This book is dedicated to nannies around the world—whether you’re caring for children in Hollywood, London, Paris or New Delhi. I wanted to write this book to show that we don’t just spend our days playing pat-a-cake and hide-and-seek. Our role is important, complex and often dangerous. Our work is often underestimated and undervalued.
It’s easy to think that the amount we earn and the perks of the job make us privileged and pampered, but it’s good, solid work that we do each day. This job requires you to be unselfish, kind, compassionate, flexible, brave, reliable and strong. There are weeks when we feel helpless, lonely and just want to pack it in. But we don’t, and that’s what makes us the best at what we do.
There are many important jobs that exist behind the scenes that most people will never hear about—laboratory technicians who spend years developing life-saving machinery, pilots who hold the responsibility of flying people safely around the world, and personal assistants who carry out the hard daily grind so that their bosses can always appear cool and in control. Of course, nannies fit into this group too. Nannies thrive on the satisfaction of seeing happy and healthy little faces smiling up at us. We have a wonderful opportunity to help a growing population of the most beautiful humans on the planet. I’m privileged to have worked with many wonderful children throughout the course of my career.
I put up with difficult bosses and extreme demands because of the payback, both emotionally and financially. A career as an elite nanny can leave you rich in heart and mind, as well as in pocket.
I hope my nannying friends don’t think that I have sold out by writing this book. In revealing the weird world that we inhabit, I wanted to paint them as heroes. I’m sure elite nannies everywhere will have very similar experiences to my own, and I hope that they will be able to laugh at my experiences and be relieved they’re not alone.
I haven’t broken the nanny code of ethics, because I haven’t named and shamed any of my employers or their children.
I want to thank my former bosses, who knew that I was working on this book and were supportive. Some of my previous employers will recognise elements of themselves in the book, but all of the characters are works of fiction.
Philippa Christian