Welcome!

Hello! Just to introduce myself, for starters my name is Linndsy Flake. I'm 20 years old and just moved to Provo, UT as a newlywed. My husband Ryan and I at this point have been married for about 5 weeks and life has been wonderful! He is attending BYU and on Tuesday my classes will start for my online Bachelor's Degree through Arizona State University. We love life and most of all we love to laugh.

As far as experience goes, during my life I have babysat children with ages ranging from newborns to preteens. This is something I've grown up doing and I have loved every opportunity. Along with past nanny positions, just this past summer I was the nanny for a family with five kids ages ranging from 2-13 in Spanish Fork. It was challenging but very rewarding.

I hope to continue building on my experiences and including you in them!

The Life of a Nanny

Written: Wednesday, August 19, 2009


Well my closet, drawers and shelves are all cleared out and a bit dusty. I've taken my things off the walls and anything that was around the Stephens' house. Why do I feel sad to leave? 

Oh I remember... it's because I'll miss Kierstin's cheerful and tiny voice calling my name from down the hall or up the stairs. "Winny? Winny?! *gasp* Winny!!! Cum'on Winny!!" Then we'd be off to see Diego, get some yogurt to eat together, or she had something to show me that she'd discovered and thought it to be the most amazing thing in the world. 

It's because I'll miss it when Trevor just wants to sit on my lap to suck his thumb and play with his hair. He twists the spot of hair that's right on top of his head and by the time he's done, it sticks straight up. 

It's because I'll miss Talen when he randomly runs or walks up to me saying my name sweetly, then giving me a big hug. He had such a big smile.

It's because I'll miss Tommy and all those times where I'd just sit and listen because all he wanted was for someone to listen to whatever he had to say. Sometimes it was about dinosaurs and paleantology, or Pokemon, Bakugon, or Yugio. It really could have been anything. He just needed to know he mattered. It's because I'll miss Danae and all those times that we've found something to just laugh about, or when we've talked and talked about all sorts of things. 

Yes, I guess I can say that I'll miss these silly kids. I hope life continues to treat them well and that they'll always remember that they are each a precious child of God with great potential.

Being a nanny, you should expect the following:

-getting bits of a variety of gooey, sticky, “boogery”, and strange things all over you is entirely inevitable (Hint: Never wear white, learn from the mistake of doing so.)
-you very well may get kicked, punched, scratched, and wrestled with multiple times throughout the day
-learn to love tissues, and especially wet wipes. Nothing else needs be said here.
-you WILL be defied more than once, get used to it
-remember you have the power and authority, they don't
-Dora the Explorer and Wonder Pets can save your life (at least for an hour or so)
-use your imagination- you'll need it!
-Don't worry about "doing yourself up", you'll be trashed by the end of the day anyway so it's not worth it, plus the kids don't care how you look, just as long as you're “holdable”- that's all that matters to them :)
-Hurray for 70+ sunscreen!
-Patience and Perseverance are KEY
-don't worry if there is a spill or some other related accident; it happens
-twins are both the best of friends and the ultimate worse enemies
-when sand is flung into your hair, face, and down your shirt, try not to freak out...
-it is quite possible to do 5 or more things at once; it just takes talent and practice ;)
-it IS nearly impossible to keep a young child clean for more than a couple hours, so don't fret over it too much
-new toys = new substance for arguments-be forgiving
-give yourself
-LOVE is the best you can offer :)

Favorite quote from the kids so far is from 5 yr-old Trevor who has said this twice with a VERY serious face: "You know, nannies are extra moms."

This is Kiersten! She's 2 and MORE than just a handful!

Kiersten and her 5 yr-old brother, Trevor! He can be pretty sweet in his moments!