It’s Tuesday afternoon, and your nanny is simultaneously helping with math homework, ordering your grocery delivery, scheduling the plumber, and trying to remember if you said your mother-in-law is allergic to shellfish before finalizing Friday’s dinner reservations. Sound familiar? At Seaside Staffing, we call this the “superhero syndrome,” and it’s time we had a chat about it.
What is a Family Assistant, Really?
Let’s clear up the confusion faster than your toddler can empty a box of crackers onto the floor. While your nanny’s primary focus is creating Pinterest-worthy sensory activities and ensuring your little ones don’t turn your couch into a trampoline, a family assistant is the magical being who makes sure your household runs smoother than your premium coffee maker.
The Great Role Confusion
Here’s where things get messier than a spaghetti-eating contest with a one-year-old. What starts as “Hey, while the baby’s napping, could you maybe just…” can snowball into your nanny somehow managing your entire life. Before you know it, they’re not only teaching ABCs but also coordinating home repairs, managing your calendar, and probably solving world peace on the side.
When Your Nanny Becomes Your Superhero (Or Tries To)
Let’s be honest – if your nanny is spending more time on the phone with your contractor than building blanket forts, something’s got to give. What is a family assistant if not the person specifically hired for these tasks? They’re the ones who should be juggling your household management while your nanny focuses on making sure your kids don’t decide to paint the dog.
Signs You Might Need a Family Assistant
If your nanny is doing more household coordination than childcare, it’s time for a change. When was the last time they actually sat down to do a puzzle without simultaneously ordering your anniversary gifts? If they’re spending naptime creating spreadsheets instead of prepping craft activities, you might be asking them to be two people at once. And unless they’ve mastered cloning, that’s not fair to anyone.
Making The Money Match The Job
Here’s where we need to get real for a minute. If your nanny has gradually morphed into what is a family assistant role, their compensation should reflect that. Think of it like going to a restaurant and ordering a side salad, then slowly adding steak, lobster, and champagne – you’d expect the bill to change, right?
Seaside Staffing’s Guide to Role Evolution
We’ve seen this situation more times than we’ve heard “Baby Shark.” When families realize they need both childcare and household management, they have options:
1. Upgrade the position (and compensation) to a family assistant role
2. Keep the nanny role focused on childcare and hire a separate family assistant
3. Create a hybrid position with very clear boundaries (and appropriate pay)
The Money Talk
Nobody likes talking about money more than your three-year-old in the candy aisle, but we need to. If your nanny is doing double duty, their compensation should reflect that. What is a family assistant worth? Typically more than a nanny because they’re managing your entire household, not just making sure your kids don’t eat crayons.
Solutions That Actually Work
At Seaside Staffing, we love helping families figure out what they really need. Maybe it’s time to admit that while your nanny is amazing with the kids, you also need someone to manage your household. And no, unfortunately, cloning your current nanny isn’t an option (we’ve checked).
Making The Transition
If you’ve realized you’re asking your nanny to be Mary Poppins, Mrs. Doubtfire, and Wonder Woman all rolled into one, it’s time for a change. Let’s figure out what you really need and make sure everyone’s happy because a stressed nanny is like a coffee maker without coffee: not living up to their full potential. It is your job to set your candidate up for success.
Whether you decide to transition your nanny into a family assistant role or keep the positions separate, the key is clear communication and fair compensation. After all, what is a Los Angeles family assistant worth if not their weight in gold for keeping your household running while your nanny ensures your kids don’t turn the living room into a crayon art gallery?
Remember, at the end of the day, both nannies and family assistants are valuable members of your household team. The key is making sure everyone knows their role and is compensated fairly for it. Because let’s face it, trying to pay family assistant rates for a nanny job is like trying to fit a square peg in a round hole: it just doesn’t work.
Need help figuring out which role is right for your family? Give us a call at Seaside Staffing. We promise not to make you coordinate the call while simultaneously making dinner and teaching multiplication tables.
