About Joanne

We are very pleased to provide our highest recommendation for Joanne E. as an exceptional nanny and house manager. Joanne has been with our family for four years, since August of 2021, and has raised both of our young children (now ages 4 and 2) from their infancy. What makes Joanne simply outstanding is her deep love for our children and her unwavering commitment to their care, development, and overall well-being. Indeed, so deep is her care that she was willing to move from her home in Boston to St. Louis two years ago to help continue to care for our son. It was only our decision to enroll our children in full time daycare that prompted us to part ways. While Joanne possesses many admirable qualities, we highlight below some of the most outstanding that made her a beloved figure in our household. Experience: Joanne is ideal for a new family. Her extensive experience, over 30 years of nannying and a background in child development, uniquely prepares her for virtually any situation new parents find themselves in. As any new parent, we were unsure of what we didn’t know and what to focus on, and Joanne helped to guide us through those initial uncertainties. For example, she provided us with extensive options of favorite starting toys for child development, cribs, highchairs, etc… Because of her experience, she adapts quickly to the personality of each child and tailors care to his/her temperament and developmental needs. She takes initiative in planning activities that will benefit each child (e.g. swim lessons, music class). She knows very well at what age children need to develop certain skills and structures the day around learning these new tasks. Her philosophy is to help children gain a balanced experience and thus she gently encourages children to work on the skills that need more attention. We trusted her so much that she even helped us to screen through daycares for our son as he transitioned from her care to full time schooling. From the outset, we felt immediately comfortable leaving our children in her care and working with her on making decisions for the kids. Loyalty: Joanne is fiercely loyal to our children and our family. The fact that she moved halfway across the country to help continue to rear them is just one of many examples of her commitment to the kids and our family. We consider ourselves exceptionally fortunate to have been able to keep Joanne on when our lives were being upended with new jobs in a new city (and a second kid on the way!). She is quick to offer solutions to scheduling conflicts, even offering her time without us asking, that really allowed us freedom in our jobs as well as at home. Love: From the outset Joanne showed that she was first and foremost about the kids and their needs. She gives them much affection, while still providing the necessary space for them to grow and test themselves. Joanne instinctively knows how to calm our children and how to help them find ways to self-soothe. Importantly, while she is very affectionate, she believes strongly that children learn to play independently and always gives them opportunities to problem-solve on their own. As a result, our children are advanced in their ability to initiate imaginative self-play. Over the past 4 years, we have witnessed many different parenting approaches but without a doubt, having a loving and supportive core group is the foundation on which all kids need to thrive. We quickly felt that Joanne was one of the family because of her affection and fierce devotion to fight for our kids. Organization: Some of Joanne’s strongest qualities are her exceptional organization and cleanliness. For example, she provided excellent guidance on how to organize our day-to-day routine as well as our household to ensure our children’s development moved as smoothly as possible. Whether it’s the location of a crib to limit the effect of vents blowing on the child or the way the kitchen or living room should be set up to keep the kids safe yet having access to what they need we could always depend on Joanne to not only know what to do but also often times to just do it. As working parents, this kind of initiative cannot be overstated. In addition to caring for our children, Joanne cooked, did laundry, and was the point of contact for cleaners and landscapers. This added help allowed us to spend our free time fully engaging with our children. Flexibility/Open communication: Joanne is refreshingly direct in her communication with us. She lets us know her opinions and the justifications behind her thinking. However, she leaves the ultimate decision making up to us and always respects our choices. Because she lets her opinion be known and listens to our concerns, we have found that this openness makes for a smoother existence. We provide our highest recommendation for Joanne, especially ideal for first time parents. Please do not hesitate to contact us with further questions.