I originally moved out to Los Angeles in order to pursue personal dreams of mine. The road to that, lead me to the day job of being a nanny, which I LOVE. This is why I juggle several families rather than just becoming a full time nanny for one set of working parents, or shacking up and just having my own. In order to stay sane, I have strict rules to protect everyone from bad situations: I usually only work for stay at home moms who either need me to cover for them while they volunteer or run errands. You may worry that I have a limited market, but don’t you fret, in Los Angeles this is not rare. In the case of Kevin, I choose to work for a mother who was currently in the process of releasing her first novel. The father is an architect. Originally, she only needed me for 9 hours a week: 9am-12pm on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. This was perfect for me. I was completely honest in my interview process about the situations that may arise given that I am out here for acting. Auditions and bookings get very little notice and I don’t like to catch people off guard. Cathy, Kevin’s mom, was fine with this and was overwhelming supportive of my goals. Within a week, Cathy decided she needed more hours. So we upped the 9-hour schedule to a 25-hour schedule that required me to keep Kevin on Wednesdays from 9am-6pm and included Saturdays. The house in under renovations, so, we set up a mini-day-care center in my guest bedroom. (My boyfriend was thrilled.) Cathy made me promise that I wouldn’t move or quit in the near future and made me feel slightly guilty for the finders fee my nanny agency took. I had been working with this company for over a year and never knew the agency fee existed. My boyfriend had to talk me out of offering to split the new nanny’s finders fee if I decided to leave any where between 3-12 months. I finally told her life happens and I really wish I could help but I don’t think I can.
This situation became completely overwhelming for me quickly. I was going to behaviorist specialist with Cathy and Kevin, keeping him for 12 hours straight (meaning a minimum 15 hours work day for me since I have Catherine every morning), going to doctors appointments, adding in extra hours, occasionally getting ripped off, feeling guilty for the castings I was going on, getting the stomach flu, and all while getting kicked and scratched.
Don’t get me wrong Kevin’s adorable and everybody loves him but I was exhausted. I tried my best to hide it. I was biting off more than I could chew while I watched the mother waste time and not take advantage of my existence and then listened to her complain about it. I remained beyond supportive of her and we had mini therapy sessions, sometimes, her and sometimes me.
One morning I walked in and Cathy awkwardly started a conversation about needing more hours. My other family had just had a new baby and I’m pretty sure I had been working for 2-3 weeks straight including a few overnights with Lily. I smiled and nodded and told her, “okay”. She told me hat she needed more consistency and with everything I’m doing and she is doing she’s going get someone to work 5 days a week 9-12, aka she’s letting me lose. I completely understood her situation and didn’t get even remotely upset. It was Monday and she told me my last day would be Friday. Um, ok. She asked if that was enough notice and I nodded while thinking, “Do I have a choice?” The next day I came in and she informed me that she couldn’t find anyone to replace me and was wondering if I could work the following Monday as well. “Sure!” I said politely with a smile on my face. I’m a doormat. After a week of supportive texts and BBMs, from my friends, encouraging me not walk out during some of Kevin’s tantrums; Monday came around. I walked in after taking Kevin to the park as Cathy skipped out of her office. “I have a surprise for you!!” Um ok? I thought. She pulled out a cake. I’m serious. I wanted to stand there silent or say “I didn’t quit, you fired me” but it seemed like she was really excited and I suppose we had some sort of bond, so instead I put a big smile on my face and said “ Oh My Gosh! Thank you! You’re so nice!” She opened up the cake box to a Red Velvet cake that said “Thank You Candace!” on it. I put Kevin down for his nap and we sat and had a mini office party for my Happy You’re Fired Day. I over heard her on the phone bragging that it was only $18 and then she sent me home with the cake. Thanks?
I do appreciate that I meant enough to her for her to want to show some kind of appreciation but I was startled by the entire event: from hired to fired to celebrating. I’m still not sure what to think about it but I wish Cathy, Kevin, and the new nanny all the best.
Maybe I’ll miss those two.
This situation became completely overwhelming for me quickly. I was going to behaviorist specialist with Cathy and Kevin, keeping him for 12 hours straight (meaning a minimum 15 hours work day for me since I have Catherine every morning), going to doctors appointments, adding in extra hours, occasionally getting ripped off, feeling guilty for the castings I was going on, getting the stomach flu, and all while getting kicked and scratched.
Don’t get me wrong Kevin’s adorable and everybody loves him but I was exhausted. I tried my best to hide it. I was biting off more than I could chew while I watched the mother waste time and not take advantage of my existence and then listened to her complain about it. I remained beyond supportive of her and we had mini therapy sessions, sometimes, her and sometimes me.
One morning I walked in and Cathy awkwardly started a conversation about needing more hours. My other family had just had a new baby and I’m pretty sure I had been working for 2-3 weeks straight including a few overnights with Lily. I smiled and nodded and told her, “okay”. She told me hat she needed more consistency and with everything I’m doing and she is doing she’s going get someone to work 5 days a week 9-12, aka she’s letting me lose. I completely understood her situation and didn’t get even remotely upset. It was Monday and she told me my last day would be Friday. Um, ok. She asked if that was enough notice and I nodded while thinking, “Do I have a choice?” The next day I came in and she informed me that she couldn’t find anyone to replace me and was wondering if I could work the following Monday as well. “Sure!” I said politely with a smile on my face. I’m a doormat. After a week of supportive texts and BBMs, from my friends, encouraging me not walk out during some of Kevin’s tantrums; Monday came around. I walked in after taking Kevin to the park as Cathy skipped out of her office. “I have a surprise for you!!” Um ok? I thought. She pulled out a cake. I’m serious. I wanted to stand there silent or say “I didn’t quit, you fired me” but it seemed like she was really excited and I suppose we had some sort of bond, so instead I put a big smile on my face and said “ Oh My Gosh! Thank you! You’re so nice!” She opened up the cake box to a Red Velvet cake that said “Thank You Candace!” on it. I put Kevin down for his nap and we sat and had a mini office party for my Happy You’re Fired Day. I over heard her on the phone bragging that it was only $18 and then she sent me home with the cake. Thanks?
I do appreciate that I meant enough to her for her to want to show some kind of appreciation but I was startled by the entire event: from hired to fired to celebrating. I’m still not sure what to think about it but I wish Cathy, Kevin, and the new nanny all the best.
Maybe I’ll miss those two.
For those who think I made this up.
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