October 16, 2024
I work in the childcare space, with a company called Smart Sitting.
Our job is to support families in finding on demand, part-time, and full-time nanny support.
We have a whole team of folks dedicated to this. We have supported families with literally millions of hours of childcare.
I, Dara, am ashamed to say, I am currently hiring a full-time nanny for my family and it is seriously difficult!
The Search
Here’s what I’m doing (while also working full-time).
- I’m working with a back-up nanny, who is generally super flexible.
- I’m working with my nanny recruitment team in New York, who is pre-vetting candidates for me.
- I’m working with an incredible nanny agency based in Los Angeles, Westside Nannies, who is also pre-vetting candidates for me.
- I’m posting on facebook groups, and sharing candidate info with my recruitment team so they can do a thorough vetting of them.
- I’m asking literally everyone I talk to if they know a great nanny.
- I created job postings on NannyLane, Care, and Sittercity, also to find candidates to send to my recruitment team to screen.
Why I’m Ashamed
Here’s why I’m ashamed today.
I interviewed and trialed with a candidate who seemed incredible.
She was supposed to get screened in through my team in New York, however she didn’t finish onboarding.
She was supposed to have one more training/trial day yesterday and today was going to be her first day.
Last minute, it didn’t happen.
My Backup Plan
Here’s today’s last second backup plan:
7:30 AM – 8:15 AM: me/husband
8:15 AM – 10:15 AM: backup Nanny KD
10:15 AM – 11:30 AM: friend
11:30 AM – 1:30 PM: Nanny KS (friend’s nanny) before she started her other work day at 1:30
1:30 PM – 2:30 PM: me/husband (our “lunch break” aka school pickup for the older kiddo)
2:30 PM – 4:30 PM: Wizard of Oz for the older kid, nap for the little one
4:30 PM – 5 PM: me
5 PM – 8:30 PM: husband (I’m interviewing a nanny and then I have mom’s night out)
And listen, there’s also the mental load of organizing today, which I know is supposed to count, but I just don’t have time to count it.
Truth About Childcare
The craziest thing about the above? I, of all people, am supposed to have this figured out!
I was born to have this figured out. I have put aside so much time and so many resources to figure this out.
My husband and I both work remotely and we can afford to hire a nanny (at the cost of twice our mortgage, but who’s counting).
We’re living the luckiest version of having kids. Even with every single resource at our fingertips, it’s still so darn hard!
Okay, that was me being super vulnerable. Your turn!