I just added “Caregiver” to my LinkedIn work experience …
. . . and I felt weird about it. Here’s why I did it anyway:
In the fall of 2024, a family member asked if I’d consider doing her a BIG favor.
Her husband had been accepted into a clinical trial at NIH. The treatment meant relocating for 100 days—and needing an extra pair of hands. Immediately, I knew my answer was yes.
At the time, I was working part-time, volunteering, and deeply connected to my community. But more importantly, I was connected to myself—and to my values. Saying “happy to help” isn’t something I just say behind a bar or on Zoom. Service is how I show up.
So I gave notice, packed up my car, and moved to Maryland.
The 100 days that followed were transformative. My responsibilities included:
• Reinstating COVID safety protocols to protect an immunocompromised patient
• Cooking for a family of four
• Nannying and tutoring a neurodivergent child through virtual first grade
• Managing a household through medical trauma
• Practicing self-care to stay resilient and present
And perhaps hardest of all—holding emotional space for a family in survival mode while safeguarding their privacy.
I could leave 90% of what happened on the metaphorical cutting room floor and 1 in 5 Americans would still fill in the blanks. Caregiving is a common, complex role—and it’s vastly under-acknowledged in professional spaces.
So why did I feel weird about adding it?
Because we’re told work and life should stay separate. That caregiving “doesn’t count.” And because I did it for family, not for money or credit.
But I know better than to believe caregiving doesn't count, and I know better than to leave the gap. I saw a cancer patient come back to life—literally. I walked alongside a child in one of the most formative seasons of their life. I learned about graph vs host and about the 2 dozen drugs a survivor takes in a day. And through it all, I remained someone my family could count on.
💼 I’m re-entering the workforce now—looking for values-aligned roles in development, marketing, writing, strategy, or service-driven organizations.
And I’m proud to say: being of service isn’t a detour from my professional path. It is my professional path.
Happy to help. Always.
Being a nanny comes with many blessings and challenges. Learning to spot the differences between these beanie baby cats was both.
