This one is by Lisa Willis.
She answers these 2 questions:
What has been your biggest challenge as you have gone through your job transition?
What has Nanny Transitions help you learn from it?
I think the biggest challenge has been to accept the change in
circumstance in my life and nurture
myself. As a nanny I’ve always put others first without thinking about
myself. Last year was full of
surprises; it’s been an emotional rollercoaster ride to say the least.
In June I will be retiring as a nanny
due to an impending disability.
I’m retiring sadly but not by
choice. I was diagnosed with a hereditary degenerative eye disease over
11 years ago. My eye sight was stable for 10 years and Jan.2013 was the
first sign of change and on May
1st of 2013 I was told I could no longer drive. My peripheral vision
classifies me as legally blind but my
central vision in my left eye seems to be holding on for now. My
current employers refused to let me
quit. I’m forever thankful for their trust in me and wanting to keep me
on board for as long as possible.
We had to quickly brainstorm as you know driving is a major part of a
nanny’s role. My awesome
husband quickly jumped in and became our “chauffer” and is now running
his company at home (mostly
from our car, when we’re at play dates, school and other activities).
My current family and I have come
to terms with the fact that our employment will end June 2014 due to my
need to prepare and get ready
for what lays ahead. I won’t lie and say it’s been easy, at times I’m
scared but I see it only as a change in
circumstances. I’m blessed to have the greatest husband on earth and
I’m surrounded by an awesome
support team.
One of my main concerns is the impact this change will have on my
charges. I have been with them for
3 ½ years. The family will be relocating as well, so they will have
many changes happening at the same
time in June.
Nanny Transitions has been an amazing resource as no one knows what a
nanny deals with as much
as another nanny. I was able to vent my worries about the kids and
their future. Glenda gave me so
many good suggestions so many I couldn’t write them all down fast
enough as we spoke on the phone.
She had so many great ideas for me to implement. Sharing and voicing my
concerns and fears out loud
helped me to analyze and put into perspective what I can and can’t
change or control. This really woke
me up to the fact that I need to make these last few months special and
memorable for the kids. I feel
it’s also helped me be more present and intentional with everything I
do and say with the kids on a daily
Glenda emailed me many resources to read and ponder on. She has a big
heart and just talking with her
you can feel the love and passion she has for her fellow nannies or the
Nanny Sisterhood as some call us.
I’ve been a nanny for fifteen wonderful years and will cherish all the
memories for many years to come.
I’m learning to take it one day at a time.
