As far as I'm concerned there are three types of Moms out there,
Working . Stay at home. Work from home.
I've had the pleasure of experiencing them all...
Before I get into the inside scoop on working for (or with) each of them I want to give you a little background information on the world of Moms. From what I've experienced I would say that Moms are divided into two groups. Those who work and those who don't. I think the decision is one that every single Mother has struggled with at one point in time (whether they'd admit it or not) and still does even after it's made. I think it's so important to understand the pros, cons and differences of working with each of them and really believe it should be a top priority in finding a family to work for.
Working.
As far as this post goes a working mom will be one that works outside of the home for lets say 40 hours a week. A mom that leaves in the morning shortly after the nanny arrives, and lets the nanny go home in the evening after a short recap of the day. This mom will check in once or twice during the day, and maybe again on the way home. PRO: allows you to get a true experience of taking care of a child CON: allows you to get a true experience of taking care of a child ;) its hard work...especially without any help.
Stay at home.
A stay at home mom is a Mom that doesn't "work". If you work for a family where the mom stays home during the day your title will most likely be a mother's helper. Usually a mother's helper is a part time position in which hours can vary from week to week (of course there are families who still desire full time help). In my experience the majority of families in need of a mother's helper are those who recently had a new baby or are expecting one in the near future. PRO: it can be comforting knowing that you're not 100% responsible for the well being of someone elses children..it can also be nice to have someone to talk to during the day...especially if you're watching babies. CON: you may find yourself questioning your every move.
Work from home.
A work from home mom is a Mom who works either full or part time out of the house. In my experience this is the most challenging of the three situations. I've worked for two families with work from home moms (and one with a work from home dad), one situation worked out perfectly, while the other was a bit more of a struggle. Here are the details from each...The first situation worked so well because the mom had an office in her home....that she actually used. She went in her office in the morning, came out for lunch, and played/visited with us just once or twice a day. Why does this matter? Her daughter knew that when mommy was in the office she was working, she knew that I was in charge and respected what I said. The second situation was not so ideal. While the mother had an office, she rarely used it...creating an uncomfortable atmosphere for me to work in. Not knowing if we needed to be quiet when we entered a room or knowing whether or not the kids were allowed to go see their mom was really hard to deal with. This is an example of a mom who wants to work, but also wants to be with her kids all at the same time. PRO: same as with a stay at home mom, it can be comforting to know help is there if you ever were to need it. CON: it can create a difficult to manage situation for all involved (mom, nanny and kids)
Here is an excerpt from an interesting article titled Mom vs. Mom:
"Everybody struggles, and everybody envies what the other has," says the stay-at-home mother of a 9- and a 14-year-old. "The working mom wishes she had more free time to be available to her child, and maybe have coffee after drop-off. And the nonworking woman would maybe like to have something that's a reflection of her as an individual -- a label that says she's a capable, creative person who knows about more than just baby formula or after-school programs."
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