Today we’d like to introduce you to Michelle LaRowe.
Hi Michelle, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
Since my years in high school, I have been identified as the go-to babysitter. From summer nannying for my teachers’ children to babysitting for families who attended our church, I always enjoyed caring for children. While pursuing my college degree, I worked myself through college as a nanny. It was during my junior year of college that I discovered the underground world of nannying. There were placement agencies, professional organizations, and support groups for those providing in-home childcare. I had found my people! I graduated with a degree in chemistry on a Sunday and started a nanny position caring for newborn twins that Monday. It was during that role when I began to get involved in the nanny industry, serving on the board of the International Nanny Association, organizing a local non-profit organization for nannies, and connecting with other like-minded professionals. My dedication to improving the quality of care of children received recognition, and I went on to receive the International Nanny Association Nanny of the Year award. I then went on to author several parenting books, including Nanny to the Rescue! Once I started my own family, I join the International Nanny Association as its executive director. From there, I partnered with Ken Myers who had recently entered the nanny space by utilizing technology to help nannies and families connect. We went on to develop a portfolio of nanny-related businesses, including Nanny Magazine, NannyTraining.com, and Global Nanny Training, where we offer accredited NCFE education to nannies and have trained nannies in over 35 countries. Morningside Nannies, Houston’s award-winning nanny agencies is our cornerstone business where we have continued the tradition of excellence in matching Houston nannies with Houston families. I now serve as the executive director of Morningside Nannies and manage the day-to-day operations of the agency. Personally, my family has also continued to grow myself and my husband have five children, three of whom we adopted through foster care.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The nanny industry is always evolving. Technology has impacted agencies, with parents having more tools than ever available to conduct their own searches, which can be a cost-effective, though labor-intensive option for parents willing to do their own screening. With the pandemic, we have seen parents become accustomed to having limited care, so we are seeing fewer parents needing 40, 50, and 60-hour-a-week nannies and more parents continuing to work from home and willing to juggle childcare with work responsibilities. Having invested heavily in training and educating nannies, it can be a frustrating road because nannies do not need education, or anything really, to get a job, so fostering the mindset of more nanny knowledge, better nanny care is an uphill battle, but one we are continuing to push on in.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next, you can tell us a bit more about your business.
At Morningside Nannies, we truly know how to make successful nanny and family matches. In addition to objectively screening applications against our agency criteria, every nanny a family meets through our agency meets or exceeds their hiring requirements. We represent nannies who love their work and do it not because they can’t do anything else- but because they feel this is what they were meant to do. We take great pride in setting our nannies and families up for success by using an empowerment-based education approach. We advocate for fair and legal pay and help parents understand their responsibilities as household employers. With over 30 years in the industry, I personally connect with every client and nanny to understand their unique needs and work to find them the right fit.
Any big plans?
Morningside Nannies is committed to connecting the best nannies with the best families. We continue to look for innovative ways to ensure parents have as much information as possible to make educated and informed hiring decisions and to provide educational opportunities to nannies in our community by sponsoring events like Houston’s Nanny Training Day.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.MorningsideNannies.com
