Poem: No Other Way by Lee-Anne

Governessing is made of moments, good, bad and funny. I don’t think I’d change each experience for the world. I penned this while sitting in the Arkaroola schoolroom (2000) waiting for the kids to return. While enjoying my moments of peace.

No Other Way

On the weekends

I run a little room

Organised and neat

Tidy as can be

Everything has a place

And everything in its place

That's what I say

But that goes out the window

8.30 to 3.30 every weekday

This is the time

My tidy little room goes

From organised and neat

To a tidy little heap

For 5 days it's

'Could you pickup this please'

'Could you put that away'

If not those words

Then similar anyway

Here they come running    

From a half an hours play

Pulling things apart

Causing havoc to my dismay

On the weekends

I run a little room

Organised and neat

Tidy as can be

And I wouldn't want it any other way.

(Well not often)

By Lee-Anne Bright

                                                             

Etiquette: In Home Carers are employed to care for the children

The meaning of In Home Carer is different than governess or nanny but can include these roles.

In Home Carers role is to help with anything to do with the children.

This may include

Ø       Providing them with games and activities, some of which are learning activities, at least one per day.

Ø       meal preparation – cooking with kids is a great learning activity

Ø       wash children's clothes (with care - not just overflow the washing machine with a week of washing)

Ø       cleaning and vacuuming areas the children are in (to a high standard - not just push toys under the bed)

Ø       bathing children (includes picking up bath toys, hang up towels, empty bath after children finish)

Ø       read to the children (at least one book a day)

Ø       Or any other task to do with the children’s care.

BUT be reasonable.  They are not the child's mother; they are just a carer who is responsible for those children within that time. You are paying for that responsibility; you are not employing a housekeeper. 

IF you want them to do more housekeeping (that is not child related) than childcare then pay accordingly.

Etiquette: Be careful what you tell you family and friends at home

Be professional, it is part of our job confidentiality not to tell people about all the job’s details.      My parents, parents on the school system, and even some friends I just tell them the same old thing it is going great.  I never tell them the private details and problems just the good things, you know the funny moments with the kids, the basics of what is happening. Superficial information. 

If you do need to talk always say if you are telling something in confidence. 

Trusted sources: Schools also have counselors, In Home Care officer staff, Governess Australia, your employers.

A big room with 3 kids that love to argue.  Given them areas to be responsible for meant 

less arguments but more running around for me.

Poem: The Window

I penned this at South Gap in my first year of governessing. It was written on 13 of August 1997. The year 3 schoolwork had a fantastic unit on poetry, which inspired me to start writing again. What a great lifestyle governessing is, it allows you to follow all your dreams.
 

The Window

You wake up in the morning,

What a great looking day

Out the window the sun shines away.

Getting up and having breakfast

Hoping for delight not dismay

For out the window the sun shines away.

Into the schoolroom we go

Starting a new day

Looking out the window the sun shines away.

Finally reached smoko

She’s trying her best

Still out the window the sun shines away

Back into the schoolroom

Back to the fray

Through the window the sun shines away.

Lunchtime has arrived

I’m feeling frazzled and dazed

Yet out the window the sun shines away.

Afternoon filled with Art and science

Developmental play

And out the window the sun shines away.

School is out at last

She’ll get a star

As we look out the window the sun shines away.

The rest or the day is mine at last

Peace and sunshine

Then I look out the window and see rain coming this way.

By Lee-Anne Bright