In honor of National Boss Day, Ashley Wainwright, one of our star nannies has written a blog on how nannies and mannies can honor their bosses on National Boss Day.
National Nanny Recognition Week was just a few weeks ago and I know many of you felt very loved with all the sweet notes and gifts you may have received. Now it’s time to celebrate your boss. Each year, on October 16th, we nannies and mannies can take it up a notch and remind them how much we appreciate them as parents (or sole guardians; let’s not forget foster families, grandparents, etc..) and bosses. We work so hard as household employees it’s easy to forget that our bosses are also working to the bone. This is a great time to strengthen that bond between nannies and employers as well as to simply serve as a “thank you” for being with a stellar family.
Whether your bosses are doctors, CEOs, scientists, teachers, or stay-at-home-parents, always try to remember that they are often running themselves ragged. We often have our own families to care for at the end of the day and they do as well. It’s easy for parents to feel like they aren’t adequate caregivers for their children when they spend so many hours at work. This holiday is the perfect opportunity to remind them that they are, indeed, amazing figures who are raising equally amazing little people.
Making a card or a leaving a handwritten note is a sentimental way to leave your bosses feeling confident about themselves as a employer and parent. A personalized mug is a classic, and always seems to be a hit–so go for it. If you can get your little ones to help make a craft (hand or foot prints are great for those under a year old!), even better. Finding a way to incorporate your charges will be sure to melt your bosses’ hearts. If you’re feeling more adventurous and you have a creative itch going on, dress up your kiddos and go do a photoshoot. Take some of those photos and send them via text, print and frame them, or spice up that mug!
We keep reiterating how hard your bosses work, so let’s circle back to that fact for a moment. Your employers would probably love to spend extra time with their children, get some time alone, or have a date night. This is where you can step in and give them the opportunity to focus on their family or relax.
Has there been a basket of towels laying around for the past week? A water mark on the stovetop from pasta overboiling? Has your nanny family been eating frozen meals from Trader Joe’s and you’re not sure they know what a home cooked meal is like anymore? Write them a little thank you note acknowledging this secular holiday, and let them know you folded that pile of towels, wiped up that water mark, or left a homemade meal in the fridge for them. These are not your regular duties, of course (unless otherwise specified; maybe you’re a household manager); however, these simple gestures are very thoughtful and your bosses are bound to love them.
You can get creative, but still manage to stay simple by offering a free date night. This has always been
exciting for bosses! Be sure to set boundaries beforehand if you chose to offer this as a gift. For example, if you’re comfortable and would like to offer up your time for a date night present it in way that limits the hours. You can give them a “ticket” for a date night that maxes out at a certain number of hours so that it is clear beforehand how much time you are offering your services for.
Always remember that your bosses would love to be appreciated just as much as you want to be appreciated! Our work environment is an intimate and unique experience that should be a constant two-way road of recognition. Make sure to acknowledge all the hard work your bosses do as an employer and parents on this day. Even a simple text saying, “Happy National Boss’s Day! Here’s to being a superb employer and wonderful parent.” would be a great way to start your boss’s day.
Written By: Ashley Wainwright
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