Who wouldn't want to spend the day messing about in the park with Brooklyn Beckham or Suri Cruise? Victoria Beckham and Katie Holmes make it look fun, stylish and easy. Maybe you fancy minding baby Cambridge for Kate and Wills, or you'd like the globetrotting experience that working for Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt could offer.
However, whilst we all daydream that being a nanny for a celebrity family sounds glamorous, how do we know that it is? Dynamite for for the CV - if you are ever allowed to mention it - the reality of caring for the offspring of the rich and famous might be somewhat different. To get the inside track on caring for the children of the rich and famous, the team at Care.com have put together these tips, inspired by people who have actually worked as celebrity nannies, drawing from their own experiences caring for stars such as Danny DeVito, the Kardashians and Sir Elton John.
Do You Enjoy Children?
No matter whom you nanny for, the goal is providing excellent care for the children. A celebrity family is no different, so the top priority is that you're an exceptional caregiver. One certainty of caregiving is that each and every child should be given loving, caring, respectful guidance, no matter who their parents are.
What about the pay?
Everyone knows that nannies in the UK are well paid, but just how well-paid are they really? This calculator shows you the going rates for childcare across the UK. Plug in Adele's postcode and you'll see that the Rolling in the Deep singer would pay £9 per hour for care near her Brighton home, while Katie Price would pay a rate of £9.50 near her Horsham home.
Are You Willing to Put Your Own Life on Hold?
Celebrity caregivers are often live-in nannies who work around the clock. The fact is, you may well be live in and even if you are not - you'll be there from dawn to dusk. Your time isn't really your own. As celebrity life is busy and a little overwhelming at times, be prepared to give up some of your personal time and freedom in order to meet your employers' wishes. Given these constraints, celebrity nannies can't plan their own personal lives too far in advance, and at way they can't be disappointed if they have to postpone time off.
Can You Maintain Confidentiality?
While you should respect any family's privacy, this is a particular concern with celebrities. It's vital that what you see and hear at work remains there. Furthermore, if the celebrity nanny happens to share something that gets out to the press, then they would quickly lose their job. Some people even believe that the real royal nanny to George has not been disclosed so as to prevent any breaches of confidentiality in her case. In many cases, celebrity nannies will be required to sign a non-disclosure agreement, and may not even be allowed to share with friends or family who your employers are. Potential celebrity nannies should seriously consider whether they can honour that policy. It's hard for all of us not to be able to talk to our girlfriends about a bad day.
Can You Set Personal Boundaries?
Families that are used to having everything outsourced - and at great expense - do expect a lot of you, usually not just child care. In these cases, it is important to have a nanny contract and to set boundaries. Issues to consider include the hours you're responsible for working and how days off will be handled during periods of travel. This is true for both celebrities and everyday families, and they will respect you more if you have boundaries.
Can You Be Spontaneous?
Not just spontaneous, but extremely flexible. Celebrities often have last-minute work commitments, and you and the children may be required to travel with them. Some trips are quick, but others might last months. The glamour of travel can fade quickly, and most of the time you will be given some advance notice, but occasionally there is very little notice, so it's important to be comfortable with spontaneity.
Are You Prepared for Any Situation?
Spur-of-the-moment plans also mean that you need to be prepared for anything. Have a passport on hand and a suitcase of clothes packed. Some important things to have lined up in advance for the children in your care are packing lists, medical release forms and travel release forms. Thinking ahead is good for any type of nanny, because all nannies must have the ability to jump in at any given time, in any given location and know that, you have what is needed on hand to deal smoothly and calmly with it.
Can You Handle the Public and Paparazzi?
Have you ever seen those photos of Madonna or Angelina Jolie trying to walk calmy through a scrum of photographers at an airport arrivals? Celebrity nannies need to be extra-careful. Thinks each situation through, and rapidly. If you are with the parents, you have to be hyper-vigilant about who is around you. Are the paparazzi in the area trying to take pictures? Do the parents want pictures with the children or not? If you are out with the children alone, in all likelihood, the paparazzi won't be interested in the children, but other people might. How will you handle that?
Do You Have Unique Talents?
Celebrities, like all parents, often look for nannies that are experienced and caring. But some may want caregivers who have a little something extra to offer. For example, Madonna's nanny Angela Jacobsen was fired because she didn't speak French. You'll be part of a glamour world and raising children in it -- your skills may need to reflect that above-and-beyond mentality.
Are You Comfortable Working Behind-the-Scenes?
Celebrity nannies are responsible for a lot of the child care, but it seems like most celebrity families take their children out in public. In the public eye, a celebrity nanny must be willing to make it look like the parents are the primary caregivers, even if the nanny really does most of the work. For example, you may be required to jump out of a shot before the press snaps a photo. For all families, there's a fine line between mother and nanny. The mother hires you to love and nurture their family, but you don't want to cross that line. It's important for the nanny to remember that the parents' wishes must always surpass your own, even if you don't agree.
Every nanny is responsible for providing kind, thorough and compassionate care for her charges, and should possess most of these qualities as well. For the celebrity nanny, however, they are particularly important, as there are added elements that can challenge a carer. You have to have a real love of children, because you will be tested. A celebrity nanny job can be testing.
However, if you're up for the challenge, working as a celebrity nanny can be a satisfying, fulfilling job that keeps you on your toes and provides once-in-a-lifetime experiences.