December 2025 Community Partner Newsletter
As we approach the end of the year, December invites reflection. It’s a time to look back on growth, acknowledge challenges, and intentionally slow down where we can. I love the end of the month. New Year's is one of my favorite holidays for that reason. It’s a time to look back on growth, acknowledge challenges, and intentionally slow down where we can.
This year, Peace of Mind Nannies supported 93 families and 147 children across Rhode Island and Massachusetts! Through 332 jobs we showed up for after-school routines, date nights, milestone moments, and transitions both expected and unexpected. A Cape Cod parent of mine recently shared these powerful words with me, "My life has been transformed with my nanny's help! I feel like myself again." Thank you for trusting us with your children, your homes, and your peace of mind this year!
Unfortunately this end of the year also feels unsettling. I want to briefly acknowledge the recent shooting at Brown University. Having worked at Brown earlier in my career, the news was deeply disturbing. I live just 10 minutes from campus! Events like this can disrupt our sense of safety, especially in places we associate with learning and care. In moments like this, children often absorb more than we realize, making consistency, reassurance, and trusted caregivers even more important. Create a safe space for your child to ask questions and provide honest answers. "I don't know" is a valid answer too. Most importantly, take care of yourself during this uncertain time. My heart goes out to you and your dear family!
2025 Highlights & 2026 Updates
Highlights
As we close out the year, we’re taking time to reflect on what our 2025 impact looked like, and to share a few updates as we head into 2026.
18% growth in sales from last year. Thank you for trusting us!
A record 60+ nannies on our team this year, reflecting continued interest in professional, values-aligned caregiving work
294 babysitting jobs (23% increase from last year) filled by 29 vetted sitters supporting families across RI & MA
9 nannies secured temp and long-term nanny positions, matching caregivers with families seeking stability and continuity
3 families used our a la carte background check service, ensuring safety and peace of mind when families hire childcare independently
Attended 156 events, meetings and professional development workshops, strengthening relationships and staying informed across childcare, family support, and small business spaces
While I’m so happy to see the growth we had this year, numbers aren’t the entire story. Behind each of these numbers are real people - families navigating busy schedules, children building relationships with trusted caregivers, and nannies growing in confidence and experience.
This growth didn’t happen accidentally. It reflects a continued demand for flexible, high-quality care and our commitment to building systems that support both families and caregivers without compromising values or sustainability.
Updates
At Peace of Mind Nannies, we regularly review our services to make sure they reflect how families are truly using care. In 2023, after attending the Association of Premier Nanny Agencies conference, I decided to add a recurring babysitting subscription. I made this change because parents were seeking consistent date nights and/or after school care support.
Previously, we offered several long-term babysitting subscription options:
Monthly babysitting subscription
Quarterly subscription
Annual subscription
While these options were designed to offer flexibility throughout the year, what we’ve consistently seen is that most families use babysitting on a month-to-month basis, adjusting based on seasons, school schedules, and family needs. To better align with how families plan and use care, we’re simplifying our pricing model.
Moving forward, long-term babysitting will be offered as a flat $125 monthly subscription. This change offers flexibility without long-term commitment. Our goal is to make accessing care feel straightforward and supportive. If you have questions about whether this option is right for your family, we’re always happy to talk it through.
We'll be closed Mon 12/22–Fri 1/2 enjoying time with family.
Happy holidays, partners! Whether you celebrate Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, Yule, or simply the beauty of gathering with the people you love, we’re wishing you light, warmth, and peace this holiday season."
Knowledge Corner
Research in child development shows that children regulate emotions more effectively when their days include predictable transitions, especially during times of change like the holidays and winter break. When school routines disappear, children can feel disoriented, even when they’re excited about time off.
The goal isn’t a rigid schedule. It’s creating reliable cues that help children understand what comes next.
Here are a few simple strategies families can implement during winter break:
Use verbal previews/First-Then statements: “After lunch, we’re going to have quiet time, then we’ll play outside.” “First we’ll clean up, then we’ll put on pajamas.”
Create transition rituals: A song before cleanup, a short stretch before screen time, or a consistent phrase like “Let’s reset” or “Shake it off” if they’re needing physical movement
Anchor the day with one predictable activity: This could be a daily walk, reading together after breakfast, or a shared snack in the afternoon.
Keep the start & end consistent: Try to maintain similar morning and bedtime routines, even if the middle of the day is flexible.
These small, predictable moments help children move between activities with less resistance, often leading to calmer days for everyone.
If winter break feels overwhelming or you could use an extra set of hands to support routines, we’re here to help. Reach out to explore babysitting or short-term care options.
Family Fun
Choose one consistent question to ask each day during winter break to your child, such as:
“What was one thing that made you laugh today?”
“What’s something you noticed today that you hadn’t before?”
Why it works:
Takes less than five minutes
Supports emotional awareness
Allows connection without derailing busy schedules
This kind of micro-connection builds trust and predictability, even during this busy season.
Community Spotlight: Elder Companion Care Update
Over the past year, many families and community partners have shared a common experience: caring for children while also supporting aging parents. This reality, often referred to as the “sandwich generation” has been central to our exploration of whether Peace of Mind Nannies could responsibly expand into elder companion care.
Through our research, conversations with industry professionals, and regulatory review, we learned that Rhode Island’s licensing structure does not allow us to operate as a referral agency providing companion care or homemaking caregivers under our current model.
We are still actively exploring the feasibility of offering elder companion care in Massachusetts, where licensing pathways differ.
Even without formally offering elder companion care, we remain committed to:
Listening to families navigating care for aging parents
Sharing vetted resources and community connections where possible
Care work exists across the lifespan, and while our core focus remains childcare, we recognize how interconnected these needs truly are. Stay tuned to any updates on Massachusetts, and otherwise over the next year.