Goddess: celebrity moms

• Spotlight to Nightlight: Celebrity Nannies

  posted by Ali Landry - Sun Mar 15 2009, 2:46 PM PDT

  celebs: Ali Landry
  topics: Hotties | Kids

  Check out Goddess' new video program, "Spotlight to Nightlight," where celebrity moms talk parenting. In the first episode, host Ali Landry talks to E!'s Catt Sadler, tackles the issue of childcare, and gets the scoop on how much nannies to the stars really make from Westside Nannies in Los Angeles!

  Click here for the Spanish version.
  

  Ali's Take

  Working moms all share a similar struggle: How do we provide care for our little ones when we're at work?I want to start out by saying that I have a live-in nanny named Felicitas. While this is a luxury that may not be an option for everyone, we are so grateful that it is within our budget. She is a family friend and we absolutely adore her. My husband and I are both working parents, and our families live in Louisiana and Mexico. With our very abnormal schedules, taking our daughter Estela to a daycare facility wasn't going to work. We needed to have someone that we were completely comfortable with who was available at a moment's notice. For us, the best choice was to get a live-in nanny.
  
  Having someone -- whether it's a family member, daycare provider, or nanny -- share the responsibilities of raising your child can bring on a lot of emotions, including guilt, and even jealousy for some people. I, too, sometimes get that little twinge of mom guilt, but to be honest, I'm glad our daughter loves our nanny so much and vice versa. I wouldn't have it any other way. I think the bottom line for me is that I know Felicitas loves our child like her own. She makes me feel as though she would do anything to protect her if she had to. I also love that Estela is ALMOST as comfortable with her as she is with me -- ALMOST! :)

  Ali Landry and baby Estela adore their nanny, Felicitas. Courtesy Ali Landry
  
  Cute story ... when Estela was just learning to say "Mama," she would also call our nanny "Mama." Of course, Felicitas would correct her, but I would just laugh and say, "Yes, I am mama and, okay, this is your other mama." That would probably freak out a lot of my friends, but I guess I just finally learned not to sweat the small stuff.
  
  I feel secure knowing that my child only has one mother, and no one will take my place. We have open communication with our nanny and we definitely understand boundaries. There is enough love in our children's hearts to share with everyone in their lives. I am just thankful that we have someone that loves our daughter so much and takes such great care of her. Every mom has different needs and options when it comes to childcare. The big hurdle is finding out what works best for each family. How do you make it work?

  What type of childcare do you use?

  • Daycare provider
  • A family member helps out
  • Daytime nanny
  • Live-in nanny
  • My kids are in school
  • Occasional babysitter

  see results without voting

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