Subject: Letter of Recommendation for Lisa Klaus
RE: Tenure as Our Family’s Nanny from 2018 and 2020, for our child (4 mo – 2.5 years).
Dear Prospective Family Looking for a Nanny to Care for Your Child(ren):
Searching for a caregiver to come into your home daily and care for your child can be such an overwhelming process. In Lisa Klaus, you have found an excellent candidate. Our family has had the privilege to have Lisa care for our daughter (Alma) for over two years – since she was 4 months old. All of us trust her deeply; the ease and delight with which Alma greets her each day, shares her ups and downs with her (most recently potty-training), and reports on the many activities of their day, has always given us great comfort that she is in the most loving hands.
Lisa is an experienced and trained childcare provider, and it has shown in her care of Alma every day over the last two years. Before we hired her, alongside her resume (formal education, ongoing training, experience in school and home settings) and her kind, assuring manner in our interview, we were impressed by our conversation with her former employer who emphasized her integrity and dedication to her work. In getting to know Lisa, it is clear that her chosen profession is her calling. She takes an approach to children rooted in respect for them as individuals. By listening well to their needs and providing choices and limits appropriate to the child’s development, Lisa supports them in their ability to take responsibility for their own feelings and actions.
Lisa accompanied us as parents through many challenging stages of Alma’s development. She shared guidance when we asked for it, offered suggestions when she anticipated a need we didn’t know we had, and honored our preferences when we took an approach different from hers. Alma has always been loud and opinionated. When she started throwing tantrums at 1.5 years old, my goal was to end the screaming sessions as soon as possible – which meant I gave her exactly what she wanted. Lisa helped me to identify that response as non-ideal (for everyone), and offered alternative strategies for helping Alma through a tantrum while also demonstrating clear boundaries. She offered this feedback gently and non-judgmentally.
Lisa is extremely reliable, which was important for us as employers and for Alma’s development. Lisa always arrived on-time; provided notice of any scheduling needs well in advance; routinely performed household tasks such as child’s laundry and dishes; and consistently followed-up on discussion items I’d float during rushed daily transitions at other, less frantic times. She structured Alma’s time with a daily routine and a weekly schedule that gave Alma a sense of stability – and community. They played at the park on Mondays, attended music in the Marina on Tuesdays, walked to library story times on Wednesdays, had playdates on Thursdays, and took various classes on Fridays. While Lisa self-directed this schedule of activities, she also was very responsive to our wishes (taking on only what we were comfortable with) and adapted easily (our parents visited from out-of-town often and Lisa worked with us to include them while we were at work).
In summary, we recommend Lisa highly to anyone looking for an excellent caregiver. I am happy to answer any other questions you may have as you consider whether Lisa is the right fit for you and your child. We sincerely wish you the best during this precious stage of parenthood!
Maggie & David
Parents to Alma