I'm a Music Therapist

A music therapist’s internship can be pretty stressful. For me it meant moving 2000 miles away from home to work full-time without a paycheck. I was saying goodbye to my comfort zone, support systems, and home. Would I have to bid farewell to my bank account balance too?

I knew there were other ways to save money, but none of them worked for me. Getting a job before internship to save up extra funds or choosing an internship that offers free housing are excellent ways to offset the cost of living. However, my summer job only paid minimum wage and my internship site was awesome, but didn’t include housing or stipend. So I eventually turned to an option I had never anticipated: nannying.

I mean, I’d  heard of nannies before in the Mary Poppins and the Nanny Diaries movies. But I didn’t even think they still existed. I thought the term belonged to the old-time lexicon of butlers and governesses. So how did I get into the nanny game without prior experience?

Networking put me in contact with a family looking for a live-in nanny to provide childcare for their toddler son in the evenings and on weekends. After emailing and a phone interview, they took a chance on me and offered the position. When I moved from California to the Chicago area, I was nervous. I liked children, but didn’t feel especially great with them. Would I click with their son? Was I ready for this much responsibility on top of my internship?

The initial deal was that I would provide a set-number of childcare hours per week in exchange for a private bedroom/bathroom in their home (including utilities and internet). On top of my room, I would earn $10 per hour I spent with their son. I was responsible for everything related to his care: his safety, learning, feeding, diapers and light housecleaning. In a typical evening shift, I worked from 5-8pm and put in 5 hour shifts on the weekends that were more flexible.

Nannying was an awesome financial option because it allowed me to earn extra money while saving on rent costs. Money I spent during internship was on food, gasoline, and extras like business clothes or going out. Best of all, I didn’t have to rely on my parents or go into debt.

For parents, music therapy interns can be a great fit. Many families are looking for responsible, college-educated caregivers that understand development and provide their children with enriching experiences. My ability to engage children with music is a great selling point to parents who want to give their kids a musical background at a young age.

Being a nanny also enhanced my music therapy internship. Both jobs require many of the same skills: developing relationships, patience, responsiveness, and creativity. Although watching a toddler and serving medical patients may seem worlds apart, both require constant attention, flexibility, and quick-thinking to encourage success. Practicing these skills daily in different settings mutually reinforced these skills into habits.

Plus, nannying has plenty of perks for the intern living in a new town. Being 2000 miles away from home, I was worried about being isolated, but bonded with my hosts over family dinners and outings. And my working hours often went by quickly because I was having fun with a toddler!  In addition, nannying gave me a marketable skill set. With my experience and great references, I’ve found it easier to find other childcare work to supplement my income after internship ended.

However, be aware of some points if you think live-in nannying might be an option for you:

Consideration #1: Living in someone else’s home means you have to be mindful of their space and comfort zone. I don’t bring friends over out of respect for my family’s security. It’s not fair for me to bring strangers into their home and into contact with their son. Instead, I plan my social life around activities outside their home.

Consideration #2: As a live-in nanny you have to be flexible. You might be on-call and must be willing to work odd hours. I’ve worked as early as 5am and as late as 10pm. I’ve cared for their son when he’s been really sick (which is not ideal when your other job is in a hospital). You’re being brought in as an extra set of hands to raise their children and should do your best to accommodate their schedule within discussed expectations.

Consideration #3: You need to communicate with the parents. Nannying walks a fine line between being personal and professional. Open communication is key to having a good relationship with the family that is employing you. Discussing parenting style, expectations for your time and privacy, and other issues as they arise are paramount to maintaining harmony and respect in the place you call work and home.

So where to find families looking for a nanny? I recommend Sittercity.com, a website that connects caregivers and families. There’s no fee for caregivers to sign up and you can search for listings by area. I’ve also heard of Nannies4hire.com from others in the business, but don’t have personal experience with it. Make sure to emphasize how your strengths can enhance a family’s time and their child’s development with professional wording in your profile.

Despite the steep learning curve and adjustments I’ve had to make to my lifestyle, nannying has been a great part-time job for me. I love working with my family’s son and watching his growth the past year has been extremely rewarding.  As I begin my music therapy career, I’ve been able to create a support system in my new hometown and live for (almost) free!

Does nannying sound like something you’d consider while completing internship? Do you have another great secret to save money during internship? Let us know!