This summer, I got my first real official nanny job. Well, I wouldn't necessarily call it a "job;" more like a life choice in a way. Having already gone through one year of college, I already know how hard it is to take care of myself. Feeding, bathing and doing laundry for myself was hard. My roommate had to remind me to at least do my laundry every few days.
I didn't really know what I was getting myself into. I was excited and nervous at the same time. I have always liked kids. I love how they can have all this energy and be able to eat a ton of food, just being on this cycle all the time. My two kids I get to take care of this summer are 9 and 7. It's already been two weeks since I first started, and we've come a long way. Of course, we have our good days and bad days, but the good days definitely outrun the bad days.
What does a nanny do exactly? Well, every nanny has a different job description. For me, my job is to feed them, play with them and help around the house if there are things to be done. On good days where the siblings are helpful and kind to each other and we have no fights, they get those red, white and blue bomb popsicles at the end of the day. This has become our regular thing. I think I am asked at least five times a day "Do we get our Bomb Pops today?" I laugh every time because it is really rare when they don't get popsicles.
A lot of the time, I take the kids to the neighborhood pool, a favorite spot. They like me to hold cannonball contests and to make waves for them to "drown" in. When it is really hot out, I will actually get in the pool and give them piggy back rides and have them hold on to my back when I go underwater.
The kids also love to go fishing. Well, the 7-year-old boy does. His sister only is enthused after she catches a fish. Then she gets really excited about my favorite water sport. Golfing, bike rides and golf cart rides are also some of their favorite things to do.
Sometimes I have to stay with the kids later, and I end up putting them to bed. Tonight, the older sister called me into her room and said "I am going to miss you when you have to leave." I gave her a hug goodnight. It makes me so happy to know I am doing something right with them.
I am honestly so glad to have these kids this summer. They have taught me a lot about myself, and a lot about how to really take care of kids. I think, when I am ready, I will want kids of my own someday. I don't know what I will do when school comes around in the fall again. It will be weird actually getting up and going to classes, instead of making breakfast and planning a day full of play with my two kiddos. I am so so lucky to have this as my summer job, and I cannot wait for more exciting memories and laughs to come!
