I started watching kids by myself when I was 10 years old with my 3 year old & 6month old neices.
When I originally moved to California my first job was at a gym in the kids club watching children from 3months to 11 years old. The following year I became an afterschool nanny for a 6th grader helping her single mom. Homework was done immediately after getting a little snack after school. Most days we went to the library to study and work on homework. A few times a week I’d cook meals (Hello Fresh) if her mom came home late that evening. I would try to pick up around the house as much as I could, especially helping the child clean her very messy room. They moved to Michigan the next school year and I graduated with my Associates Degree, then moved to Southern California.
Originally I started watching 3 little boys as an occasional babysitter for date nights to an 8month old, 2 year old, and 4 year old. All while being an afterschool nanny to 3 children an 5 year old, 7 year old, and 11 year old. Everyday id pick them up from school all at different times/ locations. Afterschool we do the same as nannying previously, get a snack afterschool then start right on homework. My main goal was once parents are home, they get to relax (hopefully) or at least not worry about “did they do all their homework?” Or “how are they doing in school? Are they having a hard time?”
After about a year I had to start focusing on school because the family moved from Rialto (the city I lived in to Upland).
At this time I was still babysitting the 3 little boys which eventually turned into nannying full-time with them. Starting around 6am until the 3-7pm when the parents came home. I started with the family when the youngest was 8months until he was almost 3 years old. With this family, my job started with waking the kids up, getting the older kids ready for school, drop off, then staying with the toddler until it wax time for pick up. Then it was the regular routine, afterschool snack, homework, playtime, helping them clean their space and possibly helping with getting dinner started. I stopped watching them to focus on my last year of University and their grandmother moved in who was now able to help out their parents.
Each family that I’ve ever worked with has a special place in my heart. Luckily I am still in contact with the families to this day and can come over whenever I want to say hi or go hang out!
BS in Kinesiology