Here’s a sampling of the job postings that would be needed to cover all
you do for the children—and significant other adult—in your household.
NANNY: Patient, loving woman who requires limited sleep
and adult interaction needed to care for child(ren) up to 24/7/365.
Other duties include all those listed following this ad, as well as many
not described herewith.
HOUSEKEEPER: Responsibilities include cleaning and
tidying a family home several times daily. Must be available nights,
weekends and overtime, and be willing to clean and tidy the same areas
over and over and over again.
CHAUFFEUR: Driver needed to transport child(ren) to all
activities beyond the domicile, including but not limited to school,
sports, medical appointments, therapies, entertainment venues. Applicant
must be skilled in defensive driving tactics and able to operate a
vehicle safely regardless of the behavior of her passengers. Having
extra-long arms is useful in this position, but not essential.
CHEF: Passable cooking and meal preparation skills
needed for short-order establishment serving three full meals and
filling dozens of beverage and snack orders per day, for both sit-down
and To Go diners. The chef is also responsible for procuring and
restocking meal supplies, serving the meals, all dishwashing as well as
the full cleaning of both the kitchen and multiple dining areas.
DOCTOR/NURSE: Health and first aid provider needed for
pediatric and adult patients in a home-based environment.
Responsibilities include making diagnosis, providing medical
transportation, emergency care, administering treatments, medications
and overall patient assistance, particularly as relates to bodily
functions.
DENTAL HYGIENIST: Assistance needed in daily pediatric
dental cleaning, teething-related pain management and occasional
teeth-pulling.
TEACHER/COACH: Instructor wanted for child(ren) age
newborn to adult for lessons related to academics, athletics and overall
life skills. Position involves both one-on-one instruction and classes
of mixed-age pupils.
PSYCHOLOGIST: Compassionate, wise and tolerant person
needed to listen to the problems and concerns of young and aged
household members.
WARDROBE MANAGER: Fashion- and bargain-savvy individual
needed to acquire, alter, organize and maintain clothing and footwear
for all members of a household, for all seasons.
DRESSER: Individual wanted to ensure that appropriate
clothing is worn by all household members. Wrestling skills are useful,
but can be developed.
LAUNDRESS: Help needed to clean
and maintain various wardrobe collections.
CONCIERGE: Resourceful, problem-solving, people-person
needed to fulfill the various desires of household members, including
but not limited to arranging entertainment activities, making dining and
traveling reservations, procuring gifts and meeting other needs as
expressed.
EXECUTIVE SECRETARY: Organized person sought to handle
all correspondence and interaction between the household and the outside
world. Position involves extensive filing and record-keeping.
MONEY MANAGER/ACCOUNTANT: Financially competent person
needed to record account receivables, supervise cash flow, track and pay
invoices, and manage savings and investments.
TECHNOLOGY SPECIALIST: Computer- and electronics-savvy
person needed to address home theatre, computer and Internet related
problems encountered by household members.
BUILDING SUPERINTENDENT/GENERAL CONTRACTOR: Manager
sought to keep domicile in working order by arranging for trade
technicians (plumbers, electricians, etc.) to both fix and maintain
household systems and appliances.
HANDYMAN: Skilled person needed to perform small
household repairs on an as-needed basis.
INSURANCE SPECIALIST: Expert, dogged representative
needed to manage insurance policies, file and track insurance claims,
and challenge insurance denials when they occur.
ADVOCATE: Protector and supporter required to represent
and/or speak for household members either unable or unwilling to do so
for themselves.
ENTERTAINER: Positive, upbeat person sought to keep
household members happy. Applicant must possess diverse talents and be
able to work with a variety of audiences and in a variety of situations.
“ESCORT”: Attractive, enthusiastic, service-oriented
woman needed, immediately, for intimate adult encounters. Creativity and
experience required. (Though not too much experience.)
When you’re a mother, you’re a multi-talented person. Maybe you should
update your résumé.
About the Author: Melissa
Stanton is the author of The Stay-at-Home Survival Guide:
Field-tested strategies for staying smart, sane, and connected while
caring for your kids, published by Seal Press/Perseus Books
(www.stayathomesurvivalguide.com). Prior to becoming an at-home mother
of three, Stanton was a senior editor at LIFE and People magazines. Her
articles have appeared in The New York Times, Glamour, Parenting,
MotherVerse and Brain,Child, among other publications. Stanton is the
founder of “Real Life Support for Moms” (www.lifesupportformoms.com).
She lives with her family outside of Washington, D.C.
Copyright 2009 Melissa Stanton. A version of this article appeared in
The Stay-at-Home Survival Guide: Field-tested strategies for staying
smart, sane, and connected while caring for your kids (Seal
Press/Perseus Books, 2008). To be reprinted only with the written
permission of Melissa Stanton or her authorized agent.
Contact reprints@lifesupportformoms.com