newnanny's Blog

May 19, Arrival to Dinner
Date: May 18th, 2010 11:40:53 pm - Subscribe
Mood: nervous


I toted my bag around wherever I went in the house from five o'clock on. About ten minutes after six is when she called to tell me to go ahead and drive over to her house.

I said goodbye to my parents and headed to my car, putting the address into the unmounted gps quickly. Then I was off.

My gps is tricky. It sometimes tells you the wrong way. Or forgets to notify you about an upcoming turn. I've learned to watch it closely, and I'd already been this way once before, so it was easy to find the house again. This time I had a code to get through the gate, and knew which house I was going to.

I knew I was going to get there before they did, so I waited in the driveway with my new mix cd playing. Just a few funky fun songs. Easy to either enjoy or sing along with. For the first ten minutes, I watched every SUV passing within view of my mirrors. Finally I relaxed and pulled out my sketchbook. I'd drawn a couple things I was relatively happy with when the minivan pulled in, opening the garage door. I rolled up my window, turned the car off and put my stuff away, jumping out of the car. I walked up to the front to find Jacob staring at me from the other side of the space between my Saturn and the car in front of me.

A few hellos between me and the family, kids bustling here and there and eventually all shuttling in through the inside garage door into the house with the KFC chicken bag brimming.

The kids immediately began to interact with me, showing me the silly-bracelets they'd gotten from school somewhere that became shapes when you took the rubber off their wrists. Cars, flowers, and animals starting to parade before the procession was interrupted by Mrs. William's hurried preparations for dinner. I quickly began helping, spreading the forks out to each chair as she began dishing up plates.

She explained to me the seating arrangement, with me in her husband's usual place and the kids in their chairs. I guessed that it eliminated seating problems and arguments between the kids, and the strange arrangement allowed the "parents" complete access to all kids and all table space. It was rather ingenious, with the boys at the head of either end, the girls diagonal from eachother and the adults diagonal from eachother.

I ate and paid attention to the dynamics. Jacob was the pickiest, and when he served himself his own grape jelly for his biscuit he used way too much. He was on my side of the table, so I was the one assisting him. Sarah was to the other side of me, with her Simba plush tucked behind her in the chair and standing on her knees for half the supper, towering above the table with her slim figure. Abby got noodles with butter and salt, and didn't eat any chicken, biscuits, or fries. A reason for this was not given, but she thoroughly enjoyed her noodles, even warning her mother ahead of time that she was going to make a mess with them. Mostly she just dropped a few on the table and on herself while eating them like finger food, and she always ate what fell to the wayside anyway. Preston sat at the far end of the table from me, and nothing much happened on his part.
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Second Impressions
Date: May 18th, 2010 10:01:45 pm - Subscribe
Mood: addicted


Does it bode well for this remarkable journey of responsibility to begin with a long lapse of inactivity? When could I have recorded my thoughts and feelings in the last two months?

The day Mrs. Williams called and left me a message, which I foolishly pressed redial on and waited on hold on the office phone before I hung up and called her cell. She officially offered me the job and I officially took it. I was given the starting date of May 21st.

The long lack of communication as I finished up moving out of my previous apartment and started to think more and more about what awaited me at home and at my summer job.

The first phone call she made to me, and the subsequent and coincidental office visit where I both got a much needed spinal adjustment and my new boss' home address. I no longer remembered it from my first visit back in March.

Three different opportunities, and I put it off.

But of course, the meaning of this blog is not to record every instance of procrastination in my life as a nanny. It's not even about the blog itself. It is about recording every instance I can remember, every feeling, every idea, every discovery, and every day of the entirely new experience of being a nanny.

The cast, based on second impressions:

Preston, the older adopted six year old brother. A quiet voice and independent mind. Typical boy with a love of all things black and red, batman, or having anything to do with fishing. Told me the biggest fish he caught in the canal behind their house was an eight pound bass.

Sarah, the oldest of the five year old triplets. Brunette to her sister's blonde, and a big more reserved. Very much the older sister type to the younger two, despite being practically the same age. Reasonable and rational, with less eclectic tastes.

Jacob, the middle boy of the triplets. Loud about what he wants and doesn't want, but easily persuaded with a no-nonsense voice. Eager to show you things and tricks and collections, a real praise-seeker.

Abby, the youngest of the triplets. Blonde as a summer sunflower and just as attention grabbing. She has a variety of favorite games.. for example, hide and seek with easter eggs all year round.

Based on these impressions... I'd say earth, earth, air, air. Those estimates might change as I discover knew habits and personality traits housed beneath adorable faces and bright young minds.
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Bated Breath
Date: Mar 14th, 2010 9:26:18 pm - Subscribe
Mood: Nervous


Breathless, I realize that the day has drawn to a close.

March 14th. Daylight Savings Time. Sunday.

The day Mrs. Williams was supposed to call me.

I try not to think up reasons why. It slipped her mind. She decided not to hire me and just cannot bring herself to tell me. She tried to call and my phone did not receive it. She forgot she promised to call.

I was positive that it was me she favored, that it was me she was going to hire. She said as much herself.

Only time would tell if I would really get the chance to be a nanny, a full-time sitter, a mom-in-training in the coming summer.

And so with bated breath, I waited.
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