By Laura R. Schroeder
INA President
It was early 2012, and I had been working with a family for just over a year when my mom was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer. As my father had already passed away, I moved my mom into my own home with hospice and went to my employers and gave notice, explaining that I needed to care for my mother in whatever time she had left. My incredible family asked if I would wait a few days, and they came back to me with a counter offer. Would I be willing to work just one day a week, while still collecting my full weekly salary, for however long that took? My mom boss, an RN, had switched her five-day M-F schedule to a three-day weekend with a one-weekday schedule. This was a sacrifice she was willing to make for me even though it meant that they wouldn’t have any weekend family time. I tearfully agreed. I tended to my mom, and after her funeral four months later, we switched back to the old schedule. I was so grateful to spend those months caring for my mom and to still draw my salary even though I only did 20% of the work. It was a blessing I will never forget, and even though eight years later I have moved on to a new family, I remain close with these incredible people. Last month while I was recuperating from COVID-19, all 3 girls from that family sent me homemade cards. I am blessed to call this family part of my family, and couldn’t feel more appreciative of this kind deed.
Laura R. Schroeder – (Charleston, SC) Laura has been working with children for more than 30 years. She is a mom to 3 grown children, two of whom are autistic. After completing her degree in developmental psychology and while working as a social worker, life took her in a different direction. She operated a successful licensed family daycare for 6 years in NJ, while also becoming trained as an ABA therapist. When her children grew older she shifted to nanny care. Laura has been credentialed by the International Nanny Association, is certified in Connection Centered Discipline, and is a Positive Discipline Parent Educator. She has also taken Newborn Care Specialist Training. Laura founded the popular Charleston Area Nanny Network in 2014 and is very active in the nanny community in her area. She was thrilled to be named a nominee for the 2017 INA Nanny of the Year. Laura has been happily married for over 30 years and loves living near the beach in beautiful Charleston, SC. Laura has been a member of the INA since 2015, joined the Board in 2017 and has been on the Executive Board the last year. Please see the Committee Appointments list for a list of committees for which Laura is the chair.
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