“She has been outstanding and, in my opinion, the perfect example of a true Norland Nanny.” NQN client
This year, T has provided our family with more than we could have ever wished. She immediately settled into family life without a hitch and right from the beginning was considerate and thoughtful, putting the family’s needs first. Throughout the year I have felt that T has always been one step ahead of me with regards to family logistics: from researching and booking activities for the children to meal plans and emotion coaching. She is always well organised, prepared and adaptable. Something that most parents dream of in a nanny. Her cooking is excellent and she has kept the whole family well fed throughout the year, working with a budget, organising the shopping and encouraging healthy attitudes to food.
Right from the start, T encouraged politeness and correct manners with my children. Adults often comment on their excellent behaviour while we are out and about. They are great examples of ‘Norland children’ thanks to T. She patiently explained and reasoned with each child during the many varied tantrums and demonstrated a consistent, ‘firm but fair’ approach of which, we as parents are in awe.
During the national lockdown period T was a constant support for each and every member of the family. Whether it was her excellent emotion coaching of the children’s wellbeing or supporting my husband and I through the struggles of working at home. T took on the lead with the home learning and my eldest thrived with her. As well as successfully teaching a 10-year-old, she also managed to entertain our twin three-year-olds, keeping them quiet so we could work. She managed to juggle all this as well as run the house. I am absolutely certain that our family would have fallen apart at the seams if T hadn’t been there.
At the beginning of T’s year we had discussed the fact that she didn’t really have much opportunity to get to know our eldest daughter. This was a concern for T as she wanted to build a strong relationships with all three of the children. Lockdown certainly helped with this! G3, my eldest, struggled with her emotions before and during lockdown. T was able to support G3 in a way that my husband and I couldn’t because we were too involved and emotional ourselves. T spent time coaching G3 through some difficult hormonal and emotional changes. She gave sensitive advice about friendships in a non-patronising manner, discussed personal hygiene and physical changes and shared everything with us at convenient times. It’s difficult enough for parents to negotiate this tricky time with a pre-teenager’s development so for T to have such a positive impact with G3 is exemplary. This should be highlighted as another example of excellent practice and achievement for T. She made a real difference to a struggling 10-year-old girl. I cannot find fault with T’s work for us this year. She has been outstanding and, in my opinion,, the perfect example of a true Norland Nanny.
I can’t think of an area that I recommend for her to continue working on because in my eyes she is just brilliant. She will be missed beyond compare in the coming months when I try to juggle work with pre-school pick-ups as well as the running of the house and emotional support of the children. Our family will not be the same without the positive, supportive and calm influence of T even though we know we will always keep in touch with her.
