February 4, 2013 – 6:00 am
Some people will do everything humanly possible to avoid confrontation. With your personal relationships, this is arguably a good characteristic to have, however as an employer, it is your job to put these feelings in your back pocket and deal with various issues as they come up.
It can be hard when you have a nanny working in your home and some parts of her behavior are getting under your skin. I don’t mean the minor things (ex. How she loads the dishwasher or that she dresses your child in his blue coat when you prefer the red one). I’m talking about more serious issues that make you question her professionalism – punctuality, sick days, being grumpy when she arrives, not doing things when asked, talking on her phone etc. As an employer, it is your responsibility to sit her down and have a chat about these issues AS THEY HAPPEN. Sweeping these issues under the rug does nothing at all to improve the
January 28, 2013 – 6:00 am
Having children with a large age gap has its pluses and its minuses. Mercer Mayer writes her Little Critter books with titles such as Just Me and My Little Brother and The New Baby that appeals to the toddlers but what about the older kids? Being a child with a sibling 9 years older was dandy for me; someone to learn from, pester and look up to. Perhaps he did not always feel the same growing up; forced to no longer be in the lime light, be an instant baby sitter and have a tag-a-long – oh-what-a-drag! I see my friend’s 10 year old son struggling with the perils of having a baby sister. No longer is he their ‘centre of the universe’ and much to his dismay, mom has to tote along the baby to soccer
September 27, 2012 – 6:00 am
Article by: Linda Shoreland for OurKids.net, Canada’s trusted source for camps and schools.
Having just returned from a weekend with my in-laws, nutrition is at the forefront of my mind. I love my mother-in-law, but sometimes her idea of providing kid-friendly meals for my son is stocking her freezer and pantry with microwave pizza, boxed macaroni and cheese, frozen chicken nuggets, hot dogs, and sugary fruit drinks. Sure, those might be toddler dietary staples in some households, but not in mine. I try my very best to explain to her that our son eats what we eat. We expose him to a wide variety of foods to ensure he has a balanced, healthy diet. I have made a very concerted effort from the time he began eating solids, to offer a wide array of foods. If he goes through phases of food rejection, so be it, but I didn’t want to be responsible for him having a picky palette.
By mkelsey
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Posted in Family Friendly, Parenting Solutions, Super Nanny, Tips for Nannies
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Also tagged Babysitters, Cafe, Crafts, Family Friendly, Nannies, Nanny, Parents, Snacks
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August 27, 2012 – 6:00 am
As soon as my son, Hunter, was able to walk he began imitating me doing chores. If I was sweeping he would cry and cry until it was his turn to use the broom.
I soon realised that I could shorten the handle on the Swiffer sweeper so it was just the right size for him and he would follow me with the Swiffer until the floors
were sparkling!! After our sweeping routine was strongly established we moved onto other chores. He will stand beside the dishwasher and hand the dishes
to me to put away (after I have removed all sharp knives). He happily climbs onto a chair beside me at the kitchen sink and washes dishes. Although my friend pointed out that once they become good at dish washing they are no longer are interested!
August 13, 2012 – 6:00 am
With summer well and truly upon us it is vital you teach your child the importance of sun protection. Even when the clouds are out, UVA and UVB rays are still causing damage to your little ones delicate skin.
So slip on a shirt, slop on some sunscreen and slap on a hat! Make it fun by showing your child this videos featuring ‘Sid the Seagull’. If the video does not delight, I am sure that the jingle will certainly strike a chord! Growing up in Australia I was very familiar with the ‘slip, slop, slap’ catch cry and can vividly remember singing along to ‘Sid’, as he danced across the TV screen. It is certainly an effective way to broadcast the dangers of sun exposure, I still remember it some 20 years later!
By Maya Hammer
Having a baby is hard on relationships! Even happy and functional relationships become strained after the baby arrives, or after the arrival of a second or third child. There is less time for each of you as individuals and for you as a couple. Your relationship becomes transactional as you negotiate responsibilities with very little sleep. Here are some quick tips for maintaining a healthy relationship:
Communicate Openly: Be honest with your partner/spouse about how you are feeling so that you avoid build up of anger and resentment. Some moms report the need for empathy and emotional support, while others require more practical support such as breaks from the kids and help with laundry, cooking, or cleaning. Be specific about the type of help that you need. Seasoned moms Stacie Cockrell, Cathy O’Neill, and Julia Stone shed light on some of the communication challenges new and experienced parents may face in their insightful and humourous book Babyproofing Your Marriage.
Everywhere you look these days, mommies are running. Maybe it’s the sense of belonging to the running “club” when you pass another mommy on the street with her jogging stroller. Or maybe it’s the phenomenal 400-600 calories per hour that running burns.
Want to get started? It’s not as hard as you think.
Whether you’re a nanny or a parent, you’re bound to run into struggles when trying to get children to help with the chores. There’s no doubt that teaching children to help with the chores expands their skills and abilities and gives them a sense of responsibility. However, it may take some work to get the children motivated to start the chores and keep at them until they are finished.
By mkelsey
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Posted in Family Friendly, Tips for Nannies
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Also tagged Babysitters, Family Friendly, Nannies, Nanny, On call nannies, On call nanny, Parents, Schedules, Supper Nanny, Tips for nannies
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It never fails. Right in the middle of your weekly grocery shopping trip, your toddler decides to throw the biggest temper tantrum of the century…and you’re almost done. Or, you’re at a friend’s house for their annual barbeque and your child decides that they aren’t going to behave unless you give them the volleyball that is being used for the backyard volleyball tournament that all of the adults at the party are playing. How do you keep your sanity and your child in check?
It was mother’s day this past weekend. It’s a day to celebrate you as a mother, but do you know who that is? Many women don’t immediately feel like a mother once their child is born, and instead gradually learn to see themselves in ways that fit with the identity of “mother.” In the meantime, the self she has previously known herself to be feels completely out of reach as her daily activities, capabilities and expectations have shifted so dramatically.