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Home › Articles › Child Care Issues › A Real Life Mary Poppins

A Real Life Mary Poppins

Meet the Nanny of the Year

By Megan L. Fowler, MSJ

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Leaving your child in the care of someone else is never easy, even when it's your own mother, sister, best friend or even husband. And if you work full time after your child is born, then childcare will become a necessity. Daycare centers and nursery schools are an option as are full-time babysitters. But there is another option, one many couples take advantage of – nannies.

Yet when most of us think of nannies, two images often pop into mind. One: a Mrs. Doubtfire-ish figure with an English accent who comes over a few times a week to vacuum the floors, cook elegant dinners and ensure the kids are home safe from school. Or two: a waifish, stern-faced woman who arrives at your doorstep with magic umbrella and carpetbag in hand ready to whip your family back into shape, all the while helping you rediscover your family values and true sense of self.

A Growing Profession
Film references and stereotypes aside, nannies come in all shapes and sizes and account for nearly 1.2 million jobs in the United States alone. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, an average of two out of five child-caregivers are self-employed, while nearly 85 percent work in private households.

For centuries, daytime and live-in nannies have cleaned up after, disciplined, taught and loved the children and families they have worked for, and today is no exception. With organizations such as the International Nanny Association (INA) in Collingswood, N.J., and the Alliance of Professional Nanny Agencies (APNA) in Randolph, N.J., it's easy to see why this growing profession is difficult to ignore.

The Life of a Nanny

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