b"Sometimes there are full weeks wherewe cant go outside at all because of PEOPLE PROFILE : Kimberly Brownthe cold, so we have to make the bestof it with a bouncer we set up inside, alittle play structure, a small swing set,and more. We have to get our energy How did you get involved in the nanny industry?outsomehow,andtheseindoor-sized Growing up, I was the family and neighborhood sitter. In high school, I also babysat for my Englishstructures are perfect for that! Having teacher and her husband, who had adopted a baby boy. After I graduated, two families who I hadlongwintersalsogivesusthe babysat for asked me to stay on as their nanny. They agreed to a schedule, and I accepted my firstopportunitytoworkonotherskills nanny share position! It worked out great! Funnily enough, both boys were the same age and hadindoors, such as numbers, the alphabet, the same name.finemotorskills,shapes,andmore.Italsoreallymakesustakeour Where do you see yourself in five years?imaginations to the next level!In five years, I see myself pioneering this field down some new avenues as I continue to see greaterneeds and ways I can help. Through projects like the Nanny Sitter Education Fund opening doors toAfter a morning of indoor fun or a quick help pay for childcare workers continued education and other projects with global reach, my goalouting, we make some lunch. Often the over the next five years is to establish partnerships with companies and offer parenting classesolderchildisreadytohelpmewith and trainings specifically for parents who want to keep their kids out of the system. These are allwhatever I need. After lunch, we do a passions and goals of mine.fewmoreminutesofplayingbeforenaptime for all three children. We read What is your best advice for nannies across the globe?a few books, and then I tuck them in My advice to nannies across the globe would be to understand and know that your job is not justand sing a song if they are having a important, but vital. Nannies are raising some of the influencers of the next generation, and we gethard time settling down. I always give to be the first ones to touch their lives in a way no one else can. Invest in yourself, and then pourthem a kiss and big hug before tucking all you have into your children. You can never go wrong when you give knowledge and love awaythem in because their parents are home to someone who will take it, learn from it, and appreciate it. Children will do that because they areto let me go before they wake up.sponges.Oncethechildrenaredownfortheir How can nannies be the best they can be?nap, I clean up the kitchen and all the By not thinking they know it all! There is so much you don't know about what you don't know. Beingtoyswehaveplayedwiththroughout unteachable and unapproachable means you will fail your kids. And that is something that can bethe day. Once parents arrive, we chat changed. There are two things in life you should always have: a mentor and a mentee. about the childrens day and anythingelsethatcameup.Ivaluethe How do you give back to the nanny community?relationshipcreatedwiththeparents I work my butt off! Honestly, I do work really hard to be an active member of the community, and Iandbelieveitisjustasimportantas still feel like I want to do more. I am the one who is done with never being seen or heard. I amyourrelationshipwiththechildren. often the person behind the persons of interest, and I'm OK with that because I have the freedomBeing on the same page is so important to do what I like best, which is advise and teach. So many people have poured into me freely, andwhenraisingchildren.Oncewehave it's only right I do the same.chatted for a while, I say goodbye and head home. So if it's helping a friend prep for an interview, supporting a peer event, linking people together,saying yes to something I feel I can do, teaching webinars and classes, and yes, even stepping outAfter Work my comfort zone and serving on a board, I do it!When I leave at the end of the day, I always feel so filled and happy. Theres Biggest nanny industry myth?so much love and support coming from The biggest myth I have heard about the nanny industry is that nannies are glorified sittersand wethechildrenandtheparentsthatI all know that we do more than babysit. I believe that with COVID, the world now knows andcouldnt feel otherwise! I have about a acknowledges this myth as well. Hopefully we will see newfound respect given to people who are35-minute drive home from work, so I childcare workers, nannies, and teachersuse that time to reflect on my day andthink about tomorrow might bring. For the past 25 years, Kimberly Brown has supported parents by supervising, nurturing, guiding, andinspiring their children as a career nanny.She is a single mother of a toddler and a state-licensedBeing a nanny is such important work, foster mother. Kimberly also serves as the director of family services for the US Nanny Associationor any other childcare for that matter! andasthepresidentforthenewlyestablishedNannySitterEducationFund.ShestartedaShapingchildrenslivesandhelping Facebook group called The Parent & Nanny Culture Community, which aims to bring the tworaisingkind,respectful,andloving groups together to respectfully learn and grow together and forge bonds.children is something to be proud of.Dont ever think you are just a nanny. Read more about Kim at NannyMag.comYou are a nanny, and you are amazing.NannyMag.com35"