Dylan Dreyer, meteorologist for NBC's "Today," recently shared her personal experience with a common challenge faced by working parents. On a recent episode of her podcast, "The Parent Chat," Dreyer recounted returning to work just three months after the birth of her eldest son, Calvin. Although her job allowed her to remain close to home, she noticed that Calvin developed a stronger attachment to his nanny than to her.
"I loved my nanny. She was with us from when Calvin was 3 months old," Dreyer explained. "But I remember when Calvin was a baby, so maybe, like, 4 or 5 months, and he would only want her." Given the flexibility of her work schedule, Dreyer admitted she was surprised by her son's behavior. "I was home a lot, you know," she said. "I work a schedule where I can be home by 11:00 in the morning. I was there to cook dinner, but he preferred her."
Dreyer's comments came during a conversation with celebrity nanny Connie Simpson, widely known as "Nanny Connie," who has cared for the children of Hollywood stars such as Emily Blunt and John Krasinski. Simpson advised Dreyer and other working parents to stop judging themselves when their children form close bonds with their nannies. "It would be really devastating if it were the opposite, if every time you walked through that door, they just wanted to latch onto you," Simpson said. "A village is a beautiful thing. You are not built to do this all alone. Don't judge yourself because your village is showing beauty somewhere else."
Co-Parenting After Separation
Dreyer shares three sons—Calvin, now 9, Ollie, 6, and Rusty, 4—with TV producer and cameraman Brian Fichera. The couple separated in July 2024 after approximately 12 years of marriage, and Dreyer formally filed for divorce in March 2025. In an Instagram post announcing the separation, Dreyer stated that she and Fichera "will continue to co-parent our three wonderful boys together with nothing but love and respect for one another."
In a November 2024 conversation with fellow "Today" co-host Jenna Bush Hager, Dreyer confirmed that she and Fichera planned to spend Thanksgiving together despite their separation. "I want [my sons'] dad in their life. They need that," she said. "They need both the dynamic of a mother and a father, and we're providing that to them in the best way possible."
Overcoming Guilt About Seeking Help
Elsewhere in her chat with Simpson, Dreyer admitted she was "hesitant" to publicly discuss the help she received as a mother, including hiring a nanny, because she feared judgment from other working parents who might not have similar support networks. "I felt guilty that I couldn't do it all myself, and I needed to require other people," she said. "But, I mean, that relationship is so important because it helps you build your village and gives you the time to give to yourself, too."
