HOW NANNY MCGHEE CAME TO BE...
Dear Parents, Grandparents, and Caregivers,
I wanted to be a perfect parent. When my children were young my goal was to spend every moment with them and get all the household chores done everyday too. But sometimes the dishes and laundry (clean and dirty) piled up, the floors were sticky, the furniture was dusty, and the bathroom needed attention! I felt like a failure and I was always tired.
When I did manage to find the energy to tackle a mountain of work it usually came with a price - whiny, irritable, and misbehaving children!
One day I shared how I was feeling with my mom and she told me something that changed my life forever. She said, “Don’t worry, the housework will wait for you”.
For some reason these eight words gave me comfort and created a pause I needed. I was able to reflect, identify the things that needed to be changed, and create a balance between household chores and parenting. My children were happy, I was happy, and some of the household chores had to wait for me - lol!
My mom is so smart. I love her dearly and I am so thankful for her.
She along with my father and many other wonderful family, friends, neighbours, and co-workers have shared parenting tools with me. I truly believe if it weren't for them, I wouldn't be the person, parent, and grandparent I am today.
I think that’s why I became a Family Home Visitor in the Healthy Babies Healthy Children Program with Public Health. It was a natural and comfortable fit and gave me an opportunity to share what I learned.
I loved meeting the families and I felt it was a privilege to spend time with them. My father always told me that the families were so blessed to have me and I would always tell him that it was I who was blessed to be part of their parenting journey.
Funny, I was there to be a role model and teach them but many times they taught me. I will be forever grateful for their kindness, generosity, and willingness to trust and share with me.
I retired in December 2021 with a desire to continue to support families. I just didn’t know how or if I would be able to.
It's funny how things work out isn't it? A month later my husband and I were asked to take care of our 4 year old granddaughter for a week. So I put on my thinking cap and created a daily routine that she and I custom built one tool at a time together. Structure, consistency, and stability were created because of it. Stress and confusion were reduced by it. Life skills were learned from it, and a meaningful relationship with our granddaughter was made in it.
After watching my daughter and granddaughter custom build their own daily routine one tool at a time and seeing how equally successful it was for them, I knew it was simply too good not to share. So I gave myself a nickname and launched the Nanny McGhee Website.
Two of the most important things I have learned about parenting are, we don’t have to do it alone, and there are so many people out there, with wisdom to spare that like to share.
Welcome to a growing community of Parents, Grandparents, and Caregivers who share their parenting tools and learn from one another.
If you are a Parent, Grandparent, or Caregiver who would like to share your parenting tools, then you’ve come to the right place!
If you are a Parent, Grandparent, or Caregiver who is looking for parenting tools – then you've come to the right place!
The Nanny McGhee Website would like to be a good role model for screen use. So whenever possible, we will promote healthy activities like creative thinking, reading, writing, drawing, singing, playing music, listening, indoor and outdoor play, and exercise over screen time.
Hokey Nellie! That was a lot of talking on my part. I’m sorry about that – sometimes I can be a bit long winded! I just get so excited about parenting*
Let's Be There For One Another,
Nanny McGhee
Your Parenting Buddy*