Perspectives: born in the U.S. v. born south of the border

Both Geralda and Carolina bring age and experience to the child caregiver position. Acting as advisers or maybe more like friendly helpful aunties, both women in their sixties counsel other Latina women. They have the same perspective, yet Carolina was born and raised in California, while Geralda hails from Central America. Carolina’s parents were Mexicans living and working in the Imperial Valley. Her native tongue is English, but she learned Spanish in order to connect with other immigrant nannies in the park. First and foremost she asks her employer to respect her. A former aerospace industry employee, she lets her employer know she does not work for the money. Carolina suffered injury on the job and now receives disability. Rather than sit and home, watch tv, and collect her money, she wants to work. She asks that the employers respect her and not treat her like a nanny. She actually prefers to be “treated like family.” Carolina looked on the internet and found this nanny position on Craig’s List.

Her job history prepared her well to negotiate up front for the same kinds of benefits she received at her aerospace job. As a result, she gets a salary, not an hourly wage, paid sick days, and paid vacation when it is convenient for her, a distinct departure from most who only get vacation when their employers leave town. Carolina’s employer also pays taxes and Social Security. Carolina displays candor and confidence in negotiating. The mother had a new baby and revealed that she wanted to quit her job and stay home. “I said, ‘Go ahead. I don’t need this job. I just do it ‘cause I want to.’” The mother reconsidered because she gets better insurance benefits than her husband.

Most importantly, nannies need back-up, Carolina advises. She lives alone and sets a fine example of self-sufficiency and planning for the future with other income, retirement, and disability pay.

In contrast, Geralda, 58 years old, was born a twin and raised by her grandmother in a rural Central American village. Another nanny moaned about her employer, a teacher, who did not want to pay for childcare over the summer. Geralda sympathized and encouraged her to ask for help with paying taxes. "It’s important when you try to get your papers. Shows you are contributing to this country even though you are undocumented. Pay taxes for your own records and history, not for the employer’s benefit. It’s about respect for yourself and for this country. And you need something for the future."