My name is Mary. I am 48 years old and was raised in a huge Polish family (12 brothers and sisters) along with a lot of foster babies and other needy people in and out of the house. I presently have 70+ nieces and nephews, most of whom live close to our family ‘headquarters’, so children are simply part of my life. In addition to family and plenty of outside babysitting, I worked for 5 years at Child Abuse Prevention Services supervising infants and toddlers and helping in child/parent interaction. They nominated me for our city’s ‘Young Woman of the Year.’ I’ve lived a very unique life. Upon graduating from Notre Dame in 1999 I spent almost 20 years in the missions serving the poor (including orphanages) as well as praying as a consecrated hermit all over the world –Siberia, Nigeria, Tanzania, South Africa, Philippines, Mexico, the Holy Land and all over Europe as well. These included Upendo Children's Home, Moshi Tanzania; St. Joseph's Hospital, Capetown South Africa; Open Arms, Kumga South Africa; orphanages in Poland and Russia and lots and lots of street children (including those living the trash dumps of 'Smoky Mountain' in the Philippines). I also spent quite some time caring for my friend's small babies/children in Poland. Although I spent a lot of time away in silence praying, ironically I love children and am very fun and outgoing when it comes to the little ones.
Infants and toddlers are my specialty, although I have experience with children of all ages, cultures and socioeconomic backgrounds. I volunteer taught 6th, 7th and 8th grade for one year in South Texas, including children with disabilities. I developed and taught a Pre-school CCD program at a church as well as taught Sunday school to troubled teens at a juvenile prison. I also was the full-time caregiver (on and off) of my brother's 5 young children as he struggled with cancer 3 times over 7 years. And I spent about 6 months helping a friend with night-care of her adopted newborn twin grandbabies -they were sickly and on heart and breathing monitoring machines. My entire life has been with small children.
I spent the 80 hours a week as a night/day nanny for newborn triplets in Chicago.

I have done a nanny share between 4 families- one with 6 children (2-13), one with 10 children (6months-14), one with 8 children (18 months-13), and one with 3 children (8 months-5, plus foster children). I have helped extensively with homeschooling.

I have been a night nanny for three sets of twins. And I have worked as a day nanny for three sets of infant twins as well. I also worked day and night with a family whose 4 children were under 5 when I started. And I have worked for a family with 7 children between 5-11.
I am also a licensed foster parent for medically fragile and drug addicted newborns.

I am usually paid $45/hr, but that could be negotiated. I am very interested in learning more about your position and schedule and if we could make it work. I am looking at relocating to Belize City in February.

I am a very clean person (which made the missions difficult at times) and prefer organization, although I am flexible, patient and laid-back, especially with children. Love was always my rule. I speak Russian and Polish pretty well after spending 2 years in Eastern Siberia and many years back and forth from Poland. I studied Italian at Notre Dame and so when I find myself in Italian company I usually understand. I understand Spanish and could pick it up again rather quickly. Languages come and go for me –when I lived in Africa I picked up the Bantu languages and Swahili. When I lived with the French I was able to communicate. And pretty much any Slavic language I understand. I love to paint, especially icons. I love to cook and bake, although I rarely follow recipes exactly. Because good doctors and medicines were rarely available all of those years I learned quite a bit about natural remedies and herbs. I garden, play guitar and always have a book. Usually I read Theology, although I enjoy the Classics. I have published 9 books. And I love to be outside, especially exercising –this time I use to really think and pray. My heart is very sensitive, especially to anyone suffering. These are all parts of my life that I share with the children around me (crafts, reading, singing, outdoors, baking, etc.) My approach with children tends to be the attachment parenting style –babies cry because they need something. I don’t ever remember not being able to calm a crying child. In fact, sometimes parents would give me their children when they were upset because ‘Aunt Mary’ has ‘her way.’
Services Offered: *Loving your children *Teaching developmental milestones *Reading *Crafts *Playing *Toilet Training *Outdoor Activities (walks, gardening, games) *Singing *Basic Language Skills *Meal Preparation *Baking *Laundry *Housekeeping *Basic Educati