When we have children, the last thing we want to do is leave them in the hands of a complete stranger. However, this does have to happen if a work or university schedule collides with child care.
Before hiring a nanny, consider your options. If you can have a close friend or family member watch your young ones, by all means call them up and ask. Or, maybe you can afford putting your kids in a well respected (but very expensive) day care. If you find yourself unable to do either, you might want to find a nanny. Nannies not only watch your children, they take car of your home, too. You’ll definitely want to conduct a criminal background check on any and all of your applicants. Hopefully they’re clean or have obtained a Canada pardon and have been cleared.
The process of hiring a nanny is emotionally stressful and can cause the parents great amounts of anxiety. To make things a little easier, make the process of recruiting sort of like an interview. Be sure to inquire about the nanny’s previous experience, if they have any certifications, what hours they’re available, and if they can be on-call. After that, talk about your family’s needs and the compensation.
After finding the right nanny, you may feel a little bit of stress lifted off of your shoulders, but not entirely. Now comes the hard part – saying goodbye to your kids and shutting the door behind you. To have a nanny, you must trust the person watching your home and children. This is very difficult for some people to do, especially because of the many horror stories we’re all familiar with about nannies and children. If it makes you feel better, set up hidden cameras or voice recorders in hidden places of the house and check them after each night. Continue checking even after a couple months since the nanny knows you’ll be more comfortable with her/him after a while and more prone to trust them.
Every six months, sit down with your nanny and conduct an evaluation. If your nanny is who they said they are, maybe give them a little bit of a raise. If they’re not doing so well, don’t be afraid to point out their flaws (and show them evidence, if you must). Whether your nanny has been in the business for 20 years or 5, it’s important to evaluate them as if they were one of your employees at the office.
Hiring a nanny can be a parent’s worst nightmare, but it doesn’t have to be. The process is often stressful and the fear of leaving your children and home in the hands of stranger is terrifying. However, if the proper hiring procedure is conducted and after careful evaluation you trust your nanny, the experience can be delightful.
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