Transitions by Marni Kent

Transitions by Marni Kent

Just like many of you, I myself have gone through transitions that have changed my life; personally and professionally.
When things like this happen I suppose the first thing to ask yourself is, what's the situation and why don't you think it can change? Sometimes things feel impossible but that's because we are depressed or too close to the situation to see clearly. There might be a solution if you can talk to someone about it; a friend, family member or someone who has been there like a peer.

Beyond that, how do you stay strong? Well, for most people it's really just a matter of getting through it. Getting up every day, eating, showering, going to work/school/whatever and coming home, sleeping and doing it all over again. That doesn't sound very helpful but that's how it generally is; life keeps going on no matter what and you go along with it and eventually some time has passed and things change or you don't feel as bad anymore. Some people find solace in religion or spirituality, some distract themselves with books and TV and friends, and some people can't enjoy anything so they just feel terrible all the time.
 If you're able to still enjoy things, try to spend as much time doing those things as possible, and wait it out. Nothing stays the same forever.

When I reached out to a friend/ peer when I was going through a difficult time in life (Glenda Propst the owner of Nanny Transitions) she gave me advice that at the moment did not fit all of what I was going through but on down the road it clicked.
Eventually I realized that there are some stages of transition that apply whether the transition is work or personal.
Over the last few years, I have found Nanny Transitions to be an amazing source not just for myself but for sharing with other nannies.
Nanny transitions helped me remember to ask myself these important questions.

What qualities do you have in your nanny career?
What characteristics do you possess that make you an excellent nanny?
What inherent attributes allow you to enjoy your job?
 Stop and think for a moment about what your employers like about you.
What do the children like about you?
What do other people like about you?
I want you to think about the answers to those questions and then I want you to think about the qualities you possess that resonate energy in all aspects of your life.

I am going to sponsor 3 Scholarships to the 2014 INA Conference.
Two scholarships will go to nannies who have never been to the INA Conference and one will go to a nanny who has attended a previous conference.
The scholarship recipients will be able to choose from 4 different topics to write their essays.
I will be sharing more details with you as the time gets closer but for now I would like for you to think about the first essay topic:
How has Nanny Transitions helped you through transitions in your job?

Stay tuned over the next few weeks and we will be sharing more information.
I am so excited to share this opportunity with you because both Nanny Transitions and INA mean a lot to me.
Marni Kent

Step Aside and Let it Fly

If you know me, even a little bit, you know that I am a huge fan of the Brave Girls Club.
Everyday in my email box I get beautiful affirmations, and wonderful words of encouragement for living my best life!
It usually feels like it was written especially for me.Sometimes I read things and I say "Oh yes, that's nice....and I go on about my day but other times I read something and it strikes a chord deep inside of me.
The other day this one struck a chord deep inside of me and everyday her words resonated in my mind and in my heart.
I think this is such wonderful advice for anyone, no matter what you are going through but I think it's especially appropriate for nannies in transition.
Sadly, sometimes when nannies are in transition, especially as they are seeking other employment they sometimes find themselves in the line of fire.
When former employers are giving you a bad reference, or when the last days of your job become so uncomfortable you don' know if you can bear it one more minute,
You don't have to believe it, you don't have to catch it, you don't have to take the hit, just step aside and let it fly!
Stay on the high road.....you will never regret it.

Read these wise and wonderful words by Melody Ross on the Brave Girls Club blog:

It is always an honor to be featured on other sites and blogs, especially one as popular as ENannySource

When the best nannies need nanny advice, they turn to Glenda Propst, seasoned nanny extraordinaire.  With nearly three decades of nanny care under her belt, it shouldn’t be surprising that this nanny has seen both the best and the worst the industry has to offer and opens her heart to support and advise nannies as they face change and challenges working in this one of a kind career. When not mentoring a nanny personally, Glenda, who was also the 1991 International Nanny Association Nanny of the Year, shares her words of wisdom with the nanny masses at www.nannytransitions.com.
Over the almost 29 years I have spent as a professional nanny, I have learned a lot about people and a lot about the people who choose this profession. There are nannies who find jobs easily, breeze through interviews, and have great relationships with their employers long after a job ends. Then there are nannies who get stuck in a terrible rut of taking jobs that sound wonderful and end up not being as they were described, taking jobs with families who take advantage of their good nature and their willingness to be flexible, and taking jobs with families who work them long hours, pay them low wages and expect their nanny’s life to revolve around them. These nannies typically end up leaving jobs on bad terms with little or no future contact with their previous charges.
It seems like nannies who find great jobs always find great jobs and nannies who don’t find great jobs just repeat the same experience over and over with new families.
With nearly three decades of nanny experience under my belt, I’ve certainly made my share of mistakes and I learned a lot the hard way, but there are things that nannies do that perpetuate the pattern of being taken advantage of in job after job. When I visit nanny messages boards I read the same story over and over again – most often from the same nannies.
So what are the top 9 mistakes nannies make that make it difficult to be successful in this industry?
Read the rest of this article HERE

Featured Article on Regarding Nannies

As you may know I am one of the original Regarding Nannies Development Team Members.
I am still a huge supporter of Regarding Nannies and a Nanny Fusion Member.
Today, Regarding Nannies features an article from Nanny Transitions that was written by me with contributions from several of Nanny Transitions Support Group members.
What a Nanny Would like on her last day:

Moving Forward

Over the last several months I have been so fortunate to connect with some amazing nannies.
Sadly it's usually because they are going through transitions but they are brave women who are working hard to move through leaving a family and move on to the next chapter of their journey.
Yesterday I read this beautiful blog post by Melody Ross over at the Brave Girl Blog.
She says it so eloquently that I don't want to translate it, I just want to share this post.

No matter what kind of change or transition you are going through, it often feels like "One Step Forward, Two Steps Back"

Don't miss this great blog post about moving forward.....and wouldn't you just love to have those green cowboy boots?

Job Transition Check List

Leaving a job is never easy. It's always an emotional time so it's easy to lose track of the little things you need to do in those final days before you move on.

The GTM blog addresses a "Transition Checklist" for Nannies in Transition."

Ending a job is never easy. Whether it is your decision, your employer’s or a mutual agreement to part ways, there are many things to take into consideration during this time of transition. To help you through this challenging and unsure time, we have developed a checklist and put together some helpful resources to get you back on track and on your way to the next great chapter in your career!

Transition Checklist

Make sure to return any items that your employer provided you during employment (i.e. car or house keys, car seats, garage door opener, gas card, cell phone, etc.).

Make sure you understand the process of receiving your final paycheck and any remaining pay (severance) that has been agreed upon.

To read the rest of this very useful "Transition Checklist" and get the list of helpful resources 

: go to the  GTM Blog 

Happy Birthday Harriette

Today (June 3, 2013) would have been Harriette's 71st  Birthday.
Maybe you are thinking " So...I didn't know her why are you telling me?........but what Harriette did in her life, impacted all of us. I made a promise to Harriette before she died that I would never let her be forgotten. I am happy to say that I honored her promise by founding the INA Service Award Pin program in 2010. The program was funded by contributions from former members of the National Association of Nannies. The Harriette Grant Service Award Pin is presented to nannies and specialty nannies.  This award pin, named in honor of Harriette Grant, reflects Harriette’s dedication to the nanny profession and it is one way we can continue to honor and remember her legacy.

For those of you who did not know her, here is her story, and why it matters.

Harriette Grant passed away on June 30, 2002. She had been a nanny for 40 years. You can read her story in the book Like a Second Mother but here is my tribute to her life and her enormous contribution to nannies everywhere.

The following article about Harriette Grant first appeared in the NAN Newsletter in June of 2001. In November of 2001, Harriette was diagnosed with Leukemia and she passed away on June 30, 2002.

A Nanny for the Ages by Glenda Willm Propst
These are some newspaper headlines from 1961:
U.S. Breaks Off Diplomatic Relations With Cuba;
John F. Kennedy Inaugurated as President of the U.S. Peace Corps Established by Kennedy;
UN General Assembly Condemns Apartheid;
Freedom Riders Attacked by White Citizens in Anniston and Birmingham; 
Bay of Pigs Invasion; 
Kennedy and Khrushchev Meet in Vienna to Discuss Disarmament; 
Berlin Wall Constructed; 
Actor Gary Cooper Dies at Age 60.

These are some popular books from 1961:
Stranger In A Strange Land, by Robert Heinlein;
Catch-22, by Joseph Heller; 
Tropic of Cancer, by Henry Miller (the first legal publication in the U.S.).

Some of the popular movies that year were:
"West Side Story,"
"The Hustler," and
 "Judgment at Nuremberg."
And among the most popular songs were:
"Love makes the World Go Round,
""Moon River,
""Where the Boys Are," and
 "Exodus."

How many of you remember any of these events and cultural markers? How many of you were even born in 1961?
Well, even if we are among those who were not yet born in 1961, there was an event that in some way affected all our lives that year. This event did not make the headlines, but it changed our lives all the same.
In July, 1961,Harriette Grant began her career as a nanny. At that time there were no newspaper articles about nanny salaries or benefits there were no formal nanny training programs in the United States, there were no nanny support groups, and there were no nanny organizations.Harriette was just 19 when she started taking care of Sylvia Whitman. In the book "Like a Second Mother," Sylvia writes about a very different Harriette from the person we know. Sylvia's "Rat," as she affectionately called her, changed her hair color every week, and their house was the best patrolled in the neighborhood because all the policemen had a crush on Harriette.Harriette was with the Whitman family for nine years, and she maintains a close relationship with Sylvia Whitman, who is now all grown up with a family of her own.In 1970 Harriette moved to Washington, DC, to care for the Brown children, with whom she stayed for 20 years. Even after the children were teenagers, Harriette remained and helped the Browns part time (she took a second part time job with another family in the neighborhood). Harriette was there when one of the Brown children graduated from Princeton University, and when her other "child" graduated from High School. While she was in DC, Harriette began to get serious about solving the problems surrounding the lack of support nannies had.Harriette Grant was one of the founders of the very first nanny support group in the USA. It was called ADCAN - the Association of DC Area Nannies. The group still runs strong today, and prides itself on being the oldest nanny support group in the nation. If you have ever tried to start or run a support group, you will understand what an accomplishment that is.Harriette was also a founding member of International Nanny Association, served on its board of directors, and was the INA's first Nanny of the Year in 1990.She co founded NAN with Glenda Willm Propst and Eva Harkness in 1992.When Harriette moved to New York City in 1999, she became one of the founders of the Professional Nannies of New York.
I first met Harriette Grant at the INA conference in Vail, Colorado, in 1988. We were going to be serving on the INA Board together. It did not take long for us to realize that we had the same concerns, the same vision, and the same passion for the nanny profession. After the conference, we burned up the phone lines on a regular basis.We became very good friends, and in 1992, along with Eva Harkness, we founded the National Association of Nannies.
In 1997, when Harriette asked me to run with her for Co-President of NAN, one of my greatest concerns was that it might hurt our friendship. We promised each other not to let that happen. I think we would both admit that at times it was a struggle, but we served as Co-Presidents for four years, and were still on speaking terms. We did not always agree, but we always respected each other and we have always tried to make what was best for NAN our top priority.
NAN benefited from her vision, her professionalism, her steadfastness, her wisdom, and her commitment to the Nanny profession.It's a little overwhelming to think of all the things that have happened in the last 40 years, and of how far the nanny profession has come. I think of all the changes Harriette saw and of all the nannies she encountered on her journey.When I think of Harriette Grant, I think of the quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson:
"Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path, and leave a trail."
Harriette led the way where there was no path. She blazed a trail for 40 years, .As her torch is passed, we can all learn a valuable lesson from her life, her example, and her dedication to her career.
It is up to each of us to continue the work that Harriette started. We are pioneers of the nanny profession, and it is our job to continue to blaze the trail.
Harriette, you have been our friend, our leader, and our inspiration. We will never forget you and we will work hard to continue your legacy.You leave us with many wonderful memories but a hole in our heart that only you could fill.
Rest in peace dear friend.I miss you every single day.
Glenda