I Nanny for a Military Family…

Military families live a unique lifestyle. Oftentimes, a military family won’t live in the same place for more than a few years, and they learn to embrace the adventure of living in new places. No matter how exciting moving from place to place is, it can be difficult at times on each member of the family, especially the children. Add to this the stress that having a parent deployed for long periods of time, and it is understandable that the children (and the spouse at home) need extra emotional support. Having a strong family unit in place is important, but adding a nanny into the mix can be an incredibly beneficial thing, too. Here are some of the pros and cons of working as a nanny for a military family.

Pros:

• Support for parents: For some military families, one spouse is left home while the other deploys, leaving that spouse with the sole responsibility in caring for the kids. Having a nanny can serve as a great support for the parent that may need some extra help during the deployment.  When personalities between the nanny and the parent mesh well, the parent will likely feel supported and ready to tackle the deployment with confidence.

• Support for children: Children that have a parent deployed or away a lot at training can many times face separation anxiety and sadness. Having another adult role model in their life in the form of a nanny can be incredibly helpful. They will feel supported, loved and cared for in a time where they may be feeling alone or sad.

• Attention to details: Military families have a lot on their plate, especially if one spouse is deployed for an extended amount of time. Having a nanny can help parents significantly in the details. For example, a nanny can help grocery shop, help with laundry, or prepare meals. Having an extra hand in the day-to-day details will ease the stress that parents may face on a daily basis.

• Making a difference: For a nanny, you’ll know you’re making a positive impact by working with a military family that has a true need for extra help. There’s nothing better than knowing you’re making a true difference by helping children and parents.

Cons:

• Moving a lot: Unless you are prepared to relocate yourself when a family moves, you may find yourself looking for another job once the family receives orders to relocate. Many times nannies are hired to just work alongside a family for a year or so, while others look for nannies that are okay with moving with them around the country or even the world. Talk to the family you’re thinking about working with and determine how long they need you. A silver lining is when a job change is inevitable, your current family will oftem put word out in their network about your availability; a personal recommendation like that is GOLD in the job market.

• Unpredictability: The life a military family can be pretty unpredictable at times. Service demands and plans change regularly, and sometimes without much warning at all. Nannies working with military families need to be very flexible, which means you may need to be okay with working on short notice, sometimes non-traditional hours or on an irregular basis.

Working with military families can be very rewarding. Marketing yourself as a nanny that is flexible and willing to work a variety of schedules can be very appealing to military families that are looking for a sturdy support network and trustworthy care.

Posted with permission from HomeWork Solutions (www.homeworksolutions.com)

(Photo Credit: IG - @militarywives_; @usarmyla)