“Do I need to check?”
- You quietly open the nanny cam during a 2pm meeting.
- Your toddler’s afternoon is guesswork, snacks, and screen time.
- You walk into a meltdown with no idea what happened.
- Your boundaries reset the second you leave.
Private Developmental Nanny
Hire a nanny you don’t have to manage.
Come home to a capable kid...and a handled day.
I keep your rules in place, your child learning instead of scrolling, and your home running smoothly...without pulling you out of your workday.
International travelEnglish & SpanishCertified K-12 Teacher
Montessori-style learning✈ Lived in 7 countriesReads & writes in SpanishClean driving recordSchool runsOvernight care🐶 Pet-friendlyHousehold supportCPR CertifiedEntrepreneurshipConscious Discipline🏊 Strong swimmer
Before You Even Call a Nanny
You've probably already had these questions run through your mind:
“Is she going to actually parent the way I would...or just supervise until I get home?
“What happens the first time my toddler melts down in the middle of the grocery store line?
“Am I about to pay someone to hand my kid a tablet every time the afternoon gets hard?
“Will she answer my text, show up on time, and still be here four months from now?
“Is my kid actually learning anything, or just getting kept alive until 5pm?
“If I set a boundary and she doesn’t hold it the same way, does all my parenting just unravel?
I built my entire approach around answering these...before you ever have to ask them.
I love Montessori-style learning, teaching kids how to self-regulate, manage emotions and name them, and so much more. I value no-screen time for developing minds, getting outside, play-based learning and adventure! I encourage healthy snacking and food habits.
The Screen-Time Fear
YouTube has become the world’s nanny.
It won’t become your child’s.
The problem isn't just one cartoon. The problem is when you're paying a nanny... then finding out YouTube did the nannying.
I plan days that your child is excited to be part of.
We cook. We dance. We explore outside. We create things. We talk, laugh, and connect. The screen is never the plan.
Your child gets a day filled with real play, connection, and discovery...not hours spent in front of a tablet.What Actually Changes
You stop checking the nanny cam.
You start trusting the day.
The difference is not more updates to manage. It is knowing the day is handled.
“I know she’s got it.”
- You stay in your meeting because there is nothing you need to check.
- Your child meets you at the door talking about the day.
- A short recap tells you what happened and how I handled it.
- Your boundaries hold because I hold them too.
My Philosophy
Firm boundaries.
Zero shame.
My approach is shaped by Conscious Discipline: firm limits, calm responses, and zero shame. I believe in saying no and meaning it. I also know a toddler having a meltdown cannot regulate alone yet. Here’s how both can be true.
I don’t rush a meltdown...I stay calm until it passes.
A toddler mid-tantrum is not being difficult on purpose. Their brain cannot self-soothe yet. I use fewer words, not more: “You wanted the red cup, not the blue one. I understand.” Then I stay calm and give them time. That is how a child slowly learns to come back down.
Big feelings need somewhere to go...so I build that in.
Toddlers need to throw, push, run, and move. We create safe ways to do it: throw time outside, dancing, running, or walloping an inflatable alligator. I might measure “100 wiggles,” let them move, then measure again. A body that gets the movement it needs has less energy left to explode at bedtime.
I don’t just celebrate the win. I celebrate the attempt.
I catch the trying: “Oh, so good...you kept trying!” I even made a little song about trying again. The goal is not a child who performs for praise. It is a child who keeps going when the second try does not work.
I narrate everything on purpose...and it works.
I taught a toddler “up” and “down” in one day by pairing the words with the motion all day. Early learning does not have to look like a lesson. It works best when the right words show up inside real moments, again and again.
I sing it until they believe it.
Kids build their sense of self from what they hear on repeat. Our days include songs about who they are, not just what they did: “I am loved. I am smart. I am kind.” The goal is confidence that does not disappear after one hard moment.
I don’t bribe with dessert. I build curiosity instead.
New foods go on the plate next to old favorites, no pressure, no fight.
I delay sugar and treats as long as I reasonably can. Because a kid who’s never had a cookie doesn’t miss one.
Real Tools, Real Independence
JJ walked to the washing machine at 22 months old...
Opened the door... Threw the clothes into the washing machine... threw the soap in... Pressed the power button... needed a LITTLE help latching the door... and started the load.
His Dad asked, “How?”
And it’s simple...
He learned because I never treated him like he couldn’t.
Kids are capable of doing many things even before 2 years old. It’s important just to help them try.
It’s worth the proud look on their face after every finished job says, “I did that.”
Independence I Build Toward
- Potty training when your toddler is ready...with no pressure or shame.
- Self-feeding and food prep using real child-safe tools.
- Dressing themselves with patience for the process.
- Helping at home with laundry and tidying sized for them.
- Naming feelings until they can tell you what is happening inside.
One Small Moment. One Big Shift.
He would only eat fries.
So I handed him an egg.
The goal was not to make him eat. It was to help him want to try.
His parents said, “If he won’t eat, just give him french fries. Something is better than nothing.”
I smiled and nodded. Then I thought: not on my watch.
I grabbed an egg. Not to eat...to make. We boiled it together. He wanted to throw it in like a fastball. “Suave. Suavecito.” We tried again.
He cooled it, blew on it, and peeled it shell by shell for fifteen minutes. I let it take as long as it took.
Then he ate the whole thing. The next morning he asked for eggs.
I didn’t give him food. I gave him ownership.
Michelle SmylesDevelopmental Nanny
I didn't get diagnosed with ADHD until I was an adult... here's what that has to do with caring for your child.
For 28 years, nobody caught it. I just got labeled “a lot.”
The kid who lost her shoes, forgot homework sitting in her own backpack, and melted down over things that looked small from the outside.
Nobody had a name for it. So I figured it out myself, the hard way.
That's why I'm not rattled when your kid forgets their homework for the third time this week, or loses it over a broken cracker. I've been that kid. I know what's happening underneath it, and how to help them build the emotional tools I had to build on my own, way later than I should have had to.
When your toddler melts down over the green cup instead of the blue one, I'm not handing them a cookie to make it stop. I'm getting down at their level and saying, “You're mad because you wanted blue. That makes sense.” Kids don't need to be distracted from a feeling, they need to move through it, with empathy and respectful boundaries instead of a quick fix.
That's co-regulation, and it's the foundation of how I approach every child in my care, not just the hard moments.
That instinct didn't come from a textbook. But I've got the textbook part covered, too: a Bachelor's in Secondary Education, a K-12 Spanish teaching certification, and real classroom experience before I decided a few kids at a time was more my speed. I bring a genuine play-based learning approach, thinking about developmental milestones, language exposure, and intentional activities, not just supervision, because I believe “intellectual” childcare and warm, responsive care are the same job, not two different ones. That means following a child's lead: child-led exploration paired with evidence-based development knowledge, so curiosity gets room to grow inside real structure.
I've also worked as part of larger household teams, coordinating with parents, other caregivers, and household staff. I'm a collaborative communicator who stays organized and shows up as a true partner, not someone who needs managing. I'm comfortable with travel, multi-home households, and adapting to a family's rhythm as it changes.
But none of that credentialing is really the point.
Nobody caught what I needed until it was almost too late.
Your kid won't grow up waiting that long. Not on my watch.
20+ years caring for kids3 live-in placements2 languagesK–12 certified teacher16 mos–18 yrs age rangeInternational care experience
Caring for Kids From 16 Months to 18 Years
Choose your child’s age.
Pick an age below...then tap the card to flip it.
Entrepreneurship for Teens
Give your teen the confidence to build something real.
They learn how to spot an idea, test it, explain why it matters, and make smart choices with a small budget. I teach this from experience: I built an Amazon business with $800 and ranked #3 in my category for four years.
Turn “I have an idea” into a clear first step.
Learn why some ideas get attention and others get ignored.
Test small, learn fast, and build without waiting for a big budget.
More of Your Day, Handled
The care does not stop
at the playroom door.
Choose the support your family actually needs...from school runs and overnight care to meals, dogs, and the household details that keep your week moving.
School runs handled
Confident driver with a clean record for school drop-offs, pick-ups, activities, and errands.
Meals without the scramble
I can prepare snacks and meals, plan ahead, and keep your child’s day fueled and moving.
Overnight care
Travel, events, and late nights feel easier when your child can stay home with a caregiver they already know.
Dogs are welcome
I am comfortable caring for dogs and also have dog-sitting experience and reviews. Pet care is available by arrangement.
Neurodiversity-aware care
Experience supporting children with ADHD and autism. My approach is relationship-first, with connection and regulation before demands and routines shaped around the child.
The household keeps moving
Groceries, errands, laundry, meal planning, keeping the kitchen stocked, and light housework can be handled independently once I know your routine.
Arrangements
A few ways we could work together.
I’m flexible on structure because the right fit matters more than a fixed formula.
Private Nanny
One family. My full attention.Full-time or part-time care in your home, on your schedule, with one consistent caregiver devoted to your child and your household’s rhythm.
- Full-time or part-time schedules
- Consistent developmental care
- Your routines and rules held every day
Nanny Share
Two families, one nanny, real savings.Your child gets a regular playmate built into the day...and each family gets dedicated care at a share of the cost.
- Split cost between two families
- Built-in social and language growth
- One consistent caregiver
Babysitting
Reliable care when you need an extra hand.Book trusted, engaged care for date nights, appointments, overnights, events, or the occasional day when your regular plan changes.
- Evening, weekend, or overnight care
- Screen-light play and activities
- Dog care available by arrangement
See It In Motion
Photos & Video
Real clips and photos from my days with kids live here. More coming soon.
No Guessing Required
Answers to your
biggest questions.
What ages do you work with?+
Children from 16 months through age 18. My approach changes with each stage...from movement and language for toddlers to homework, goals, and independence for older kids.
Can you help with potty training?+
Yes. When your toddler shows signs of readiness, I build it into our daily rhythm with consistency, patience, and zero pressure or shame.
What if my child does not respond well at first?+
That can happen when a routine or boundary is new. I stay calm, keep the plan steady, and give the relationship time to build.
Are you open to background checks and references?+
Yes. I welcome background checks, driving-record checks, reference calls, and NDAs before day one.
Do you drive or handle pickups and drop-offs?+
Yes. I have a clean driving record and I am comfortable with school runs, activities, and errands.
Do you have experience with neurodivergent children?+
Yes. I have experience supporting children with ADHD and autism. I use a calm, relationship-first approach that values connection, regulation, and collaboration over forced compliance.
Can you help manage the household too?+
Yes. By arrangement, I can help with groceries, errands, laundry, meal planning, keeping the kitchen stocked, and light housework. Once I know your routine, I am comfortable working independently.
How do I know which arrangement is right for us?+
You do not have to know yet. Choose “not sure” in the application and we can figure out the best fit together.
Let’s See If We’re a Fit
Apply to work with me.
Tell me about your family and what kind of care you are picturing. I follow up personally...no call center, no runaround.
- Fill out the short form.
- I reply within 1 hour.
- We talk through fit, schedule, and the right arrangement.