Mehdi Leclercq has been practicing the profession of his dreams for several years: maternal assistant. A profession of passion and patience, which still responds to many stereotypes. Yet it is alongside adorable colleagues in short panties that he flourishes today. Here is Mr Nounou’s journey!
Firefighter, policewoman, archaeologist or even a works supervisor, are professions that are too rarely heard in women. But these are not the only professions which still respond to a multitude of stereotypes today, midwives, maternal assistants or beauticians are also professions that are still too little widespread for men.
Because nothing should prevent a child from dreaming and doing everything to exercise the profession of his dreams, we have collected inspiring, exciting and edifying testimonies. Proof that: yes, whether you are a girl or a boy you can become whatever you want!
Mehdi Leclercq is one of those people who work in stereotypical professions. Since 2014, Mehdi has become Mr Nounou and shares every day, on Facebook his daily life as a mother’s assistant. When he was a child, nothing destined Mehdi to choose this path. “I think I imagined dozens of things like any child and at the same time, nothing very original. I went through different phases: “policeman”, “fireman” or even “president of the world”. ”
But in some situations, life takes us to practice and thrive in an unexpected job category. This is particularly the case for Mehdi, in 2013, he became a father for the second time to little Antoine, and while he was looking for a means of childcare, the click appeared.
“We asked ourselves the question of his type of care, then parental leave which was not yet what it has since become and … I took it! From reflections to troubleshooting friends, become officially assmat, make me agree and organize my day as I wished with “colleagues in short pants” who would not judge me because I take a chocolate toast for my snack, me looked attractive. ”
It was then that Mr. Nounou’s adventure began and it was obvious for Mehdi as for his family. When you want to leave your previous life to embark on a whole new professional activity, it is important to be supported. For that Mehdi could count on his wife, his family and his close friends.
The start of a great adventure
After completing and sending a multitude of documents and redoing all of his vaccines, Mehdi began the first hours of training. In total 68, “8 hours in first aid and the rest in a classroom-style center and that’s only the first part”.
It was for Mr Nanny, a rather stressful stage before becoming assmat, it is organized a visit of a nursery nurse. “She comes to see if we are likely to offer a good environment, good logistics and what exactly are our motivations. It can last a long time before having his visit and his judgment but it takes what it takes ”.
Following this visit, the candidate can start the second part of the training, this time it is necessary to accumulate 40 hours of training to obtain his diploma. And finally, to renew your accreditation you have to pass the early childhood CAP tests.
It is a long period, during which the waiting is strongly present but which makes it possible to really discover its way. “It’s complicated and we feel that the PMI sometimes lacks resources and people. But this training, which may seem short, really pleased me a lot and allowed me to understand that everything was not going to be rosy or that it should not be done because it would be very cool to be there. house with our children in addition, no. It really allows you to make up your mind and we deserve a more regular booster shot ”
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A multifaceted profession
For almost 7 years, Mehdi has been doing a job that fascinates him and aims to help children grow up. “I am here to provide a family and safe environment for children, to allow them to develop in the best possible conditions while being” on the cool “. And as I can only accommodate a very limited number, I am all for them. I try to offer a sufficient number of activities and quiet times or outings and above all, I make sure that the parents are reassured. ”
Being a kindergarten assistant is a job that requires organization, a task that Mr. Nounou really likes. It is also a job that leads to many meetings, parents and children, each with a different character.
“I’m starting to have behind me a lot of toddlers with very different characters … What I also like is the difficulty that each brings … It is sometimes a tiring moment but when you get there , we are happy, we have the feeling of accomplished work, as for a child who takes a long time to feel safe or who is anxious in certain situations. ”
However, childminders can sometimes prove to be an unstable environment.
“We start on contracts that we know will only last 2, 3 years most of the time. It allows meetings and it avoids becoming plan-plan but it also creates anxiety, just like the extreme ease with which one can be fired for x or y reason. ”
Many families also find it difficult to assimilate the fact that a nanny also has schedules, a point that can often prove to be a hassle for the professional.
“Some parents still believe in the myth of there or the nanny having fun and not riding on schedules because after all, she or he is at home so it doesn’t matter … and well if Ladies and Gentlemen! When we say “8am” and the parent arrives at 7:40 or 8:20 am without warning, it’s not great … Have you ever tried to force the supermarket barrier 20 minutes before opening? Chances are, a big arm will push you away. ”
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“To impose even more!”
Starting a job that still meets many stereotypes today can sometimes turn out to be a bit complicated at first.
“When you are a man in this environment, you have to show your paws, impose yourself even more. Today I have a few more calls because I am starting to have experience and have a presence on social networks, but for a long time it was quite complicated. Still others, in everyday life, seriously thought that I laughed at them when I said that I was a childminder. Or there is sometimes a “downtime” in the gaze, information that clearly has trouble getting to the brain. Then there are also the “overly” enthusiastic reactions, as if it was definitely great and militant but … there is none of that, I just wanted to do that at one point and I don’t regret anything. ”
Despite everything, Mehdi does not regret his professional reconversion and thrives day after day surrounded by children.
“There are always things that we would change but these are details. It is a rewarding job on a human level. Not at all recognized, we hardly make a fortune there, but rewarding. I have the impression of being useful for something, of having my place there while having been a little more present for my own children too. I would do it again without a problem, maybe even sooner! ”, he concluded.