Q: What are some myths that many people typically associate with nannies who work for the rich and famous?

A: One misconception is that when a nanny travels with a family on vacation, she is also on vacation—not true! Vacations often mean longer hours with no overtime.  Another typical myth is that nannies who work for the ultra-wealthy are paid ultra-high salaries. Unfortunately, there are many celebrity dog walkers whose annual income is higher than most Hollywood nannies!  An additional fallacy is that you are treated like part of the family because you are living inside the home with the family.

Q: What is the most over-the-top incident you recall from your time spent nannying?

A: There are so many, but one funny encounter I had was at a private party at a Malibu estate, in 100-degree weather.  I spotted Sylvester Stallone with an entourage of bodyguards in full dark suits, looking like they might faint from heat exhaustion. I could never figure out who he was protecting himself from at a gathering of studio executives and film stars.

Q: While nannying often means long hours, little pay, and even less recognition, what were some of the perks you received while nannying in Hollywood?

A: Many times I thought to myself how there was more money spent just today than most people earn in five years. Some of the fun benefits were traveling by limo, seeing the inside of many celebrity homes, personal escorts and private waiting areas at the airport, and staying at exclusive resorts with a personal butler, maid, and chef. Some additional perks included flying on studio jets, hanging out on movie sets, having a chance to be an extra in a movie, and spending the majority of my workday at Paramount Studios. I also recall Wolfgang Puck personally catering a dinner party.

Q: When celebrity moms say they “do it all” are they really the super-moms the media portrays them to be? Can you give any examples of those famous moms who claim they do it all?

A: They really do “do it all,” just not all by themselves.  They have a stylist and personal shopper to buy their clothes, coordinate their outfits, and pick up their dry cleaning; a business manager to make bank deposits, balance the checkbooks, and pay bills; a chef to buy groceries, prepare meals, clean the kitchen, and make the kids' lunches; a housekeeper (or two or three) to clean and do laundry; and a personal assistant to do everything else.

I have seen many actresses claim they don’t use nannies or have any live-in help while simultaneously explaining that they have their children with them on location. I assure you someone is looking after the children while the superstar mom is working 10 to 12 hour days. Because when the director yells “quiet on the set,” I don’t know a toddler who has ever followed those instructions.  Often during interviews, stars will share that they drive the carpool or have nightly dinners with their families, "just like the rest of America." They just don’t mention the staff that makes this possible.

Q: How does this myth of the do-it-all Hollywood mom affect the average mom’s confidence?

A: It would be easy for a soccer mom to feel terribly inadequate if she measured herself against all that a picture-perfect star accomplishes. But what these hard-working moms should know is that they too could look flawless at work if they had a small army of employees to run their household.

Q: What are your views about children who are raised materially instead of maternally?

A: All children want (and need) their parents' time and attention.  Even though these children have flown around the world, been on exotic vacations, and are waited on by a staff, what they really desire is individual attention from their parents. I have never seen an expensive toy or extravagant birthday party ever replace a child’s daily longing for parental involvement.