b"ASK THE NANNY a Day in the LifeDear Stephanie,How can I overcome a bad reference? When I firststarted nannying, I left a position without much notice. Iactually quit over text. Looking back, I know this wasn'ttherightthingtodo.HowdoIaddressthisgoingforward with agencies and parents who want to checkall of my references?My name is Ogechi Dominica Anogwih. I am from lmo State,Sincerely,Nigeria. I am 46 years old and married with two kids. I am achildcaregiver. I graduated from The Nanny Academy in LagosLeft Without Proper Notice Nigeria, in 2018.Presently, l am taking care of a baby of one-year and twoDear Left Without Proper Notice,months in Ikoyi, Lagos. l do live-in. l also sleep with the baby.The baby prefers sleeping with me. On several occasions thatYoucanovercomethisbyprovidingparentsandplacement the mother tried sleeping with her, the baby will wake up in theagencies with a number of other stellar job references.middle of the night crying, and won't stop till she brings herback to me. Reach out to teachers and coaches who have seen you caringfor children and to parents for whom you have babysat, and ask Everyday, I wake up by 5am. Then l take my bath, arrange thethem if you can use them as a reference. If you were employed room, and put her toys in order. While the baby is still sleeping,at a daycare, preschool, or church or synagogue nursery, ask if l will boil water and put it in a flask, and get her bathing stuffthey will be a job reference.ready.Always ask for written letters of reference from parents before By the time she wakes up, I am usually ready for her so l feedleaving nanny jobs. It may be difficult to contact them once you her, give her medications, and then take her to poo. l have justhave left their employment, and as the years pass it can be introduced her to the potty, so we are toilet training. difficult for them to remember all that you did at the job. Writtenreferences can be used for your entire career. When she's done pooing, l take her to get a bath and dress herup for the day. She takes her lunch by noon, after which sheWhen the topic comes up about why you left the family without takes her siesta. By 4pm, she takes any light food or snack likeproper notice, remain professional. Keep your answer as short yoghurt, pudding, or fruit. and simple as possible. Unless you felt unsafe or endangered,there is no correct answer for leaving abruptly via text message. By 5pm l take her out for an out door game that lasts for oneAdmit that it was a mistake and that you would never do so and half hours. By 7pm she takes her evening bath. She takesagain.dinner by 8pm and 9pm is bed time.In the future, leave nanny jobs on a positive note. When you When she falls a sleep, l take my bath, take my dinner, and joinresign, do so in a professional manner and allow the parents a her to sleep and we are done for the day. minimumoftwoweeks(buttypicallyamonthsnoticeisexpected in most nanny work agreements). Remember, always With my experience as a mother and as a well trained nanny, Iask for a written letter of reference! have the interest of children at heart, and l love taking care ofthem for they are fun to be with and there is never a dullBest of luck, moment.Stephanie FelzenbergSTEPHANIE FELZENBERGStephanieStephanie Felzenberg is a career nanny, newborn specialist, and familyassistantwithmorethantwenty-fiveyearsofexperiencecaringfornewbornstoteenagers.Shepublishesanannyblogatbethebestnanny.com and is the US Nanny Association Newsletter Editor.She edited the Child Care Textbook and is the Nanny Magazine advice Submit Your Questions to Stephanie by email atcolumnist. info@NannyMag.com"