Nanny Employer Blog

I recently had the opportunity to visit our new Vail office.  We are thrilled to be able to offer services to existing and new clients who may vacation or own a second home in the Vail/Beaver Creek/Bachelor Gulch/Arrowhead/Eagle part of Colorado.

My family loves to vacation there and we experienced our first Thanksgiving with all 4 of our kids in ski school!  Our youngest, 3 year old twins, were finally potty trained and anxious to hit the slopes!  They got as far as the “Magic Carpet” where they rode up a motorized flat escalator of sorts and were able to “ski” a few feet down with the help of a wonderful (and very patient) ski instructor, making “pizzas” (wedges) and avoiding the alligator alleys (translate “trees”).  We are all anxious to head back up again on Christmas Day for some more practice.  Even though I have a wonderful nanny who lives with us and will be travelling with us to Colorado, I’m sure that I will avail myself of our services there so that I can give my much-loved and hard-working nanny a chance to ski herself!
 
We are so thrilled to have partnered with Jill Smirl, our franchisee in Vail,  to open a much-needed office in that area.  Jill is a mother of 3, knows everyone in the Vail Valley, and is an awesome realtionship builder with a passion for quality and customer service, so she is a great fit for MBF!  She also purchased a local operation, Vail Sitters, and has incorporated their client base into Mom’s Best Friend Vail/Beaver Creek.  We offer a wide range of services in this market, some of which differ from other markets, including ski companions, property managers, and more.  If you are a current member in any of our cities, keep in mind that your membership is good in Vail as well.  A membership is so versatile, since it can be used in any city for a wide range of services, and makes a great Christmas gift so keep this in mind for a stocking stuffer.  If you’re planning a white Christmas in Vail, don’t forget to make MBF part of your plans!

In my Ask the Expert column from our most recent newsletter, I respond to a client asking for tips on bringing her nanny on her family’s summer vacation. While I think it’s a great idea to utilize your nanny’s services on your getaway, it is also very important that you and your nanny communicate about a variety of arrangements you will need to make for your trip. Remember: Your vacation is not necessarily a vacation for your nanny; in fact it may mean extra work in unfamiliar terrain for her, so there are several things to consider before you sit down with her to discuss your expectations for the trip.

First, there’s money. Of course, you will need to cover her travel and room expenses. You should also consider meals. Depending on your accommodations, your nanny may not have access to a kitchen where she can cook inexpensive meals as she might normally do at home. If your family plans on eating out for most or all of your meals, you should consider whether you plan for your nanny to join you, and if so you should cover the cost of her meals when you dine together. If you’re not planning for your nanny to eat with your family, it is a good idea to arrange a daily stipend for food; the amount of this stipend should depend on the average cost of meals at your travel destination.

Although she may not keep regular hours while you’re on vacation, your nanny will still need a reasonable amount of time off every day while you’re away. (And remember: Overtime pay is still in effect, even on vacation). You should also consider her expenses during her leisure time. Will she want to use the gym at your hotel or resort? What about tours? Recreational activities? Pay-Per-View movies in her room? Since these are all expenses she would not normally incur at home, you may want to consider a daily travel stipend to cover at least some of her costs for leisure activities. Anything offered is a perk, but it’s a great way to show appreciation for all your nanny does for you all the time. You could also offer to cover the full cost of one or more perks for her, such as a spa treatment, a surfing lesson or some other activity she would enjoy.

Your nanny’s time off will be even more crucial if she is expected to share accommodations with your children. While you may need your nanny to share accommodations out of financial necessity or because you want her to supervise your children at night, you should communicate this expectation to her when you approach her about traveling with you, making sure that she accepts the arrangement. You should also make clear that schedules may not be as strict while you’re away and that this change in location may entail extra responsibilities for her. Partner with your nanny in developing schedules and making arrangements for your trip. This will not only be a tremendous help to you, it will also ensure that you and your nanny are on the same page before you embark on your adventure.

Happy travels!