The Art & Etiquette of a Reference Letter

By MaryAnn X. Meddish, 2009 INA Nanny of the Year

A lot of people find writing letters of reference to be difficult and I have had a number of people over the years say just write one and I will sign it but I want the letters to be in their words so they never sound like me. I have also had employers say they would rather talk to someone than write a letter to which I responded that sometimes people loose contact over the years and while I am thrilled they want to be a phone reference I would really like something in writing to put in my portfolio so I still have it in 20 years. I have learned that sometimes a little help in writing it can get the ball rolling. I have emailed people outlines to try to help them get started such as the one below:

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Hello ________________,
This is a little reminder that you had said you would write me a letter of reference. I thought an outline might help get you started so I am attaching a few ideas.

To whom it may concern:

Paragraph 1: Who you are and how you know me, My name, how long I was your nanny / how long you have know me, comment about the impact I had on your family/workplace/group we were involved in, something great you want the person reading to know about me, etc.

Paragraph 2: List some good traits - am I fun, timely, creative, organized, a good cook, an excellent driver, willing to go above and beyond, etc. Tell about a specific incident where my professionalism was noticed - how I handled an emergency or unusual situation, a way I showed my knowledge, how you received unsolicited comments from your family, friends, or children's' teachers, etc. Comment on a activities or a specific activity I did with your children to fit their multi-aged interests.

Paragraph 3: comment on my leaving (we were sorry to see her go, we loved having her as our nanny, she is sorely missed) and a recommendation of what I can bring to another family.

Signed: The ________________ family or your name

E-Mail and Phone # (if willing to be contacted)

Please print three copies, sign them, and mail to me at _________________________________
Thank you again for doing this for me I really appreciate it.
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You can be more specific and add comments mentioning a particular event, comment, or skill you want highlighted. I had one mom who had put off a letter for over two years who emailed me the day I sent her an outline and thanked me for basically writing it for her and saying it was in the mail. I have also received emails of people asking me to read over what they wrote and let them know if I wanted anything else included before they mailed it.

Are YOU the Next INA Nanny of the Year?

By MaryAnn X. Meddish

2009 INA Nanny of the Year

Recently those in our industry celebrated National Nanny Recognition Week. I know that during that week every nanny secretly hoped that their employers would recognize them for the work they do. My question to you is, "Why is that week the only time we hope to be recognized for the work we do?" I want to challenge you all to recognize yourselves and your fellow nannies year round. Take a look at where you are and of what you have accomplished. Have you learned, grown, expanded your boundaries and taken educated risks this year? Have you considered what you are going to do next year? Have you thought about taking your career one step further?

Read the complete article here

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INA Nanny of the Year Nomination Packet

Nanny of the Year Biographies

What it Means to Me - The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer 3-Day Walk

By MaryAnn X. Meddish
2009 INA Nanny of the Year

I'm involved with the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer 3-Day and I want you to know what it means to me. I've lost family, friends, and a child I babysat to cancer. I have family members with tumors and cancer and we fight, pray, and wait. About two years ago my sister-in-law, at age 35, was diagnosed with stage 4 melanoma. At this point, I had reached enough and I joined the fight against cancer. I went to The3Day.com, registered, lead and joined training walks, worked on fundraising, attended workshops, and prepared to walk 60 miles in 3days thinking, "How hard could it be?"

3-Day 2008: I was at the starting point at 6am and walked my first 20 miles, I arrived at camp, looked at my tent and asked myself how I was going to get down there, but once I did, I was sound asleep until my cell phone rang at 4am. My sister-in-law was being rushed to the ER and it didn't look good. Day 2: I crawled out of my tent on legs like jello and started walking the next 20 miles. That evening I walked into camp with an Ace bandage around my knee, a rash around my ankles, and a plan to take the Sag van to lunch the next day, leaving me only to walk the last 7 miles, if that. I fell into my tent exhausted again that night. My phone rang in the middle of the night, my sister-in-law was gone. I cried myself back to sleep and woke up the next morning on a mission. The medical team wanted me to take a van to lunch. I told them, "My sister-in-law had died last night and she was a fighter. People fight cancer every day; they never get to stop, neither will I." They took a step back and with that I started walking. I limped into the holding area for closing ceremonies with a full blown case of cellulitis, feet the size of shoe boxes, and the knowledge that I was the last to arrive, but I also knew I walked every mile. I had learned just how hard it could be!

I have met amazing people though the 3-Day Walk and I have learned that there are people that I already know who are fighters and survivors, they just don't usually talk about it. Breast cancer alone strikes 1 in 8 women so it could be affecting about a dozen at any nanny conference. Eat healthy, use sunscreen, and get a mammogram, it's worth it.

3-Day 2009: This year I wanted to smile during the 3-Day. Walking outside with a bra over my T-shirt, pinkies in the air, yelling, "Whooo hooo, hook 'em up ladies." and hearing people 'Whooo hooo' in response. That's the icing on the cake!

This article appeared in the September issue of the INA Newsletter.

Reprinted with permission.