The Nanny Diary

You've found her.  A real-life Mary Poppins who delights in Public Garden picnics with your little ones and whose arrival they anxiously await each morning.  Your new, doting nanny is active in playgroup meet-ups at the Esplanade Playspace and accepts with excitement when you propose bringing her along to the Cape during summer weekends.  You arrive home to completed art projects and a pristine kitchen.  You adore her just as much as your children do and cross fingers she signs on until your youngest blows out eighteen candles.  (Almost.)  So, how do you ensure her success and maintain her happiness?

Collaboration is key to a successful parent and nanny relationship.  A simple vehicle for collaborative communication is a two-way journal in which to record notes about your child(ren)'s day.  

Place a new journal in a designated place (i.e. an entry-way drawer or counter space) and have a conversation with your nanny about its purpose.  Turn to a new page each day, writing the date and time of entries.  Did your little one have trouble sleeping?  Did she refuse breakfast?  Has she grown an overnight connection to a specific doll?  Note these important details in the journal.  They could easily be forgotten when you see your nanny, so having written documentation will set her up for success!

Your nanny should reciprocate by jotting down the day's activities.  Did your little one learn a new song at school?  Slide down the "big" slide at the playground?  Use excellent manners throughout the day?  By keeping track of your child(ren)'s experiences, you can employ positive reinforcement when you return home and recognize patterns in her growth.

Be candid, honest and forthcoming.  But also, beware.  This journal should not replace critical face-to-face conversations with your nanny at the end of each day.  It's simply a place to record a timeline of your child's day and note anything special of which your nanny (and you!) should be aware.