Catching up with Christy .....

2007 Nanny of the Year™
Introducing Christy Ochs as 2007 INA Nanny of the Year™.

Read Christy's acceptance speech.


Christy Ochs is not your typical nanny. She is the mother of four who took an unusual path to becoming a nanny, a professional caregiver who is a genuine advocate for children, and she represents a positive role model for the in-home child care industry and the International Nanny Association (INA). On May 18, INA awarded Christy its highest honor, The 2007 Nanny of the Year™ (NOTY™) Award during its 22nd Annual Conference held in Alexandria, Virginia.

When Christy turned 42, she decided her child rearing days were not easily left behind—even though she had already reared four children, one with downs syndrome, and two step children. “I chose to be a nanny because the idea of doing for the parents what I would have loved to have had done for me as a young parent was very appealing. I loved the idea of not only providing a secure and loving environment for their children, but also taking some of the daily pressure off of their shoulders by doing their laundry, straightening up the house and helping the children with their school assignment.”

Christy is now working with her third family and cares for three-year-old Hawk who attended the conference with his mother. During the award ceremony, he presented flowers to Christy. “My boss, Jill, nominated me for the NOTY™. I was so honored and touched to have been nominated, especially by my employer. Lot’s of people go through their entire working lives without feeling appreciated. I can't tell you how much this nomination meant to me. Every time my little charges say "I love you Nana!" I feel like Nanny of the Year.”

What does it take to be INA’s Nanny of the Year™? Officially, it takes at least five years of professional nanny experience; an education in the field of child care; a nomination from a nanny recruiting agency or employer; and several references. Unofficially, it takes a lot of love and patience.

Christy is the founder/moderator of the Denver Area Nanny Association. She has been a member of INA since 2001, and is also a member of NANC (National Association of Nanny Credentialing) and Nanny Support Group Leaders. She was inspired to start the Denver Area Nanny Association in 2003 after attending her first INA conference. Now with 28 local members, the group arranges play dates, nanny dinners and coffee gatherings, and organizes and participates in CPR/First Aid training for nannies.

2009 Update: Since receiving the NOTY™ award, Christy has enjoyed working with the same family that nominated her. She has now been with that family for 6 years and her charges are now ages 6, 4 and 2. In January of 2008, the family moved into a new house and Christy was able to reduce her hours to 30 per week so that she could help out with her new grandbaby.

Christy continues to play an active role in her local nanny support group, Denver Area Nanny Association. Last spring she asked one of the other nannies in the group to take over leadership. "The new moderator is doing a super job and we have such a wonderful group of Nannies here in Colorado!" said Christy.

Are YOU the 2010 INA Nanny of the Year? Deadline for applications is March 10. Don't forget that NOTY Mentors are available to any nominee or those considering nomination.

What role music plays for the 1998 INA Nanny of the Year.

1998 INA Nanny of the Year Cynthia Wilkinson

Cynthia divides her time between her nanny career and her career as a professional musician. In 2000, Cynthia released her first children's CD called Jumpin' Up to the Moon and in 2003, she released Jumpin' On Down the Road. Cynthia is still very involved as a nanny for her 5 year old charge, Blake, and has enjoyed serving as a nanny mentor for INA. In 2004, she launched her website, jumpinwithcindy.com, where she can now market her CD's to a national audience. Cynthia is also a faculty member of the Swallow Hill Music School and the Denver Center Theatre Academy, as well as an Artist in Residence with Young Audiences and the director of the children's choir, "Sound Seekers". Her work with children also includes serving as Master Teacher for the Metropolitan State College of Denver's Child Development Center and presenting at conferences throughout the country.

How receiving the NOTY™ award has impacted her career: Cynthia says "It was a wonderful experience to serve the nanny profession as NOTY™. One highlight was being featured on a local PBS program. I was not filmed or interviewed, but journalists from the Denver area discussed a story about me that was written in the Denver Post. They focused on my high level of education and professionalism. It was such an honor to be treated with respect by the press and not to be involved in a "tabloid level" of reporting. I was proud to be able to spread the word that there are many true professionals who have chosen to become career nannies."

What is she doing now? Cynthia is working as a nanny in the Denver area for an 18 month old girl and is celebrating her 10th year as a member of the faculty at the Denver Center Theatre Academy. In her spare time, she assists with a children's choir, and recently performed with the choir on her hammered dulcimer. Cynthia also enjoys being active in INA and writes for the associations newsletter, INAVision. Cynthia hopes to release her first lullaby CD, Jumpin' Into Dreamland, this spring.

Words of wisdom: Be creative in finding new ways to make your nanny career interesting. Look "outside the box" for new avenues to travel on your nanny journey.

Check out Cindy’s new music blog!

Could you be the 2010 INA Nanny of the Year? Find out more about the nomination / application process on the INA website.

Are you looking for an INA Nanny of the Year mentor? Would you like to work with a past recipient of the award to answer questions, offer insight and guide you through the process? Read how the mentor program works and how you can take advantage of this offer through the INA.

A Nanny for the Ages - Harriette's Story

The 2010 INA Nanny of the Year will mark the 20th Anniversary of honoring outstanding professional nannies for this organization. Do you know who the first INA Nanny of the Year is?

Harriette Grant was the epitome of a Professional Nanny. Here is her story, as told by Glenda Propst in remembrance of her dear friend. This article first appeared in the June 2001 NAN newsletter and has reprinted with permission.

Harriette's Story
Harriette Grant passed away on June 30, 2002. She had been a nanny for 40 years. You can read her story in the book Like a Second Mother but here is my tribute to her life and her enormous contribution to nannies everywhere.

A nanny for the ages by Glenda Willm Propst

These are some newspaper headlines from 1961:
U.S. Breaks Off Diplomatic Relations With Cuba;
John F. Kennedy Inaugurated as President of the U.S.
Peace Corps Established by Kennedy;
UN General Assembly Condemns Apartheid;
‘Freedom Riders’ Attacked by White Citizens in Anniston and Birmingham;
Bay of Pigs Invasion;
Kennedy and Khrushchev Meet in Vienna to Discuss Disarmament;
Berlin Wall Constructed; Actor Gary Cooper Dies at Age 60.

These are some popular books from 1961:
Stranger In A Strange Land, by Robert Heinlein;
Catch-22, by Joseph Heller; and
Tropic of Cancer, by Henry Miller (the first legal publication in the U.S.).
Some of the popular movies that year were:
"West Side Story,"
"The Hustler," and "Judgment at Nuremberg."

And among the most popular songs were:
"Love makes the World Go Round,"
"Moon River,"
"Where the Boys Are," and "Exodus."

How many of you remember any of these events and cultural markers? How many of you were even born in 1961?
Well, even if we are among those who were not yet born in1961, there was an event that in some way affected all our lives that year. This event did not make the headlines, but it changed our lives all the same.

In July, 1961, Harriette Grant began her career as a nanny. At that time there were no newspaper articles about nanny salaries or benefits there were no formal nanny training programs in the United States, there were no nanny support groups, and there were no nanny organizations.

Harriette was just 19 when she started taking care of Sylvia Whitman. In the book "Like a Second Mother," Sylvia writes about a very different Harriette from the person we know. Sylvia’s "Rat," as she affectionately called her, changed her hair color every week, and their house was the best patrolled in the neighborhood because all the policemen had a crush on Harriette.
Harriette was with the Whitmans nine years, and she maintains a close relationship with Sylvia Whitman, who is now all grown up with a child of her own.

In 1970 Harriette moved to Washington, DC, to care for the Brown children, with whom she stayed for 20 years. Even after the children were teenagers, Harriette remained and helped the Browns part time (she took a second part time job with another family in the neighborhood).
Harriette was there when one of the Brown children graduated from Princeton University, and when her other "child" graduated from High School. While she was in DC, Harriette began to get serious about solving the problems surrounding the lack of support nannies had.
Harriette Grant was one of the founders of the very first nanny support group in the USA. It was called ADCAN - the Association of DC Area Nannies. The group still runs strong today, and prides itself on being the oldest nanny support group in the nation.

Harriette was also a founding member of International Nanny Association, served on its board of directors, and was the INA’s first Nanny of the Year in 1990.

She was one of the three co-founders of NAN in 1992.

When Harriette moved to New York City in 1999, she became one of the founders of the Professional Nannies of New York.

I first met Harriette Grant at the INA conference in Vail, Colorado, in 1988. We were going to be serving on the INA Board together. It did not take long for us to realize that we had the same concerns, the same vision, and the same passion for the nanny profession. After the conference, we burned up the phone lines on a regular basis.

We became very good friends, and in 1992, along with Eva Harkness, we founded the National Association of Nannies.

In 1997, when Harriette asked me to run with her for Co-President of NAN, one of my greatest concerns was that it might hurt our friendship. We promised each other not to let that happen. I think we’d both admit that at times it has been a struggle, but we served as Co-Presidents for the last four years, and we are still on speaking terms. We did not always agree, but we always respected each other and we have always tried to make what was best for NAN our top priority.
NAN benefited from her vision, her professionalism, her steadfastness, her wisdom, and her commitment to the Nanny profession.

It’s a little overwhelming to think of all the things that have happened in the last 40 years, and of how far the nanny profession has come. I think of all the changes Harriette saw and of all the nannies she encountered on her journey.

When I think of Harriette Grant, I think of the quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson:
"Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path, and leave a trail."

Harriette led the way where there was no path. She blazed a trail for 40 years, .As her torch is passed, we can all learn a valuable lesson from her life, her example, and her dedication to her career.

It is up to each of us to continue the work that Harriette started. We are pioneers of the nanny profession, and it is our job to continue to blaze the trail.

Harriette, you have been our friend, our leader, and our inspiration. We will never forget you and we will work hard to continue your legacy.

You leave us with many wonderful memories but a hole in our heart that only you could fill.

Rest in peace dear friend.


Do you know a Nanny for the ages? Do you know an outstanding nanny that should be recognized by her peers for the work she does, the professional and personal accomplishments she has achieved in her career? Many nannies are uncomfortable asking to be nominated or are unaware of the award and recognition they deserve. Individuals, agency owners/staff and nanny support groups leaders are encouraged to reach out to your nanny community and consider nominating one – or more – nannies for the 2010 INA Nanny of the Year. Nomination details are available here.

Also NEW this year is the INA Nanny of the Year Mentor Program. Past Nanny of the Year award recipients are available to work closely with Nanny of the Year nominees and those individuals who wish to nominate a nanny for the INA Nanny of the Year award.

Past Nanny of the Year award recipients have volunteered to help guide nominators and nominees through the nomination and applications process and are available to serve as a resource for those individuals considering nominating a nanny or those nannies considering accepting nomination.

Past Nanny of the Year award recipients are also available to work closely with nominees as mentors throughout the Nanny of the Year nomination and application process.

INA Nanny of the Year - Past and Future

Over the next few months, Regarding Nannies will be visiting past INA Nanny of the Year recipients who offer Words of Wisdom to all nannies.

INA will be honoring the 2010 Nanny of the Year at their May conference in San Francisco.

What does being selected as the INA Nanny of the Year mean?
For those who have received that honor, being selected as the INA Nanny of the Year means:

• having an opportunity to educate others about the importance of nurturing and supporting the growth of children

• having a public platform to educate others about the important work nannies do

• having a public platform to encourage colleagues to be the best they can be

• being the face of today’s nanny and portraying a positive image of nannies through media opportunities

• being encouraged to become more involved in professional organizations for nannies

• being inspired to give back to the profession

• embracing professional growth

• reenergizing and renewing your passion and love for your career

• being inspired to continue your education

• seeing doors open and having the courage to walk through them

• realizing how much I was loved

• expanding the limits of my comfort zone and braving my way through new territory

• changing in ways that were unimaginable

• growing beyond what I ever thought I could be

• giving something back to the profession that I love.

2006 INA Nanny of the Year Becky Kavanagh share these Words of Wisdom with other nannies ….

The experience of being a nominee for INA’s Nanny of the Year is like no other. As soon as I submitted my completed portfolio I thought every professional nanny should have this experience, this challenge. Most of us go through our careers not ever knowing the impact we have in the lives we touch. As part of the process of completing the INA NOTY portfolio you see what you mean to your employers, the nominator, and those who write recommendation letters for you. In my case the three children who have been in my care wrote their own letters which I'll always cherish. Completing this challenge can't help but boost your confidence and allow you to feel how significant your work is. Professionally, nominees and honorees set themselves apart.

Introducing INA Nanny of the Year Mentor Program
This year, past Nanny of the Year award recipients are available to work closely with Nanny of the Year nominees and those individuals who wish to nominate a nanny for the INA Nanny of the Year award. Past Nanny of the Year award recipients have volunteered to help guide nominators and nominees through the nomination and applications process and are available to serve as a resource for those individuals considering nominating a nanny or those nannies considering accepting nomination. Past Nanny of the Year award recipients are also available to work closely with nominees as mentors throughout the Nanny of the Year nomination and application process.

If you are considering nominating a nanny for the 2010 INA Nanny of the Year award or are considering a nomination for yourself and would like to be put into contact with one of our Nanny of the Year award mentors, please contact Glenda Propst . Please include “NOTY Mentor” in the subject line of your email.

Do you know an outstanding nanny who should be the 2010 INA Nanny of the Year? Are YOU the 2010 INA Nanny of the Year? Get all the details of the INA Nanny of the Year process here.

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