I am the second-born in a family of ten kids. My Dad is a pastor and music teacher, and my Mom is a stay at home, homeschooling, Mary Kay mom. I have an older brother who lives with his wife and two daughters in Norfolk, VA, while teaching in the military school of music, a younger brother who graduated college last year, is newly married, and works as a music/youth pastor, a baby brother who is just turning 12, and 6 sisters between the ages of 14 and 21 who are my very favorite people in the world.

 The brother who is the music/youth pastor now was the next child after me - he was born when I was 4.5 years old. The girls followed him in rapid succession, and it was fantastic...I always had a real live baby to play with and take care of...dolls are for saps :-) Mom struggled with depression from when I was 12 until I was 18, so I managed the bulk of the household work - making dinner, changing diapers, grocery shopping, giving baths, and making sure everybody felt loved. 

I grew up in Texas in a town near Beaumont, and a tiny town between Wichita Falls and Amarillo. After graduating (I was homeschooled from 1st grade through high school) I went to Hardin Simmons University in Abilene. I stayed a semester, then left, feeling restless and unsure of what path I was supposed be taking. I worked in a down-home style restaurant in Amarillo while trying to figure out what I needed to do with my life, and came to the conclusion that I wanted to be a Mom. That wasn't exactly a shocking conclusion...I had known most of my life that I wanted to have 8 or 10 kids and raise them to be outstanding, interesting, educated people of integrity. So as I analyzed my skills and gifts, I decided that nannying was my next step - raise other people's children til I have my own, get even more experience (as if helping raise my eight younger siblings wasn't enough) and really explicate who I wanted to be.

My first nanny position was in Colorado Springs, CO. I worked as a live-in for a single father who worked nights as a doctor on the Air Force Base. There were four kids, ages 10 to 4. I worked 23 hours a day, 6 days a week. The dad worked nights, slept days, and would take care of the kids for about an hour each afternoon, and on Mondays. I stayed with them for only four months - the parents started pulling me into the custody dispute (making me to go to legal offices and talk to their attorneys about why THEY should get the kids) and I was extremely uncomfortable with that. Leaving those kids was one of the hardest things I've ever done.

 My second nanny job was in Wisconsin. I was a live-in for two kids, ages 6 and 2. They only needed a nanny three days a week - the Dad was a police officer, and the Mom a nurse. She worked in another city 3 days each week, so they had to have care for their kids while the Dad was working.

 My third nanny job was in New Jersey. I was a live-in for a family with three kids, ages 8, 4, and 2 months. I can't describe to you the depth of the relationship I have to this day with this family. They ARE my family. I had the privilege of living with them, working with them, laughing with them, and belonging with them for almost two years.

My fourth nanny job was in South Carolina. I was a live-in for two kids, ages 3 and 1. I had the 1 year old singing before she could even talk...I was quite pleased with myself. :-) The family has two homes - one in the country, and one on an island south of Charleston, so I spent a lot of time with the kids going back and forth. I did quite a bit of overnight work for this family, as well as traveling with them on vacations to care for the kids.  

 After nearly two years with the Charleston family, I got married, and moved with my husband. He was supposed to be deploying to Afghanistan, but after several months of military back-and-forth he wound up not going. We found out a couple months into our marriage that we were expecting a child, and our son Peter was born on December 10th, 2008. We wound up living in Columbia, SC, where Husband worked on Ft Jackson.

 My fifth nanny job was as a live-out in Columbia, SC. The kids were 4 and 3. The Dad had been moved by his company down to Florida, and the Mom (a chef) had to finish out her time in South Carolina before she and the kids could join him. The work hours for a chef tend to be crazy, so there were quite a few late nights. Peter's intelligence and development skyrocketed during this time - the stimulation and socialization he recieved from spending a good deal of time with another child made him advance very rapidly both physically and mentally - he took off running the day he turned 9 months.  

 My husband became increasingly abusive as time progressed, and it escalated to the point that in December of 2009 I was in fear for Peter's and my life, and we ran away. We went to Washington state, as it had the double benefit of being far from South Carolina, and my family was there. The next year was...interesting, sad, busy...you name it. I began working as a freight biller for a trucking company in Spokane, Washington, and was officially divorced in March of 2011.

 I was very successful working as a billing clerk - fastest biller in the company, as I understand - but it's not what I wanted to be doing. I want to be the primary influence in my son's life, the person who helps shape and direct him as he develops his personality and character, his sense of right and wrong, his passions and interests. It was fascinating to me to watch how he blossomed when around other children - such a boost to his development physically, mentally, and socially. I want him to have that companionship, but also the challenge that comes with having a close relationship with a child close to his age. It's beneficial in so many ways.

 We came to Texas in early September. My best friend from childhood was carrying her 4th child and on strict bedrest, but since she had a 7 yr old, 2 yr old, and 1 yr old who needed to be cared for while her husband worked, she needed HELP! Peter and I stayed with them and kept the household running smoothly until she had her sweet baby mid-November. I am currently working a short-duration nanny job that ends in February, and am in the process of interviewing with families for (I hope....we'll see what God has up His sleeve!) a more long-term position to move into at that point.

 What I've just shared is a lot of information...but I feel it is necessary. I would not be comfortable letting someone not only into my home, but also near to and caring for my child if I DIDN'T know the story of their life. My life hasn't gone the way I had hoped, but it is a good life, full of people who love us, full of kindness, full of knowledge that despite things going awry and heartbreak, there is always hope. Some of what I have gone through is devastating....but it is not defining. I have the choice to move forward with honesty and integrity, and I choose to do so. 

I would be very happy to answer any questions you have for me - absolute clarity is the only way to make a parent/child/nanny relationship work in a way that is acceptable and comfortable for all parties. 

Thanks for reading this far, and for your interest. I hope that your search for a wonderful nanny is successful!