Having both had our children in our later thirties, my friend Liza and I would often talk about the ups and downs of being older, full-time moms. “Sometimes I get frustrated when younger moms and au pairs at the playground assume I am either the grandmother or babysitter,” she said one day. “I want a shirt that says, ‘Not the Nanny’!”  So, as a gag, I went on Zazzle.com and created one.
 
Although I sold a few of the shirts, I never actually wore mine in public. This was back in 2006, during a flare up in the so-called Mommy Wars that pit mothers who are full-time caregivers and those who are working professionals. I was cautioned that it might be seen as derogatory to both working moms and nannies alike. I didn’t want to start any playground fights!