I don’t want strangers raising my kids

Have you ever heard this, as a working mom? What a load of bull! When you get help with childcare, strangers are not raising your kids. Trusted and loving adults are contributing to your child’s safety, enrichment, and growth.

You are NOT the only person your child needs. Your kids get so much from you, but who will teach them about horses, or fishing, or soccer, or Bollywood, or roti, or how to drive a stick, or tie a bow tie, or play guitar?

Your kids will only benefit from other relatives, nannies, teachers, and adult friends. They aren’t strangers. They’re important and trusted people in your family’s inner circle, hand-selected by you.

This picture is of me, my daughter, Erin, and our nanny, Yasmin. We are all wearing black and white patterned outfits (by accident) and standing in a hotel room, just before Erin’s graduation. My hair is white, Erin’s is dark brown and long, curling over her shoulders, and Yasmin is shorter, browner, and has black hair. Yas is part of our family life, as important and treasured as any other relative. Although she no longer works in our home, she visits us frequently and stays in touch with our girls. She’s come to all our important family events. Our kids’ lives would have been immeasurably poorer if Yasmin hadn’t been part of them. Did she raise them? Yes. Did I raise them? Yes. Did my husband raise them? Yes. As did their grandparents, aunts, uncles, family friends, and