Over the years I have, as a young woman, been bombarded with images and messages that tell me to be "empowered", to make a career and a life for myself. I am 21 years old, and a college student completing my last year of undergraduate, and next year will be starting my masters. I guess I always assumed since I am going to college, I will someday have a career. To help pay for school expenses, I have taken on a full-time nanny position for three young children. At first it was just a job for me, and I made sure the kids were properly taken care of. But somewhere in these last two years, I have grown to really love these children...but where are their parents in this picture? Do they not realize that you can't put a lost tooth back in to pull it out again? I have been accidentally called "mom" more times than I can count, and when I hear it I feel warmth because I'm flattered, and disgust for their mother who is choosing 10.5 hour work days over her own children. I know it's not my place to judge her, but hello! Your kids are using your "name" interchangeably with hired help! Being a full-time nanny has changed my outlook on the kind of parent I want to be someday. Even though I'm nowhere near getting married and having babies, I already know that I will be at home with my children. I will hug them, I will kiss them, I will play with them, I will cook for them and teach them all of our family recipes. I will not let my children cry because Mommy is not there. I will not stand for my children calling someone else "mom", because that will be my career, my full-time job. Society is pushing for moms to go out and make a life for themselves...but if you want your own life, then why would you create another? Thank you for having many videos, letters, and blog posts that support my feelings on this, it's nice to know I'm not alone on this thought! Until then, I'll continue taking care of these children like they're my own...because someone has to. S.