MY FIRST JOB

I am very new to blogging and I know...I know there are some people out there that believe  I have no business blogging, but being a former nanny. I just feel like nannies get a bad rap. It's like we're playing a game of poker but with no cards. I remember while working as a nanny when the book "the nanny diaries" came out. Oh... that was such a hit with nannies and some parents. I would be in the park watching the little ones run around and hear some parents talking about the book even hear nannies actually asking other nannies what they thought about the book. I admit I did read it but I did not relate to some things that was said as a nanny. Don't get me wrong I have worked for some families and have some stories that would make any persons head spin. Like straight out of a movie stories I just did not relate to this particular book. When I was 19 years of age I got my first job as a nanny. I worked for a family in Middletown NJ. A family of 4 with a stepchild that visited every other weekend. I got this job through an agency. So I never went for an interview I was just sent out to this family. First day I arrived early in the morning via the train. I got of the stop I was told to and waited along with a handful of nannies for our employers to pick us up. I remember being the last one to be picked up and how brutally cold it was. She arrived and I got into the front seat and said my good mornings to everyone in the car. Which was my employer a blond older woman looked like she may be in her early 40's and her 3 year old daughter sitting in her car seat in the back. Without even a smile she replied in a very soft but soothing like voice "can you please sit in the back" I thought it odd but did not ask why just did as I was told. We drove to the house and can I say WOW! a driveway that took a good minute to drive out of and a fountain in the front of the house. She drove towards the back entrance where the pool was and we entered through the kitchen. Immediately I noticed how huge the kitchen was but how dirty it was as well. There was magazines, mail, children artwork dirty dishes all over the wrap around granite counter top.Dirty empty bowls with spoons inside them on the table. Dried food stuck to the table and the stove. The only thing looked like it has been used on a daily basis was the coffee machine and even that was dirty. Her husband came downstairs with his briefcase and I was introduced very briefly as the new nanny and he was out the door. My employer gave me a quick walk though of the  house and showed me my room (I was a live-in nanny) I was told to address her by her last name and if at any time the phone rings please answer with a time of the day greeting with the family last name residence. for e.g ( Good morning... Smith residence).  I was told she would be taking her daughter to class and someone would drop her off when classes were finished as well as her son. In the meanwhile I should tidy up the kitchen. I again was a little confused because I was hired as a nanny. I was told by the agency that this person had a housekeeper. Apparently I was the housekeeper. I still did not protest and went to cleaning as soon as they left. It took me roughly 2 hrs to finish. Every week there was a new room for me to clean. Did I mention this was a 5 bedroom, 3 1/2 bathroom house. I remember her asking me to wash her husbands shirts and iron them. So now I was ironing and doing laundry along with cleaning the house. I never really had to watch the kids for any length of time because they were always in school or some kind of class, but when I did have to watch them it was chaotic. At 19 trying to watch a 3 yr old and a 5 yr old and keep a mini mansion functioning was quite exhausting. So after a few months went by. Fourth of  July was around the bend. I remember asking my employer what time was I leaving for the holidays. She looked at me and said in a soft and soothing like voice. Independence Day is not my holiday. It's for Americans only. I was shocked and eyes were welding ready to burst with tears. I asked her why? and she asked me if I was born here or in another country. I said I was born in Trinidad. She then thought I answered my question and walked away. I went into my room and started crying knowing this job had come to an end. I called my Aunt and told her what I was going through and what my employer had just said to me. My Aunt outraged hung up and called my residence. Spoke to my employer. Not sure what was said but I did get that holiday off. I left that job not to long after  Independence Day. I learned quite a lot about myself and about how nannies were looked upon. Even though that was 20 yrs ago I still see quite the same thing happening but with a twist. I was always a quite person, love to laugh, shy at times but sometimes very silly. This job opened my eyes to a new world that I was not aware I lived in until I stepped into someone else's reality