By Callie Dahlhauser
Admit it, we’ve all done it. We’ve been late to an interview or an appointment and blamed it on traffic or a last minute errand. We might not think about the people we inconvenience by our tardiness, but by being late, you are not only giving yourself a bad reputation, but also affecting the reputation of any people or groups you are associated with.
As a nanny, if you are not on time, the family suffers from your tardiness. They hired you to make their lives less stressful, and being late stresses them out. Trust me, from personal experience, you do not want to be the reason that a parent loses their job or gets written up at work for being late. You are robbing somebody else’s time because of your lacking punctuality.
The best advice I can give to you is to plan ahead. If your GPS tells you that your destination is 12 minutes away and you’re estimated arrival time is 10:27, don’t you think “Well I’ll just leave home at 10:15 and still arrive 3 minutes early.”
Always expect the unexpected. There will always be an obstacle in your way that will set you back whether it be a train, an accident, or getting lost. Always aim to be at least 5 to 10 minutes early to the house for which you are the nanny. RARELY will a family be upset with you for arriving too early. When you get there early they can get out the door sooner or at least on time. Arriving early will give the parents enough time for any further directions or plans for the day and also show your dedication to your work.
In conclusion, be dependable. Prove to everyone that they can count on you. Show your worth to the people that are putting their children’s lives in your hands and I promise you, they will show their gratitude.