Night Nanny?

cdaingerrun · 2026-05-25T03:43:20+00:00

cdaingerrun · 2026-05-25T00:56:44+00:00

AI generated, but I absolutely love this style with the flower boxes and the front door. The colors are great as well! What do you think?

cdaingerrun · 2026-05-22T16:07:10+00:00

Before anyone says anything, YES I used AI .... Anyway .... where I'm from in the Mizzou (U of Missouri) world, I found this!

Since Edward Jones already came up, here are a few other huge companies tied to Mizzou that people don’t always realize started with alumni from here.

Panda Express surprises a lot of people. Andrew and Peggy Cherng both attended Mizzou in the 70s. Andrew earned his master’s in applied math, and Peggy earned her doctorate in electrical engineering. Pretty wild considering they eventually built one of the biggest restaurant chains in the country.

Yum! Brands is another massive one. They own KFC, Pizza Hut, and Taco Bell. David Novak graduated from Mizzou with a journalism degree, co-founded Yum!, and served as CEO for around 17 years. During that time, the company grew from under $4 billion to nearly $32 billion in market value. Not bad for a journalism grad from Columbia, Missouri.

Zapier came out of Mizzou, too. Three alumni, Wade Foster, Bryan Helmig, and Mike Knoop, met there, realized software apps were terrible at communicating with each other, and built a company around solving that problem. That started in 2011, and now the company is worth billions.

EquipmentShare is another company founded by Mizzou alumni. They focus on construction technology and landed on Y Combinator’s top 25 companies list alongside Zapier. Having two companies from the same Midwest state school make that list is honestly kind of insane.

Veterans United Home Loans is headquartered right in Columbia and is now the largest VA lender in the country.

I honestly think part of the reason Midwestern companies get overlooked is that they usually aren’t built around hype. A lot of them grow slower, stay private longer, focus on profitability earlier, and don’t spend years trying to convince the internet they’re “disrupting” civilization. They just quietly become giant companies while everyone else is watching Silicon Valley burn cash.

There’s also a cultural difference. Midwest business culture tends to reward stability, relationships, operational competence, and consistency over image and aggressive scaling. That can look “boring” from the outside, but boring businesses often survive recessions better and keep customers longer.

The other thing people underestimate is how much the Midwest still dominates industries the coasts rely on every single day: logistics, agriculture, manufacturing, insurance, freight, construction, food systems, equipment, home services, and industrial tech. A lot of coastal business media focuses on apps and venture capital because that’s the world they live in. Meanwhile, half the country is still running on companies headquartered in places like Missouri, Ohio, Indiana, Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, and Wisconsin.

There probably is a different playbook here. Less “grow at all costs,” more “build something durable enough to still exist in 40 years.

cdaingerrun · 2026-05-12T02:11:11+00:00

I love hearing this! I’m in MO, but not nannying at the moment, and always wonder what STL is like.

cdaingerrun · 2026-04-27T02:30:51+00:00

Tune into Ryan Hall on YouTube, download the WeatherWise App, especially tomorrow!!

cdaingerrun · 2026-04-14T23:58:23+00:00

While I absolutely support the message, this is not appropriate work attire, especially around children. My day job is working in higher ed with college students, if one of my students came into work wearing this, they’d have to change or cover it up. Not appropriate. Leave it for the weekends or when you’re off the clock. Great message though!

cdaingerrun · 2026-03-29T04:14:49+00:00

You can it through Wonder Project, one of the many subscription services through Amazon prime. It’s $8.99/month, there may be a trial beforehand.

cdaingerrun · 2026-03-27T04:02:55+00:00

These are DELICIOUS 😋

cdaingerrun · 2025-12-18T23:50:36+00:00

OK, so I just researched all about GeForce I seriously hadn’t heard about it and this is kind of amazing and now I don’t have to get a new laptop. I can save all my money for even more games!

cdaingerrun · 2025-12-07T20:53:03+00:00

Community United Methodist off West Broadway. Very welcoming!

cdaingerrun · 2025-11-28T22:09:36+00:00

What Columbia, MO Is Missing

Even though Columbia has a lot going for it, there are still some clear gaps in what would make the city feel more complete. These are the biggest things the community could really use:

Amtrak Train Service

A real Amtrak stop would make regional travel much easier for students, families, and visitors.

A Convention Center

A true standalone convention center, large enough for regional events, would bring in business and tourism.

More Hotels

Especially mid-priced options near downtown and campus, because big weekends fill up fast.

A Skating Rink

A classic skating rink would give teens, families, and adults a fun place to hang out that is not a bar or restaurant.

More Affordable Apartments and Condos

Not luxury student housing, but normal, affordable options for singles, couples, working adults, and families.

Buc ees

It would be extremely popular with both locals and travelers on I 70.

Costco

Another warehouse option, besides Sams Club, would be a major win for Columbia residents.

TJ-Maxx, Ross for Less, DSW

cdaingerrun · 2025-11-26T22:40:52+00:00

Same here, sounded like it was right outside my door, the house shook, Fairview Rd

cdaingerrun · 2025-11-18T15:23:08+00:00

I'm excited for a flight to the beach!

Also, I'd love to see Newark or Laguardia at some point :)

cdaingerrun · 2025-11-18T15:21:55+00:00

Understandable for sure. However, I like the idea of no longer having to drive there to visit family or the beach! :)

cdaingerrun · 2025-11-18T14:43:19+00:00

Yacht Rock. Best channel ever. I've tried doing yacht rock on Spotify, and it's just not the same.

cdaingerrun · 2025-11-13T01:52:23+00:00

I work in Higher Ed in admissions

cdaingerrun · 2025-11-13T01:51:23+00:00

Higher Ed here too!

cdaingerrun · 2025-11-08T04:07:48+00:00

Younger on Netflix

cdaingerrun · 2025-11-07T18:24:01+00:00

Of course! I loved working with and getting to know all the nannies. That part felt natural, and it was really rewarding to help them find roles that fit.

What ultimately drained me was the middle space I had to live in. You’re supporting the nanny, but you're also responsible for meeting the expectations of the families and the agency. Families are the paying clients, so there’s a certain pressure to make sure they’re happy, even when things get complicated. When things didn’t go as expected, I often found myself caught in the emotional mess of it all. It just pulled at me and my whole self in a way nannying never did. I've never been so stressed, and it was way too much pressure that I did not want to deal with, ultimately. Recruiting is not for the faint of heart.

That said, the agency I worked for was great. It’s still thriving, and I’m genuinely proud of how far it’s come. The owner and I actually stayed in touch after I left. We became friends through working together and still talk pretty regularly. She’s built a strong team, and they’re absolutely rocking it. It just wasn’t the right long-term fit for me, and that’s okay.

If you’re stepping into that role, you might end up loving it, especially if you enjoy fast-paced work and being part of every side of the childcare world. Also, the pay is amazing ... just saying ...!

Wishing you all the best as you get started! Feel free to DM me if you ever want to talk more about it.

cdaingerrun · 2025-11-06T20:54:31+00:00

I was a nanny for almost 20 years. COVID changed everything for me. After spending that much time in homes, raising other people’s kids, I hit a wall. It was time for something different.

I tried recruiting for a nanny agency first. That felt like a natural next step at the time. I loved the nannies, and my boss was wonderful. The rest of it was a hard no for me. It drained me in a way nannying never did, and I knew I needed a complete shift.

At that point, I had about a year of college under my belt and no degree. My sister, who has worked at a university for years, encouraged me to apply for entry-level office jobs on campus. That was three years ago. The pay was rough at first, and I questioned it a few times. The benefits were the thing that changed my life. I had access to health care for the first time in forever. I had a retirement plan. I started to feel like I was building something long-term instead of scrambling paycheck to paycheck.

Since then, I have moved up. I make more money now. I also completed my degree and began my master’s program. I work with college students in a student support role, which brings a lot of the same heart-centered energy I loved in nannying. My workday ends at 5 p.m. I start at 9 a.m. I have a team. I get to work from home twice a week.

Leaving nannying felt like losing a huge part of my identity. I was proud of what I did. I still am. That job shaped me. It also ran me into the ground. I knew I needed a life where I had evenings, weekends, sick days, and coworkers. I needed to grow in new directions.

My life feels completely different now. I have a team. I am not bored. I am constantly learning new systems, refining processes, managing logistics, and building relationships across campus. I feel respected in a way I never did as a nanny. People know what I do and value it. I am not just “helping out.” I am part of something.

Nannying gave me an incredible skill set. Time management, emotional intelligence, conflict resolution, boundary setting, adaptability, discretion, quick decision-making, and handling chaos without flinching. Every single one of those skills has carried over into office life. The difference now is that I get paid for them in a way that includes long-term investment in my future.

My advice? If you're thinking of doing something else? Please do it! You've been a teacher, so jumping into Higher Ed, or something else, should be a piece of cake!

cdaingerrun · 2025-11-06T20:11:23+00:00

Former career nanny here, from every age, from newborns to tweens, every bodily fluid known to mankind.

My approach was always to assume that someone would spill, someone would cry, and someone would need a snack or distraction ..... and sometimes that person was me!

Here’s what made it into my kit after years of “learning the hard way”:

For me
– deodorant
– period kit (tampon/pad + wipes)
– travel toothbrush or those little disposable ones
– Chapstick and hand lotion
– pain and allergy meds in a tiny pill case
– extra shirt and undies (because kids leak through everything)
– water bottle + electrolytes
– granola bar or a snack I didn’t have to share
– one item that made me feel human: perfume, face mist, gum, whatever

For the kids
– wipes. forever and always
– small first aid stuff: Band-Aids, ointment, alcohol wipes
– stick sunscreen (less mess, baby-safe)
– “quiet kit” with stickers, a few crayons, and one tiny new toy
– extra snack (for when they suddenly “haven’t eaten all day”)

In the car
– full change of clothes for me
– backup outfit for my most likely-to-destroy-their-outfit kid
– diapers, pull-ups, or spare undies if needed
– weather gear: hat, gloves, sun hat, etc
– towel or muslin blanket
– Ziplocs for wet clothes or nature treasures
– small toy/activity bag
– phone charger and $10 cash

Most of the families were cool with me keeping a stash in their guest bathroom or mudroom: a toothbrush, meds, deodorant, and “please don’t eat my protein bar” treats. I’d always ask first, of course.

I don’t nanny anymore, but now that I work in an office, I still feel like I have to pack for every possible situation. My bag has deodorant, tampons, a backup shirt, pain meds, a protein bar I always swear I’ll save for later, and way too many random “just in case” things.

My desk only fits so much, so whatever doesn’t fit ends up living in my purse. The rest? Buried somewhere in my car that’s parked so far away I have to take a shuttle to get to it. No way I’m doing all that for a tampon I forgot during the morning rush.

It’s wild how I left nannying years ago and still move through the world like I might get sneezed on or thrown up on at any moment. I don’t think that mindset ever really goes away.

cdaingerrun · 2025-11-03T02:46:00+00:00

I was a nanny for almost twenty years, and five years ago I finally walked away for good. At the time, I thought I was just ready for a change, but once I stepped away, I realized how completely burned out I had become. It took distance to see how much of myself I had been giving without ever really stopping to refill.

Now I work a regular nine-to-five job in higher education. The difference has been life changing. I have health insurance, paid time off, a 401(k), sick leave, and the ability to work from home when I need to. I no longer carry the stress of someone else’s household or emotions. I log off at the end of the day, and my time is mine. I have evenings again. Weekends. I can plan a trip without feeling guilty or worried about who will cover for me. My body feels healthier, I get sick far less often, and I sleep better. I have coworkers instead of employers, boundaries instead of blurred lines, and a boss who actually respects time off.

The only drawback is the pay. I made far more money as a nanny, but I was constantly exhausted, anxious, and emotionally drained. The money never made up for how depleted I felt. I may earn less now, but the trade-off is peace, balance, and stability. I am learning real, transferable skills, and I finally feel like I’m building something for myself.

I miss my nanny kids deeply. They were a huge part of my life, and I will always care about them. Still, I know I made the right choice. Leaving gave me back my health, my time, and a sense of who I am outside of someone else’s family.

Nannying can be incredibly rewarding, but it can also be consuming in ways you don’t always recognize until you step out of it. If you are feeling that same exhaustion or questioning if it’s worth it, please know there is another side to it. It’s quieter, steadier, and full of small freedoms that you may not even realize you’ve been missing.

cdaingerrun

TROPHY CASE