Breaking News

By Mary O'Connor
Founder/President, Nannies from the Heartland

          I was extremely dismayed to hear this morning on local television news and read on a local online newspaper a story headlined, “Prison for Nanny/Bookkeeper.” The media stories report about a woman recently sentenced in St. Paul federal court for embezzling over $700,000 from her employer. The news states she was hired as a nanny and household helper and her duties included bookkeeping. This mix of duties is certainly not typical for a professional nanny. It was in her capacity as a bookkeeper that she committed the crime for which she was sentenced.
          The fact that news media are describing her first as a nanny and then as bookkeeper is misleading and smacks of
sensationalism. If the headline was confined to “Bookkeeper Sentenced for Embezzlement” it would have been less exciting. Feeding off the sensationalism that a nanny would embezzle is a much juicier story. This denigrates the valuable service that professional nannies provide to families and the children in their care. The primary duties of a professional nanny are first and foremost to provide quality child care. Nannies from the Heartland has placed over 1700 nannies with Twin Cities families in the last 20 years. I have never had a nanny assume the magnitude of financial responsibilities for an employer as noted in these stories. I have already contacted these local media outlets to express my dismay of what I consider misleading and negative.
          There are stories of the dedicated, exceptional nannies that are making a difference in the lives of families. The International Nanny Association has been making this part of their mission for the past 25 years. Blogs highlighting the positive role nannies play in the lives of children and families are springing up to refocus our attention. We’d love to feature your stories here on our blog! Please email us at info@nanniesheartland.com.