegas to remind me of this amazing year!!!