If you own a bible, you may be familiar with Proverbs 31 and it's description of the "Good Wife", as it's called in my Message translation.
I know that I'm not alone in having read this chapter and thought about how so very far I am from meeting that description. Well, call it inspiration. Call it insomnia. But I was thinking about this so-called "Good Wife" and her attributes late last night and the result is my paraphrase of this chapter, changing the "Wife" for "Nanny" (and a few other things), taken from The Message.
A good nanny is hard to find
and worth far more than diamonds.
Her bosses trust her with their offspring
and annually have reason to renegotiate her contract.
Never spiteful, on the outside, the nanny treats them generously
For all the length of her working week (weekends are optional).
She shops around for the best playgroups
and infant Zumba classes,
and enjoys repairing endless holes in socks and school shorts.
She's like a trading ship that sails to faraway places
like Gymboree, bringing back a child covered in hand stamps that won't wash off.
She's up before dawn,
preparing breakfast for the family...and cleaning up the mess from the night before,emptying the dishwasher, doing laundry, making school lunches...
She meets other nannies and organises playdates then,
with money from the kitty, she pays for a session at Topsy Turvy or Amanda's Action Kids.
First thing in the morning, she dresses for work,
rolls up her sleeves and prays for the weekend.
She tries to sense the value of her work, and is already wishing it was 7.30pm.
She's skilled in the crafts of playdough and threading,
diligent in her colouring.
She's quick to assist anyone who needs a plaster, reaches out to clean up the vomit.
She doesn't worry about her family when it snows...they have central heating.
She buys her clothes at the supermarket,
and dresses in track pants and t-shirts that don't show up any thrown food.
Her boss is greatly respected and spends a great deal of time deliberating with the city fathers (actually, she has NO idea at all what he does for a living!)
She designs and builds all manner of farm machinery from cardboard,
bringing the creations she has made to the playroom.
Her clothes are practical, comfortable and easy to wash,
and she always faces tomorrow with a smile...of irony.
When she speaks, she has something worthwhile to say,
even though no one is listening, and she always says it three times.
She keeps an eye on everyone in her household, but is not permitted to speak to anyone about what she sees, as per the Confidentiality Clause in her contract.
The children ignore and harass her.
Her bosses join in with the words, "Many nannies have done wonderful things, but you have outclassed them all!"...whoops, she fell asleep at the kitchen table and dreamed that last bit!
Training can mislead and fantastic experience soon fades.
The nanny to be admired and praised is the nanny who can wake up each morning and believe that one day she will hear, "Give her everything she deserves! Festoon her with praises!"
