My second year as a nanny has started rather nicely - if you don't consider the restrictions that covid-19 has caused in France and Paris. I continue taking care of the two young kids (now 2 yo and 4 yo) of a French family that I started with last September. It has been amazing to follow the growth of them - and I am not talking only about physical or skill growth. Their understanding of English has amazed me and many other people in their lives. Children really pick up languages so easily and fast! A year ago when I started as their nanny, they understood basically nothing I said. Nevertheless, I spoke only in English to them from the very first day. It was kind of hard when the big brother was asking about "maman" and "papa" after the school and he couldn't understand that was what I talked about when I said "mommy" and "daddy". He slowly started to pick up some words and phrases, and now after a year with me he understand basically everything I say to him! And he carefully listens to what I say because if I use a word he doesn't yet understand, he always asks what it means. Absolutely unbelievable for a 3 - 4-year-old! He doesn't yet speak much English and most times he does is when he wants something (he knows to say "help, please" and such) or when he is on the mood to repeat some stuff I randomly say. I usually spend only a little bit of time with the little sister but she has also started to understand what I ask her. It's so nice to see your own impact on the kids!
But this French family is not my only employer anymore. Since I mostly start working in the afternoons by picking the big brother up, I have thought already for quite some time that I could combine my job with another part-time position. And last spring I found a perfect job I could take, thanks to a Facebook group that is meant for Finnish people in Paris area. I was supposed to start working for them family already before the summer but corona postponed their need for me. But this month I finally got to meet the 6-month-old happy baby of Finnish parents. Her mother is still staying at home with her (which is not very common in France considering that the mother's leave is only 16 weeks and many babies start going to the nursery at the age of only a few months), so I mostly go there to give some own time for the mom and enable her to leave the house without the baby sometimes. So far it has been great to help there, as well. I am so happy I have two great families with nice parents and nice children to work with! And I am getting more experience also of younger children after working in a preschool.
So all in all, I cannot complain about my current life. But of course living in France during the corona time also has some negative aspects, too. The biggest issue for me is wearing the mask. Practically every single time and all the time when I go outside home or my employers' homes. It is mandatory to have a mask even on the streets in Paris now. Think about first walking to the train station with a mask and then taking the hot train (because until this week it has still been like summer here) with many people in it. Then you have to walk to the school, squeeze yourself between other parents and nannies picking up the children and then you finally get to walk to a fresh park with the child. But. You have to wear the mask also in the park. And the temperature is above 30. Last week I was just dreaming of the becoming winter when wearing a mask will have the positive side of keeping your face warm. But no matter hot or cold, wearing a mask for hours each day definitely doesn't make good for the skin. Even H who has somewhat a perfect skin has started to use lotions because the nose and chin area just get so dry...
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| Our everyday life equipments |
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| My kid took this photo once when we were in the park after school. Adults wear masks but small kids don't need to. |
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| Cycling and eating are the only occasions I don't wear mask outdoors. One more reason to use the city e-bikes. Here I am on my way to the Finnish family. They also leave nearby l'Arc de Triomphe, just like my other employer. |
