Wanted: Toddler's Personal Assistant: How Nannying for the 1% Taught Me about the Myths of Equality, Motherhood, and Upward Mobility in America
August 05, 2024
Saddled with crushing student debt, Steph Kiser jumps head-first into the lucrative but unglamorous and exhausting world of nannying for New York City's richest families, immersing herself in a world in stark contrast to her own impoverished childhood, in this emotional and insightful new memoir.
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When Stephanie Kiser moves to New York City after college to pursue a career in writing, she quickly learns that her entry-level salary won't cover the high cost of living—never mind her crushing student loan debt. But there is one in-demand job that pays more than enough to allow Stephanie to stay in the city: nannying for the 1%. Desperate to escape the poverty of her own childhood, Stephanie falls into a job that hijacks her life for the next seven years: a glorified personal assistant to toddlers on Manhattan's Upper East Side.
At first, nannying seems like the perfect solution—the high pay covers Stephanie's bills, and she's surprised by how attached she becomes to the kids she cares for, even as she gasps over Prada baby onesies and preschools that cost more than her college tuition. But the grueling twelve-hour days leave her little time to see her friends, date, or pursue any creative projects that might lead to a more prestigious career. The allure of the seemingly-glamorous job begins to dull as Stephanie comes to understand more about what really happens behind the closed doors of million-dollar Park Avenue apartments--and that money doesn't guarantee happiness. Soon she will have to decide whether to stay with the children she's grown to love, or if there's something better out there just beyond her reach.
Wanted: Toddler's Personal Assistant is alternately poignant and funny, a portrait of a generation of Americans struggling to find work they love balanced against the headwinds of global uncertainty and an economy stacked against anyone trying to work their way up from the bottom. It's a provocative story of class, caregiving, friendship, and family—and a juicy, voyeuristic peek behind the curtain of obscene wealth and the privilege and opportunity that comes with it.
About the Author
STEPHANIE KISER is an author from Providence, Rhode Island. After studying Writing for Film & Television at Emerson College, she moved to New York City. She currently resides in Astoria, New York with her Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Burger.
The books for this giveaway are being provided by Sourcebooks. We have 20 copies available. The giveaway will end on August 12th.
