For weeks now I have been receiving messages and emails asking me how it's going with our nanny who arrived four weeks ago. I get the sense that some of my readers are interested to know if my somewhat unconventional approach is effective. For those of you who have read at least a few of my articles, you have probably figured out that my approach is more relationship-centric than most. I don't believe in drawing firm "employer" boundaries or positioning myself authoritatively. I believe instead in building a mutually gratifying relationship of trust, open communication, and fun!

I have received the odd well-intended note..."be careful not to be too generous, that could backfire", "do you really want to create an expectation of a social relationship?" etc etc. The truth is that people are not sharing these fear-perpetuated statements out of any malicious intent, they are sharing their own truth, a structure that they have created to feel secure in their situation.

But here is my truth...my husband and I are both relationship-centric people. We focus a great deal on our relationship with one another, and our relationship with our son, and so it shouldn't come as a surprise that we would also focus energy on our relationship with our new nanny. While some may have seen it as an over-investment of energy, we saw it as a perfect investment and one we wouldn't have any other way because as one of my favourite sayings goes, "no deposit, no return".

Prior to our nanny arriving we spent weeks and months preparing for her arrival; decorating her room, preparing an orientation binder, planning arrival activities, communicating with her regularly via email or sometimes Skype.

And here is my report back on our journey thus far...

I am thrilled to tell you that we could not be more ecstatic with our nanny, Genette. She is everything we could have hoped for and so so much more. We have entered into this beautifully reciprocal relationship.  The same focus that we have placed on nurturing the relationship has been reciprocated by her. Our invitations to spend time with our family socially have been warmly accepted. Genette doesn't just watch our son, she is a contributing (on many levels) member of our household, she comes out with us, shares in our meals, and the more we get to know her, the more we feel blessed to have her in our home.

So how did this come to be?...More important than the extensive screening that we did (over 110 applicants), was the trust that we placed in our instincts. We sensed goodness in Genette; a kind, trustworthy, committed person, and our instincts, I believe were right.

There are of course the obvious benefits of Genette's presence - Logan is happy and well taken care of, the meals we eat are delicious, and our home is tidy, but what we are benefitting from goes well beyond that. We have entered into a community relationship with someone whom we genuinely want to know, to grow with, and to welcome into our family. It is remarkable to watch the bond between Logan and Genette develop; knowing that he is being provided with 1:1 care from someone who is genuinely invested in his well being and delights in his cute ways is so rewarding.

I know some of you may be reading this as skeptics, but here's what I would say to that. We received the same scepticism to our similar approach as landlords (where we implemented many of the same unconventional practices for years). For over 5 years we had wonderful and fulfilling relationships with tenants with more of a community-minded approach then a business one. Just last week we had one of our former tenants, and now dear friend, visiting us in our home and it was an affirmation to what life can look like when you put people at the centre of your focus. Lastly I would add this, when my husband and I were a year or two into our relationship, people would watch us laugh, giggle, and play, and say, "talk to me in 5 years", as if we would be miserable by then. Now of course our relationship isn't perfect, I'm not saying that we don't have ups and downs, but taking a deliberate and relationship-centric approach has led us to a place 10 years later where we are more in love than ever and are best friends. For those of you who are new to a relationship with a nanny, it's okay if you don't immerse yourself as fully in the relationship as we have, but hopefully you will take something positive from my approach and implement it in a way that works for you and your family. I don't live my life by "the norm", I create the life that I want for myself which has really worked out for me and my family so far. My husband does the same. I encourage you to open your heart to building the life that you want for yourself too, your relationship with your nanny included.

I have no doubt that in our future, we will encounter the natural rhythms of a relationship; the ups and downs, the growing, the imperfections of human relationships, but we have laid a foundation of trust and open communication. As Genette has been learning a new way of cooking in a health-conscious vegan household, we have been continually impressed with her desire to take initiative and seek open feedback. Learning a new way of cooking can be challenging, but Genette has met this challenge head on, with confidence, and openness. It is a telling sign of how she approaches other challenges in life, and assures us that as sure as we may encounter wavy waters, we will navigate these waters with kindness and mutual respect. If you lay the groundwork for this sort of respectful and honest communication, it will take you far.

I can only hope that families who read this may feel inspired to see the prospect of a nanny for what it can be...the opportunity to welcome a new person into your home, and your family, and to reap the rewards of a fulfilling relationship.

 Tip of the day: Hire a babysitter and take your nanny out for a night on the town; go for dinner, hear some live music, or give him/her a taste of your neighbourhood. Invest in this relationship. Take the time to get to know the person who you have welcomed into your lives (and maybe even your home), and you might just find that the blessings you realize go well beyond the wonderful care that they provide to your child(ren). 


 Your nanny has arrived and hopefully you've given him/her a very warm welcome (see my post HERE on how to do so). Once you've allowed your nanny to settle in and rest up, it is kind and supportive to help them navigate the documents/accounts that they need for life in Canada. 

In order to get them started, clear your schedule for a half day and take them to the appropriate government offices/businesses to get the following done (in relevant order) and make sure you offer a friendly reminder for them to bring their passport and work permit.

  1. Obtain a Social Insurance Number (needed)
  2. Obtain a government issued provincial ID (suggested)
  3. Open a bank account (needed)
  4. Get a cell phone (optional)
  5. Apply for provincial government health plan (needed)
1. Obtain a Social Insurance Number (SIN)

A SIN can be obtained from any Service Canada office. You can find your local Service Canada office HERE. Your nanny will need to bring their passport and work permit in order to apply for a social insurance number. They will be asked to provide details of their current address and contact information. Since this if the first step, our nanny listed my cellphone as her contact number (since she didn't have one of her own yet). We found the Service Canada representative very friendly and happy to have me there to support our nanny in the event of any language barriers.

2. Obtain a government issued provincial ID (Ontario Card in Ontario)

Getting an Ontario Card ensures that your nanny will have a second piece of government issued ID. The SIN card works as one piece of ID, but an OHIP card is not a government recognized form of ID in situations such as entrance into a bar (yup that was the first and only example that came to mind). If your nanny won't be applying for a driver's license then it is strongly recommended to get an Ontario Card so that they have two pieces of government issued ID. The cost is about $35. They can apply for an Ontario Card at any Service Ontario location. 

3. Open a bank account

Your nanny needs a bank account in order to manage their finances and to ensure that you are paying their salary in a well documented manner. Take your nanny to the bank of their preference (our nanny went with RBC which costs $4/month for a basic account and we also bank with them) and help them get set up with a bank account.  

4. Get a cell phone

Just like anyone else, not all nannies will choose to get a cellphone, but if they do, take them to pick one out or sign on for a plan using an existing phone. Our nanny chose WIND Mobile which offers unlimited text, talk and data for only $35/month, but WIND is only a good option in the city (from what I hear) as their service can be unreliable in rural and remote areas. Most cell phone companies will only offer a pre-paid option to newcomers so chances are they'll have to sign on for a month-to-month account, but we helped our nanny automate payments from her bank monthly so that she doesn't need to think about it. 

*Some employers pay for a nanny's cellphone if it's going to be used largely for work purposes. We didn't feel the need for this (particularly since we are getting a home phone) so our nanny chose to purchase a phone and a prepaid plan for personal use.

5. Apply for provincial government health plan (OHIP in Ontario)

Your nanny is required to apply for coverage under the government health plan (OHIP in Ontario). This can ONLY be done for foreign workers at full-service Service Ontario offices (for us this meant a trip downtown). Your nanny can ONLY apply for OHIP once they have received their Ontario Card or Driver's License because those forms of ID along with a SIN are required to apply for coverage. They will also need a piece of mail, and an employment letter (I'm bringing the employment contract along as well just in case). They are very strict about application requirements for foreign workers so make sure you read the required document list (which you can get when applying for Ontario Card). Your nanny is eligible for coverage 90 days after their arrival in Canada. This does not change according to when you apply, so whether the Ontario Card (or Driver's License) takes 1 week or 4 weeks to arrive, you will not be penalized. 


Be Prepared...

I like to err on the side of caution, so I am recommending bringing the following documents (as you obtain them) to all appointments at government offices/businesses:
  • Valid work permit
  • Passport from country of origin
  • Signed employment contract
  • Signed letter of employment
  • SIN
  • Ontario Card/Driver's License
  • Piece of registered mail
  • Copy of bank account information

 Please note: not all of the above are technically required, but if you're like me, and you prefer to be prepared, then why not bring everything along so that you have anything you could possibly be asked for. 

Good luck and enjoy your day together running these errands. Your nanny will surely appreciate you taking the time to support them in getting these tasks done, and it's a great opportunity to spend some time with one another. 
I'm no expert when it comes to decorating, but that doesn't mean that I don't love to try! My husband and I both love giving rooms a unique feel and we do our best to make spaces feel warm and welcoming.

I thought it was important to overhaul our basement bedroom to make sure that our nanny would feel welcome. We started with a lavendar color scheme, but throughout Skype and email conversations with our nanny, we learned that she likes bright colors, and we thought that something more fun would be a better fit, so slowly but surely a coral/orange color scheme took over the room (which originated in the quilt on the bed).

Some people have suggested that perhaps it's not necessary to do quite so much when it comes to setting up a room for a nanny. To this I have two responses, 1) if you have (or can make) the time and enjoy these sorts of activities then go for it, there is lots you can do on a budget by shopping sales and doing DIY projects and your nanny will appreciate all of the time and effort that you put in, and 2) think about the longterm use of the bedroom. We always love making spaces in our home nice so we figured why not decorate a nice space for our nanny that we can enjoy for years to come.


We were fortunate to start with some nice pieces of furniture from our former tenant (the bed and nightstand) and then we went out and purchased a simple desk from IKEA to match, as well a small coral dresser/drawers. We added a slew of personal touches and between the fresh face lift of colors and moving around the furniture to make a desk area, I think the room is far more inviting now. I finished off the room by sewing some pillow cases and matching curtains and making some DIY peg boards. We added lots of photos of our nanny's family and friends to the room too, and of course fresh flowers on her nightstand for her arrival.

My favourite additions to the room:

Playful carpet from Target and floral wall decals from IKEA
Hand painted hardware from Anthropologie


DIY pillow cases 

DIY peg board

DIY desk pad

Homesense quilt


The room started with:

  • Bed
  • Nightstand

 We then added:
  • Target
    • Carpet
    • Pen tray
    • Coral pillow cases
  • IKEA
    • Coral dresser 
    • Desk
    • Small orange picture frame
    • Coral wall decals
    • Large photo frame and floral print
  • Anthropologie
    • Nightstand hardware
  • Lowes
    • Wall-mount bed-side light
  • DIY (fabric from Target curtain panels)
    • Euro sham pillow cases
    • Curtains
    • Peg boards
    • Desk pad
  • Homesense
    • Quilt
  • Best Buy
    • TV
  • Apple
    • Apple TV
  • Repurposed previously owned
    • Desktop computer
    • Silver decorative bowl with balls
    • Chocolate nightstand photo frame
  • Local buy/sell group
    • Square wall-mount nook shelves

ORIGINAL ROOM 

BEFORE REDECORATING

AFTER

We had a LOT of fun doing this decorating project and I think the end result turned out pretty well, and most importantly, I think it made our new nanny feel welcomed into our home. 

Your nanny is soon to arrive, what an exciting time!! There are 4 things you need to do before and/or upon your nanny's arrival:
  1. Obtain health insurance for OHIP's waiting period (before/upon arrival - required by law)
  2. Set up payroll with the CRA (upon arrival - required by law)
  3. Book a First Aid/CPR course (before/upon arrival - not required by law)
  4. Register for a WSIB account (upon arrival - required by law)
1. Obtain private health insurance for OHIP's waiting period

This is VERY important. In Ontario foreign workers cannot be covered under our provincial healthcare system (please make sure you know the process for your province/state/country if outside Ontario) until 3 months from the date of their arrival in the country. 

You need to provide private health care insurance which comes in the form of travel insurance. We considered three products (RBC, Manulife, and Blue Cross) but went with Blue Cross in the end because you can't beat their pricing, see comparison chart below:


Amount Insured
RBC
Manulife
Blue Cross




$25,000
$243 ($50 deductible)


$50,000
$305 ($50 deductible)
$260

$100,000

$349
$233
$150,000
$477 ($50 deductible)
$373


*All amounts based on 90 days of coverage
*Based on quotes received in March 2015

Sidenote: across the board, I don't know if I have ever received such poor customer service from any type of business than I did from all three of these companies. I was hesitant to even go with Blue Cross (despite their amazing rates) because the customer service was SO bad. The only thing that turned the tide in their favour was that the other two companies provided equally appalling customer service!!...unfriendly and unhelpful, but at least we've got the medical coverage we need!

2. Set up payroll with the CRA (We're using NannyTax)


You are required by law to remit source deductions to the CRA monthly and to keep records of your nanny's payroll.

 If you are using a payroll assistance service then it's time to get that set up. We are using (and I highly recommend) NannyTax and couldn't be more thrilled with the customer service that we've received so far!

Keep your eyes peeled for an upcoming guest post by NannyTax where Deborah, the owner, will explain all of the basics and need-to-knows of nannies and taxes. I have some exciting news to share with you...I am such a big fan of NannyTax that I've set up a special deal with Deborah.

 If you sign on to use NannyTax's service using the Nanny&Me coupon code, you will receive your first month of service FREE! 

 Just call Deborah at 1-877-626-6982 (1-877-NANNYTAX) and tell her that you are a Nanny&Me reader and voila, one month free service!

Now if you know me then you know that I take referrals VERY seriously. I do not grant praise easily when it comes to good business, but when I do, I really mean business! NannyTax has been beyond helpful in preparing for the tax component of hiring a nanny (CRA remittance, WSIB premiums, payroll). Deborah is so personally committed to every single person that she speaks with. She has spent so much time with me on the phone walking me through the various aspects so that I understand the basics, and NannyTax is going to be taking care of literally everything for us! Ask her about her own nanny journey; Deborah got into business when she (as an accountant) was navigating the tax waters and realized she could help families in need!

I'll be writing another post on NannyTax in the coming week that will provide a full run down of their services which range from basic monthly CRA remittance calculations to paying your WSIB premiums and your nanny. 


3. Book a First Aid/CPR Course

This is important to provide your nanny with the most up to date and relevant training. There are several options that families pursue:

  1. Baby/child CPR and First Aid workshop - This is a non-certification course that many families find suits their needs quite well. You can take a course like this through Canadian Red Cross for $45/person. 
  2. CPR C - This is a certified CPR course which covers infant, child, and adult CPR and choking. There are many institutes which offer this course such as St John Ambulance. 
  3. In-home training - There are individual CPR and First Aid instructors who will come to your home and provide a CPR C course for $65/person. I even spoke to one instructor dually certified through Heart & Stroke and Lifesaving Society who was able to customize a certified course in home to offer CPR C, choking, and basic first aid.  
  4. CPR C & Basic First Aid - This is a 1 or 2 day certification course which covers everything from CPR and choking to burn management and emergency response. These courses typically range from $130-300/person and are offered by many companies including Toronto Paramedic Services. 
We have decided to take a CPR C course with our nanny and are planning to arrange for an in-home instructor through Heart & Stroke Foundation. We have had a few hiccups finding an instructor whose right for us in terms of what they can offer and where they can travel to, but we're hoping to get something set up in the next two weeks.

It's so vital for parents to have proper CPR training too, so this is a great way to do a little activity together as a family including your nanny and ensure everyone's safety in the long run.

4. Register for a WSIB account

You are required to register for WSIB if you employ 1) a live-in nanny OR 2) a live-out nanny who works more than 24 hours/weeks. This is a very quick and easy process. You can theoretically use their e-registration system although I received an error message when trying to input my email and after three separate attempts (on two different days) I gave up and called them. They were more than happy to register me over the phone and it only took 10 minutes or so.


 Stay tuned for a post on the 4 things a supportive employer helps their nanny obtain upon their arrival!

Our soon-to-be nanny Genette left HongKong this morning (EST) and is on her way to Canada! Join me on Nanny&Me's Facebook page as I post live updates leading up to her arrival.

I just discovered Flight Aware, a neat airplane tracker app that has allowed me to see her plane on a map. How did I not know this existed before?

We couldn't be more excited to welcome her into our home! We've got our bells and whistles and are counting down the hours!

T-Minus 12 hours until her arrival and she's currently making her way across the ocean...






I am sitting on my couch buzzing with emotion as ideas flood my mind about what the early days with our new nanny (Genette) will look like. The anticipation is huge! She will be moving her whole life, arriving in a new country, acclimating to a new culture, and way of life. We will be welcoming her into our home, and adjusting to life with a new person in our family unit. It is easy at a time like this to feel overwhelmed; there is so much to do, so much to plan for, and above everything, I hope that she is a wonderful fit with our family and will be happy with us for many years to come.

We thought long and hard about what we wanted the early days following her arrival to look like. How much time would she need to rest after the flight? How many activities should we plan? How do we encourage family bonding and closeness between her and our son? What sort of orientation should we do?

Arrival

We are T-minus 20 days until Genette's arrival in Canada! We so wanted to have her fly in during the day so that we (my husband, son, and I) could all greet her at the airport with a sign, but unfortunately there are not many flight options. We wanted to fly her with a familiar airline (Air Canada) because I had heard horror stories of people being turned away when they didn't have physical proof of payment (the actual transacted credit card etc) so I called Air Canada ahead of time and ensured that this wouldn't be an issue. I also knew that the safest bet was to have her do a 1-stop flight with layover in Vancouver as there are a number of restrictions with regards to what countries she would be permitted to stop in. In the end, the only flight that made sense was one that arrives at 1am (the other option was a 6am arrival with a 7-hour layover in Vancouver and this flight only has a 1-hour layover).

We have hired Logan's babysitter to come over the night that Genette arrives. We have prepared her that we may not be home until 3 or 4am depending on customs etc, but she was more than happy to oblige which is very sweet. We are so excited to be able to go and greet Genette with bells and whistles. We also feel that it will be good for Logan to meet her for the first time in his home where he is most comfortable.

Rest and Recuperation

Genette will arrive at 1am Wednesday (well technically Thursday but you get it), and we will give her  Thursday and Friday to just sleep, rest, relax, and be. I will work from home these two days and our babysitter (who is filling in, in the interim) will continue to watch Logan.

Weekend Fun and Family Activities

 It is very important to our family that we take the time to get to know Genette and to demonstrate to her that we value her arrival and her place in our family. We will commence family fun on Saturday (separate post with itinerary to come), not that every day isn't family fun day in our lives ;-) and will continue this through until Tuesday. We will host my family here on Sunday evening for family dinner (which we do every week at my parent's house) so that everyone can meet Genette and get to know her. We haven't decided on our family fun activities yet but are considering: showing her around the city (cool cafes, neat neighbourhoods and the like), a nice meal or two out, Centre Island, and maybe a movie marathon (for some down time).

I have had some families ask me about the weekend, "but isn't that her time off?" people have asked. Certainly moving forward Genette will have weekends off, but in the early days of arrival, an "on/off" culture is not what we want to instil. While I definitely value the boundary between work and life for Genette (as I have worked as a live-in caregiver in the past too), I also think that in the beginning, there should be a commitment from us and from her to prioritize getting to know one another. Her whole first week with us will be paid and she won't be working because we'll be too busy having family fun! so I figure making the assumption (which I have also communicated) that she'll want to spend the weekend with us upon her arrival isn't far fetched, but I'd love to hear from you if you have a different take on things. :-)

Orientation

Fortunately when it comes to orientation, I have a lot of flexibility in my job. In her first two weeks of caring for our son, I will work mostly from home so that she can shadow me on and off, and I can be around to answer questions etc. I feel that it will allow for a very natural transition with regards to how much she takes on.

So far we've covered 1) arrival - Wednesday night, 2) rest/recoup - Thursday/Friday, 3) Family Fun - Saturday-Tuesday, and that brings us to Wednesday which is when Genette will begin caring for Logan. I will work from home on Wednesday and she will shadow me (I will work off hours when Logan is napping and after he goes down) to maximize the time that I spend with him and Genette. This work-from-home/shadowing will continue through to Friday. I will have a few meetings that I will attend out of the home which will give Genette the opportunity to be around Logan on her own and begin to develop her own rhythm. For the next week or two, I will continue to weight more work-from-home time than office time in order to be around for support as Genette gets comfortable.

When shadowing begins, I will also have some formalized orientation practices in place (post to come), and will be using our orientation binder. I will implement a two-week orientation phase that will begin and end with a review of the orientation binder. I call this 'wrap-around' training because it starts with information review (the binder), and ends in the same place after providing the context (I will delve deeper into this in the post that is to come).


 We are so excited to embark on this next chapter of our lives. I hope all of the planning and preparations ensure a smooth transition!


I often receive messages of gratitude from readers. If Nanny&Me helped your family, maybe saved you money on agency fees, or supported you in building a strong relationship with your nanny, then here is your chance to pay it forward. I don’t make money from Nanny&Me; I don’t charge fees to access the resources that I’ve developed and I don’t have advertisements on my site. I developed Nanny&Me out of a desire to empower and support families in need. 

I am a firm believer in paying things forward and giving back, so rather than ever asking you for something for myself, I am going to ask you to give what you can to a charity that is near and dear to my heart. L’Arche is an organization that I have been involved with for over a decade. There is an upcoming bowlathon fundraiser for L’Arche Toronto with a goal of raising $45,000 to support the critical work that they do. I hope you’ll read and share my L’Arche story, and consider giving what you can, whether it be $10 or $100, it is all greatly appreciated.

MY L'ARCHE STORY...

Simply put, L’Arche changed my life.

My journey with L’Arche began a decade ago when a friend invited me to go for dinner at a L’Arche home in Toronto where she was living. I showed up to a house that appeared like any other, but what I found when I walked in the door was something completely unique; a home where people with and without developmental disabilities were living together, in community. At the dinner table, everyone shared not just in a meal, but in an experience, conveying their gratitude for the food that had been thoughtfully prepared (they made me a vegan dinner), and for one another’s company. The love and light around the dinner table was remarkable. There is something so uniquely transformative about experiencing L’Arche for the first time. I can’t quite put my finger on it, but I suppose it’s like coming home, home to a place where you immediately belong, where you are welcomed in with open arms, and cherished for being you.

The experience inspired me so I made the decision to live in L’Arche. I was 19 and looking for adventure so I picked L’Arche Vancouver so that I could check out west coast living. I spent the next year of my life growing into the person that I had always wanted to become…someone who was thoughtful, patient, and deliberate, and someone who had a whole lot of fun. L’Arche brought tenderness into my life. L’Arche is not like other group homes, in fact L’Arche homes really aren’t “group homes” at all…they are homes in the truest definition of the word, where people live and share their lives together. The people who live in L’Arche homes eat together, play together, and sleep under one roof, moving through life side by side, and as part of a larger community, as part of something greater than themselves.

Fast forward 6 years to my nana’s passing. My aunt who has a developmental disability and lived with my nana, needed a new home. The stars must have aligned because my aunt was offered a place in L’Arche Toronto. My mom and I were floored, with a shortage of thousands of spaces for people with disabilities across Ontario, it was as if all of our dreams for my aunt were coming true. At a time so full of sadness, I watched L’Arche transform my aunt’s life; I watched her flourish. She became more active, developed a robust social life, starting attending a number of engaging programs, and participating in a range of activities. Soon my aunt’s calendar was more jam packed than mine, and she was thriving. Before moving into L’Arche my aunt struggled with a number of fears/anxieties that prevented her from participating in a lot of activities. L’Arche is a place that doesn’t so much force people past these types of fears, but invites them to let them go, and they have done a wonderful job of supporting my aunt in coping with some of these anxieties so that she can lead a more fulfilling life every day.

Fast forward another 4 years and my aunt is a valued member of a community, and I am working at L’Arche Toronto. My career has come full circle, having lived in L’Arche a decade ago, I have been able to return to share my experience and expertise in the non-profit sector in a stimulating role within the development office, helping to build the organization’s capacity to transform more lives.

And wouldn’t you know it that all these years later, my aunt is living in the very house that I ate supper in over a decade ago; the very house that inspired me to open my heart to L’Arche. L’Arche instilled in me the values and principles that I carried forward into my life (personally and professionally). I will be eternally grateful for what L’Arche has provided me, and one of the ways that I demonstrate this gratitude is by being a donor myself.

L’Arche changes thousands of lives worldwide (there are over 145 communities in 30 countries), and I am inviting you to be part of that change.

TO SPONSOR ME, CLICK HERE 



 L’ARCHE TORONTO transforms lives through a community-based approach to supporting individuals with developmental disabilities. Founded on the principles of belonging and inclusion, L’ARCHE TORONTO provides daily living and employment supports, and a creative/performance arts program. At L’ARCHE TORONTO people with and without disabilities live together, and share their lives, learning from one another and growing together every day! L’ARCHE TORONTO is one of 147 L’Arche communities worldwide, founded by Templeton Prize recipient Jean Vanier.

The day we've all been waiting for on the edge of our seats...our nanny (Genette) was approved for work in Canada!! She just received the email from the visa office!

We could not be more excited to welcome Genette into our home! She has shared the news with her family, and friends, and we have set a date for her to arrive...April 23rd!!

Next Steps:
  • Obtain information from nanny (passport & visa) in order to book her flight
  • Research flight requirements (stopovers, ID etc)
  • Book flight
  • Send her flight itinerary
  • Ensure she has all required documentation for entry into Canada (and research what is required)
  • Finish sewing drapes for her bedroom
  • Put finishing touches on orientation binder
  • Book time off work (her first two days to have fun in the city)
  • Put together welcome package
  • Obtain WSIB coverage
  • Obtain private health insurance for OHIP waiting period
  • and so much more!!

What a truly exciting time! Looks like it's time to read my own post on how to welcome a nanny. :-)



Well a few days ago we got some startling news. When our future nanny applied for her work permit she did so alongside a group of co-applicants all under the guidance of a Hong Kong based consultant.  We received word that one of the women in this group was denied her permit approval. I don't know many of the details, nor is it any of my business, but suffice to say that I am more than a little nervous now. I didn't really know this could happen after receiving a positive LMO (aside from the obvious parameters like police checks etc)!

The first thing that crossed my mind was sadness for  both the family awaiting their new nanny, and the nanny who has been denied her opportunity to come to Canada. My heart sank thinking about the family and their nanny. We are so very excited to welcome our future nanny into our home, and not just because we look forward to having the support with Logan and around the house, but because we have gotten to know her and are genuinely excited for her to join our household. I can't imagine what the family is going through both with regards to now arranging childcare when they had probably invested the last year into this process, and also the emotional stress of having their plan completely derailed. It would be quite devastating to find out that the person with whom you wanted to entrust your child's care had been denied the opportunity to do so. I should say that I understand why we have parameters around applications, and I don't know all of the details, it just seems like an unfortunate happenstance that one can have their LMIA approved and then have the permit denied.

Before selecting our future nanny, we were careful to make sure that she qualified for entrance to Canada (ie. had adequate training and work experience), and we also double checked that we met all of the requirements (household income etc). Even though she and we met all of the requirements, I can't help but panic when I hear about someone being turned down. Our future nanny and her co-applicants all used the same consultant so that also worries me. I would have assumed that using a Hong Kong based consultant would ensure their application acceptance since one would think that she would have warned them ahead of time if they didn't meet all of the requirements, or one would hope that she would.

Amidst all of this news, I did discover that while I submitted my 2012 and 2013 notice of assessments with her permit application, I submitted my husband's 2011 and 2013 (gasp!). Now theoretically this shouldn't matter since my income meets the requirements, but I am very worried nonetheless. In order to subside my anxiety, I amended our application documents by submitting my husband's 2012 notice of assessment via an online submission tool, as well as through an email provided by our future nanny.

I am asking all of you, my readers, to send us some super positive vibes! On the bright side, the fact that one of the applications was already processed from the bunch is great news as maybe we will get to welcome our nanny into our home sooner than we think, but on the down side, I am feeling like we're hanging in the balance. It's out of our hands now, so think good thoughts everyone!

Crossing my (sadly) un-manicured fingers and my toes...
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I am SO excited to have my son, Logan, provided with the one-on-one care of a nanny in our home. The process of recruiting and keeping a nanny seems intimidating at times and there are so many things to think about and consider. The goal of my blog is to support, encourage and empower parents who are considering and pursuing the path of a nanny.

Nanny&Me provides free resources and information that will support you in finding, selecting, and keeping a great nanny. Nanny&Me will also share our family's journey on the road to building a strong and positive relationship with our nanny.

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Hi! (not sure the exclamation mark was necessary, but I'm just excited to say hello). My name's Jenn. I am a passionate mom, non-profit executive, real estate hobbiest, and athlete. I'm an enthusiastic person with a growth mindset. I love learning and growing every day!

Hi Readers!

Hi Readers!
I'm Jenn. I'm a mom, animal lover (vegan), and non-profit leader who is all about sharing resources and having FUN. I lead an active lifestyle that includes a plant-based diet and lots of running, cycling, swimming, outdoor recreation, kayaking, and all things active and outdoors.

What else am I up to?

DAREarts empowers children and youth from underserved communities across Canada through arts-based leadership programs.

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