Level of education: I have a BS in English with an emphasis in Writing Studies. I also worked for 5 years a writing tutor during college. Currently, I am enrolled part-time in an online masters in Mental Health Counseling.

Additional skills or certifications: I have a strong interest in working with children with autism, disabilities, behavioral difficulties, etc. It is very rewarding for me to support these kiddos. My agency nannying gave me experience with children of all abilities. And as a neighborhood babysitter, I used to care for a brother and sister who were in wheelchairs. Regarding certification, I have certificates in "Advanced Babysitting" as well as "Adult, Child, and Infant CPR" from the Red Cross.

Experience: I have been a full-time nanny/house manager for a year-and-a-half, a high-end resort nanny for two years at a Park City agency, a summer nanny in NYC, and the go-to neighborhood babysitter for at least a decade. I am also the oldest of six children, so childcare has been part of my life as long as I can remember. In my current position, I work alongside two wonderful parents and their adorable children, ages 5 and 2. I do every imaginable domestic task at this position, from diapers and homework help to meeting contractors and house/pet sitting. The parents I work for consider me a partner in their parenting and we work as a team to facilitate their kids success in all aspects of life, including healthy eating, completing homework, swim and ski lessons, etc. Previous to this position, I was an agency nanny caring for a different family every day at local ski resorts. This gave me experience with kids of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities. Previous to that, I was nannied in NYC for a summer for kids ages 5 and 2 while their parents worked long hours. And previous to that, I was the designated neighborhood babysitter.

Experience with the following age groups: Because of the broad scope of my experience, I am confident working with all ages. As an agency sitter, I often cared for 5+ children at once, often including a mix of infants, children, and teens.

Interests and hobbies:I am at the beginning of several years of training to become a child therapist. My goal is to work in a Montessori school for children with severe mental health issues. I have a strong interest in reducing the labels put on children nowadays. I emphasize children’s strengths and encourage them to develop their interests. I think education and childcare are significant factors in whether a child is thriving or struggling, and I really value the Montessori approach. I enjoy supporting the children I nanny with resources and encouragement as they learn about their world in a way that works for them.

Describe your childcare style:My current employers describe me as "calm, patient, creative, flexible, and always willing to learn and improve." Many employers have told me I have a steady calmness when working with children. When a child is "misbehaving," I look for the cause (such as hunger, tiredness, or testing a boundary) and arrange my response accordingly. I set clear expectations and boundaries for the kids I work with, and I feel this helps them relax and play safely and happily. I also always work within parents' rules, schedule, and parenting goals to support the outcomes the parents desire for their children.

What activities do you like to do with children:My favorite activities are playing outside and reading with the kids I nanny. I also look for age appropriate development activities. On a typical day, I set up a craft for the 5yo, I do fingerpainting with the 2yo, I work on numbers and letters with both kids, and I run both kids to their respective extracurricular activities. After their swim and gymnastics lessons, I ask them about what they learned. We also work on learning new things throughout the day. For example, while in the car, we talk about new vocabulary words, point out colors, count to 100, or sing the alphabet. I also always sing to them when they go to sleep, and they have become pretty musical.I also love taking them to the library, aquarium, museums, parks, the zoo, and on occasional "hot chocolate runs.”

Why are you interested in working as a Nanny or Babysitter? I always tell people I am in the business of making happy childhoods. I love to see the kids I work with laugh and smile. I also love to see them learn something new or conquer an obstacle. This year, I helped the mom I work for potty train the 2yo, which was a very rewarding success for us. Both parents and I also worked with the 5yo on writing her alphabet letters and name before she entered her first year of private school. Each time a new milestone is met I feel so proud of these kids. The parents and I are always chatting about where the kids are at, what they need to learn next, and what new strategies we can implement for further learning and improvement.

What qualities are important in a Nanny or Babysitter?I think a nanny needs to be calm, patient, flexible, and creative. It takes a sort of innate intuition to figure out what is going on with a kid and what to do about it. I also think a nanny needs to love working with parents for their parenting goals. In my experience, many nannies I have talked to think it's very awkward to work with parents. I do not feel this way, and love working alongside my employers to support their kiddos. A nanny needs to understand the "big picture" of what parents are trying to make happen for their kids.

Additional comments:I would love to chat about how I can meet your family’s needs. I look forward to meeting your family!