WANT TO BE A $170,000 A YEAR BABYSITTER?

 WANT TO BE A $170,000 A YEAR BABYSITTER?

After a lifetime of searching, I think I have found the job for me if I should be resurrected sometime in the future. I am going to become a Norland Nannie or perhaps a Norland Pappie. I am going to look after the children of the rich and famous and make a bundle of cash. 

Norland College soon to become Norland University (that could spawn another blog) is located in England and trains nannies for well-healed families, mostly in Europe. Kate and Will have used Norland Nannies so that is a pretty good recommendation for the profession. 

In North America, we have been more accustomed to low-cost baby sitters to look after our children and thus the term nannie is not often used. Our child-care givers basically feed, water and tend to the safety of the children under their care, which does not usually call for a post-secondary degree. It is honourable work and requires a love of children (preferably) and a lot of common sense and a responsible attitude. I think I qualify.

A Norland Nannie must attend four years of training and a year of residency with a family before achieving the official designation. At a cost of $21,000 a year for the program it is not for the frivolous nor uncommitted. On the other hand, graduates can start earning about $170,000 US when they pick up their first assignment. I know that there are few professions that can match that starting salary! 

Of course, the training program is very extensive and requires as much perseverance as it does patience. All nannies must partake in ongoing self-defence programs in order to be able to protect their wards from possible kidnapping. They must learn and become proficient at various martial arts. They are trained with the same intensity of race car drivers to avoid pursuit and make avoidance maneuvers when driving a vehicle. This is obviously not the same program that Mary Poppins graduated from.

In a completely different course, the nannies must also become very proficient cooks, sometimes for the family as well as the children. Peanut butter sandwiches will not always cut it. Trainees must learn to make their own sushi and other more non-traditional food items often from the cuisines of foreign countries. My least favourite courses would probably be the ones involving sewing and needlepoint. I would have a hard time rationalizing why I am sewing a cross-stitch little picture, as I am sure the kids could care less if I am skilled or not. So, the program possesses very diverse elements, some which are practical and some traditional. But all have high standards and must be completed successfully. 

So, becoming a Norland Nannie may not ultimately be as attractive as it might have seemed at first glance. However, in addition to the very attractive salary, the other benefits are also very appealing. Generally, nannies are provided their own living quarters, have days off, have health benefits and travel with the family when they are out of the mansion, castle or estate. Regular exotic vacations with the family are certainly a nice perk.

When I start searching for an appropriate family for my Pappi work, I think I will focus on a one child family, probably a boy, who is not an infant, loves to play on his iPhone or computer and who enjoys binge watching television. If you know of any families that meet my criteria, let them know that I might be available. I am sure Darlene wouldn’t mind me taking a small job out of the house for a while!

PS I think she just went downstairs to find my suitcase!