Parting Ways

For most families, a nanny relationship is not one that will outlast the children growing up and going to school full time. If your nanny has given you valuable time and service, is there a right and wrong way to let her go? The answer is a resounding “yes”.

Our advice to parents is to communicate well ahead of time with the nanny what you foresee coming up with your needs changing in the months to come. Most professional nannies will want to carefully choose their next family, and this could take the same amount of time as well. Handling a drastic change or cut in hours well in advance with open dialogue is a more suitable end to your formal arrangement.

Secondly, investigate all compromises if you’d prefer to still employ your nanny for less time. Is there a way for your nanny to stay on part time and pick up daily temporary jobs from our agency on off days? Do you have household management needs that she may be able to help fulfill while your older children are in school? Can the nanny still occasionally babysit for the family to stay engaged and earn extra income? If none of these are an option for either of you, encouraging a two-way street of honest communication during the wrap up process is important for you to spearhead.

Lastly, the children should play a role in preparing for the nanny to leave. If your full time nanny is training a new part time one, let the children see firsthand that a transition is taking place. Children are adaptable when there is open communication in advance and they know what to expect. The more they come to understand that their nanny can still play a role in their life in some way, but that it won’t be daily, the less shock to the entire household once you both part ways.