I had my first real nannying experience when I was a junior in college. I was working for a family I had been connected with through an agency similar to Shore Sitters. To this day, even after moving over 1,000 miles back to my hometown, I have an amazing relationship with their family and keep in contact with them. I had babysat dozens of families sporadically before and after this experience, but until I had the chance to be a nanny where I was essentially considered part of their family, I had not realized the importance of having in-house childcare, and what a huge impact that person has on one’s family.
Being a parent doesn't mean that you have to do it all. Parents are human, and sometimes we all need a bit of help. When I first started with this particular family, they had one little boy who was about 1 1/2 years old, and a newborn baby boy who was just 3 weeks old. At first, I was there to help the mom with the older child so she could take full advantage of having 1-on-1 bonding time with the new baby. Over time, the relationship between myself and the family grew. I began watching both children while the mother did work, ran errands and attended to matters around the house. I became close enough with this family that they felt comfortable inviting me on vacations with them, watching their children on overnights, and even house-siting and dog-siting for them! I was attending school in Florida, about 1,000 miles away from my hometown in New Jersey so being a part of their family not only helped them by having trustworthy childcare, but it helped me feel a sense of belonging when I was missing my own family. If you think about it, it was really a win-win for everyone.
Since I started with the family while their children were so young, I played a vital role in the children’s early development. I’ll never forget the moments that showcased my impact on the kids directly. One moment in particular, I experimented using baby sign language with the youngest boy, and a week later he was using the signs correctly to communicate his needs to me. Watching him use the hand signs really proved to me that I was so much more to this little one than just a babysitter. I was a teacher, a role model and even an authoritative figure. This is something I believe is vital to keep in mind when it comes to childcare.
Almost anyone can supervise a child, but it takes a special type of person to foster a child's development. This is why I take such pride in scouting and seeking out sitters for Shore Sitters who are willing to go above and beyond the normal role of a babysitter. All the sitters on our team follow a handbook that I have personally written and taken the time to set our guidelines for all of the sitters. This includes but is not limited to; limiting electronic time, engaging kids educationally, using positive reinforcement and even little tips & tricks and activities for them to utilize. These are just some of the ways that Shore Sitters stands out above the rest.
Parents/Guardians are adults, and have social needs that deserve to be fulfilled for their own mental and emotional well-being. There's nothing wrong with going out a few times a month to get that break. Sometimes it is important to take a step back and clear your mind, especially when working with children. We are all human and get frustrated no matter how much we love our children. I designed and created Shore Sitters because I believe that parents and guardians should have the opportunity to enjoy a night out without the fear of leaving their entire life in someone else’s hands. By finding a babysitter with Shore Sitters, you can have confidence that your little ones are in the best possible hands, so you can have a fun, stress free time away!
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