In 2022, my husband and I bought our first home, and it gave me insight into what many of our childcare clients experience as homeowners.
1. I experienced how managing a household adds to the load. Owning a home is a point of pride that also includes a never-ending to-do list and constant decisions. Although I’ve always been a compassionate nanny and sitter, I wasn’t familiar with the mental load that homeowners carry, in addition parenting, work, pet care, car maintenance, and family commitments. Personally, my first two years in our new home were largely devoted to caring for my 16-year-old dog, Beebe in her final days, along with recovering from a serious lower back injury. My husband carried much of the household load.
My dearest friend, Beebe.
I notice the invisible work of home ownership now, like changing air filters, testing smoke detectors, gutter cleaning and pest control. These aren’t difficult tasks on their own, but it all adds up. I see why many of our clients use home maintenance concierge services. In Colorado, where we operate, we recommend Willow Home.
The joyful chaos of family life is universal, even in the fine homes where my agency’s nannies and sitters often work. Beautiful floor-to-ceiling windows get tiny fingerprints and cheek smudges from toddlers looking out. Little designers add Paw Patrol figurines to every display space. You might be surprised to learn that even the most incredible homes have twisted blinds, closet doors pulled off the track, and that piece of trim a child mysteriously knocked off the wall (How? Why?).
2. I use garbage disposals sparingly. One of the first things I did after buying this house was apologize to my favorite nanny family for all the old food I’d put down their garbage disposal while cleaning their fridge over the years. It turns out garbage disposals are only meant for the occasional food scrap while rinsing dishes, and a clogged disposal is almost entirely preventable. To every family whose disposal I overused: I am so, so sorry.
Owning a home quickly taught me about preventative maintenance, troubleshooting small issues, and knowing when to call a professional. This sharpened how I help families hire home managers who are proactive and resourceful, and deepened my appreciation for childcare professionals and family assistants. When so many things in your house can break, leak, and consume your time, having a competent, reliable adult on your team isn’t a luxury, it keeps things running.
One of dozens of trips to the hardware store, learning home repair basics.
3. My financial priorities became nonnegotiable. Our HVAC system had to be replaced shortly after moving in, disappearing many thousands of dollars in a single afternoon. Setting prices for my business is no longer associated with what feels fair, and I don’t base decisions on what competitors do. I use math to create sustainable pricing because when nannies and childcare agencies are financially stable, families get consistent, reliable care. Financial stability isn’t something I’d like to have, it’s imperative.
The error code that initiated our most costly home repair.
4. I’ve become that person about the thermostat. I’d never been a nanny who leaves the door open and lets the heat out, but the overall cost of homeownership gave me a new appreciation for the cost savings between 68 degrees and 70 degrees. I remember snowy days babysitting in Louisville when I loved to turn on a family’s gas fireplace while we played with Legos in the living room. Now, I cringe thinking of how much fuel that might have used. Sometimes, the TV’s fireplace mode is enough!
5. I understand having unpacked boxes for a long time. Over the years, I cared for so many families who had unopened boxes or unhung photos in the corner, sometimes years after a move. I used to wonder how that could happen. Now, I just go look at my laundry room that’s had paint samples on the walls since 2024. Life flies by. You can’t spend every downtime moment on projects, and you have to prioritize. Even for families who enlist interior decorators, movers, and so on, turning a house into a home takes time.
My laundry room waits for decisions.
Talking with my neighbors who’ve been here for 15 years or more, I’ve learned that the homeowner’s to-do list never truly ends. I’ve gained empathy for the effort, time, and love that go into the endeavor, and I’m more inspired to treat each client’s home with the same care and attention I give my own.
Our home across seasons.