Today we’d like to introduce you to Araceli Rodriguez.
Araceli, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I started babysitting when I was working multiple positions for a non-profit organization. The first family I worked for had just recently moved to California, and had no relatives living in the state. They had to go a business trip, one which their child could not attend. I recall greeting the mother and her child every single day, and holding baby L every time. This mother trusted me so much, that she would proceed with her business with the non-profit, and allow me to check her child in to the day care. One day, she asked me if I babysat. I informed her that I had done so previously for a family, but not professionally. She asked me to come to her home one day to see whether I was a good fit. I remember being a little self-conscious since her daughter and I had such a great connection. The mother also informed me that her dog was difficult to work with. Neighbors had complained in previous occasions because the dog would bark all night at the sitter, even when the dog was placed outside. I gave her some tips on how I would like to meet her dog the day I went over. The dog loved me! From that time on, I was their date-night sitter and dog sitter for the remainder of their time here in California.
Shortly thereafter, another family who attended my parent and child classes asked me to babysit for them every week since their daughter couldn’t get enough of me. As the months passed, I realized how much I enjoyed my position, and as I was already majoring in Early Child Development and Education, that it was the most logical reason to look for a flexible position as a nanny. The most difficult part was to search for parents, as opposed to having parents searching for me. I underwent more than 20 interviews before I found someone who wasn’t deterred to hiring me due to my age, but rather saw how passionate I was about working with children. I worked 30 hours a week, 3 times a week with an infant boy, for whom I scheduled activities and play-dates during my shift to promote psychical and cognitive development. By the third family I had worked for, I was finishing my Associates in Early Child Development and Education. By my fourth family, I was already working on my Bachelor’s degree in Human Development. It was at this moment that I realized it was time to focus on my long-term goal.
I recalled the challenges I faced since I began working at age 16, and how difficult it was to achieve where I am today. I focused on the work I enjoyed the most; the ones where I felt the most welcomed, appreciated and needed. Being a nanny had been the most rewarding job I’ve ever had, and it fulfilled all the requirements I had listed above. I also recalled trying to work with other agencies, who made me feel uncomfortable as a nanny. These agencies wanted to charge me a fee to find employment but made no guarantees of ever finding any, they charged the families outrageous fees and some of these agencies even talked about taking a percentage from my first checks. I once drove over 30 miles during rush hour to meet with an agency’s associate who was going to interview me. As I walked into the Starbucks, I couldn’t differentiate her from any of the customers there. Once she saw me, she flagged me down while she asked her significant other to sit at another table, whom she had showered with very obvious public displays of affections just five minutes prior to seeing me. It was a very unprofessional experience. On another occasion, the agency’s associate was in her office and I could hear talking poorly about someone who had previously worked for her. It was then that I knew I could offer a better service than any of these agencies. A service with someone who has hands-on experience as a nanny and understands not only the needs of the families, but the needs of the nannies as well. So I began my own research and undertook some business classes in order learn more about operating my own business.
Has it been a smooth road?
The main obstacle I have faced while starting my business has been age discrimination. Potential clients have continuously turned me away due to my age. They felt that I was too young to be running my own business, and therefore, undermined the quality of my services.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
Busy Bee Nannies, LLC places permanent and date-night professional child care providers at a low flat rate, as opposed to other agencies who charge a huge referral fee. I provide families with amazing professional child-care providers that meet every of their unique needs. For permanent positions, I begin a new search every time a family contacts me. I personally interview each potential candidate face-to-face before they meet the family.
What I am most proud of, as a company, is the passion I have to work with children and families. I did not start this with a business edge; I have come to understand that I can offer a service that not only satisfies the needs of the customer, but also focuses on the well-being of everyone involved, specifically the children’s. It is my goal to ensure that the children are being tended to by caregivers who are just as passionate about child development as I am.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
I think any location with working parents is a great location to start.
Pricing:
- Date- Night Sitter Registration $75 Each Booking is $15
- Nanny Search $50 non-refundable deposit / $660 Placement Fee
Contact Info:
- Website: www.busybeenannies.agency
- Phone: (323)205-8637
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/busybeenannies/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/busybeereferralsandcaregiversupport/
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/busy-bee-nannies-los-angeles-3
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