ANI is delighted to announce our Nanny Spotlight: Olivia Hutton! Olivia is a former San Diego native who is new to the Seattle area, but definitely not new to nannying! She is a passionate caregiver who is inspired by early childhood development, making sure kids are engaged and learning while always continuing to have fun! She truly is a wonderfully caring person who is always looking to go the extra step to help others. Olivia, we are so proud to represent you!
How did you become involved in working with families and children?
When I was 12, I was hired as a babysitter for my neighbor’s 2-year-old on weekends when both parents had work. From there, I became a live-in nanny at age 18 to a family with a 3-month-old and 15-month-old. Six years later I continue to love being a full-time nanny, originally working for families in San Diego but as of this summer adventuring to Seattle!
What do you love about your job?
What I love most about my job is the rewarding feeling of being able to help others. Whenever I see my nanny kids using the skills I’ve taught them to help solve obstacles like potty time or communication issues, I feel so proud! My bosses also appreciate me more than I could ever ask for, and that’s a trait I truly admire. They always let me know that the little things I do to help them allow them to spend more quality time with their kiddos, who I know love to spend time with their parents more than anything! Happy Children = Happy Nanny!
What do you love most about a rainy day?
I love rainy days because they usually mean a blanket fort in the living room with my nanny kids and lots of books and imagination, or an extra special outing to an indoor play gym. Of course, the walk home from school is longer but more fun since there’s always puddles we have to stop and play with!
What is your proudest accomplishment as a Nanny?
My proudest accomplishment as a nanny came from a temporary nanny position where I cared for a very bright 19-month-old for three months. We worked on letters very often and she loved to sing the alphabet, so I liked to point out letters everywhere we went. One morning we were playing at a baseball field and she was walking past some banners, so I began to quiz her on certain letters and was shocked as she easily identified A through J! I was very proud that she was catching on so quickly and so were her parents!
What is your favorite/funniest on-the-job memory or story?
My favorite on the job memory came during a fall trip to Kelsey Farms with my nanny kids, aged 3 and 10 months. The three-year-old was very excited to see animals she had recently been learning about at school, and the 10-month-old was fascinated by all the quick moving critters that were his size! We were able to take a few pictures with some pumpkins they had there which turned out so great, their mom immediately saved it as her phone screensaver. We ended our day at the playground with a picnic and lots of great new memories!
What did you want to be when you were a child? What is next in your career?
When I was a child, I wanted to be an author and write books so I could stay home and read to my own children. I’ve since decided to dedicate myself as a full-time nanny while I pursue a degree in nursing, and eventually go on to be an psychiatric nurse practitioner!
Do you have any tips for other providers in The Greater Seattle Area?
Get out and connect with other nannies! The nanny community is so warm and strong in Seattle, it really is unique. I’ve made so many great connections through other nannies in the short few months I’ve been here and found amazing new friends along the way!
What do you wish you would have known about job searching before you became a care provider?
I wish I had known about all the great resources available for nannies, and industry standard benefits like guaranteed hours and minimum wages laws, something I’m very knowledgeable about now, thanks to the nanny community!
What resources (FB groups, blogs, books, etc.) do you follow or recommend?
Facebook groups are a huge part of planning activities for my nanny kids and getting advice on things I know only the nanny community will understand. ‘Seattle Area Nannies’ is a wonderful group of nannies that I’m so thankful to be a part of and highly recommend all nannies in Seattle to join!
Why did you come to ANI? How has ANI helped in your job search?
I heard a lot about ANI through local nannies before moving to Seattle, so I was thrilled to be able to join the team after I relocated from San Diego! As soon as I was a member of their on-call program, ANI helped keep me busy with jobs that let me explore my new city and meet other great families and nannies!
If you’d like to nominate an ANI Nanny for our Spotlight Series, please contact Jen at jen@aniseattle.com!
