My Covid Story: How the Pandemic is Affecting Nannies from Around the Globe
Nanny Magazine reached out to the nanny community to learn how the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting nannies from across the globe. If you’d like to share your story, please reach out by sending an email to info@NannyMag.com.
I started this position last December in London (UK), my first time working for a single parent and one who travels often. On top of the 60 hours a week I usually work, I also work one or two nights as well.
This is not my first live-in position, so over the years I have learned how to create space and time for myself. This is important to me because I need to recharge on the weekends and be ready to start my work fresh on Monday morning.
For me, is has always been important to have two days off in a row, which have traditionally been Saturday and Sunday. This is one of the few requirements that I have when applying for a new position. On Saturdays, I take care of my laundry, go out, and buy my own food; I am a spur of the moment cook so I like to stroll the supermarket aisle for inspiration. Sundays are my lazy days that are filled with eating, reading, and watching TV.
I also prefer to have the weekends off because that is the norm for others, so it allows me time to visit with family and friends. Or so it did.
While here in London, I changed my weekend routine a bit because I wanted to explore the city and share my adventures with family and friends by posting photos on my social profiles. Saturday afternoons in London involve visiting tourist attractions and stopping at the grocery store on the way home. Sundays include a bit more exploring and visiting the pub where I meet up with a nanny friend.
That was then.
This is now.
For me, the pandemic began at the end of January. My family lives in Italy, in the original red lockdown zone, so every day I would get a status report from family members that would include everything from health updates to new restrictions put into place. After a few weeks, the reports from my family and others in my circle who work in the healthcare system became overwhelming.
While my family in Italy was already under lockdown because of the pandemic, here in London, everything seemed fine. There were plenty of tourists out and about, I would visit the city center after working weeks on end, and things seemed as normal as ever. That was at the end of February.
Then things began to change. I grew afraid of being in close confinement with strangers, so I avoided the usual tourist spots, the underground, and the shops. My employer had also been travelling a lot, and it was really beginning to really take a toll.
After the Prime Minister addressed the nation about Covid-19, my friends – and by friends, I mean friends who were doctors and scientists – began to call me and advise me to take precautions. Yet still in the part of London where we lived, everything seemed fine.
At their instance, I started self-isolating on March 11 and shortly after, everything began to be cancelled and just before the lockdown was put into place, we moved into a new house in a new neighborhood.
Between the restrictions and the move, I have felt increasing insolated and alone.
You would think that having my employer working mostly from home now would be welcome. It’s not. We have never been in the same place for a long period of time, so we are not really used to each other. This new normal is not normal for us at all.
I try to stay in my room as much as possible when off duty, because I don’t want to be a bother, but sometimes I need to use the kitchen and laundry room. Because I live here too.
I have worked plenty of overtime, so I decided to take a few days off to cope with feelings of burnout. Having so much time for myself turned out to make things worse, though, because I had too much time to think.
I am in a live-in nanny.
I am in another country.
I have no way to get home.
I have no independence.
I have no control over my life.
I have no life outside of work.
What can I do?
What. Can. I. Do?
I go out once a week for a chocolate fix, but I shop for all my essentials online, which has become addictive and expensive.
I try to keep it together for my family and friends, because I don't want people to worry about me, though those who know me know I am not okay.
I stay connected to another nanny friend in London, who is sharing the same experience. It feels good to check on someone and be checked on by someone who understands.
I stay away from online activity and just keep in touch with those in my circle. Avoiding this has helped, some days, and some not.
I’ve made the choice to focus on the baby and his well-being.
And meditate. And give up control.
Because in this new normal, that is now, that is all I can really do.