#korukids

Roughly a year ago I found myself in a sort of financial no man's land. I was a second-year university student living in the most expensive city in the country, I was unemployed. I was in a fortunate enough position in that my parents could help me cover my loan’s shortfall on my rent, but I was still left without any disposable income. I applied for jobs, acquired a few temping positions but nothing that was A. sustainable alongside my studies and B. that my mental health didn’t clash with. This isn’t a pity party by any stretch of the imagination, I am aware that for many people not working because of ill-mental health isn’t an option. 

I was scouring Indeed when something jumped out at me; Nannying aimed at undergraduates. Throughout my childhood, my mother has worked in both a preschool and as a childminder, with such an insight I point blankly rejected childcare as a career from a young age. However, as I read through the company, ‘Koru Kids’ slick website, I realised that I may have found a position which matched up to what I was looking for. 

Koru Kids feels a little like Tinder for nannying. University students enter in a profile about themselves, what they study and their experience looking after children, and then Koru matches them with families which are geographically and socially best matched with them. Although terrified, I visited the family and met the children. Being renowned for being somewhat forgetful and very clumsy, I was convinced that I wasn’t ‘adult’ enough to be responsible for a living, breathing human. After some ongoing reassurance from my flatmate,  I began the process in August and began working for my family in September. I was a little reserved and totally unsure about myself; I even remember having nightmares about losing the kids in the park. But as time went on, I developed confidence in my abilities. My role involves picking the children up from school, helping them with their homework and then cooking them dinner. Most evenings, we finish these tasks before the parent’s get home so we have enough time to play board games. 

I can honestly say that this is the first part-time role I have worked in that doesn’t fill me with a sickening sense of dread knowing I have a looming shift. In fact, knowing that I have to spend an afternoon away from my studies, away from the glare of my laptop screen is somewhat inviting. Spending time with children re-introduced me as an adult to a different way of thinking; spending half an hour ranking dog breeds and being told why ‘How to Train Your Dragon’ is the best film ever made is a throwback to being 8. Although sometimes challenging, (mainly when my cooking fails and their disappointment is loudly declared), I stand by this being the perfect student job. 

Koru Kids - 

https://www.korukids.co.uk/

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