Saying Farewell

As they sang in The Sound of Music:
"So long, farewell, auf Wiedersehen, adieu. Adieu, adieu, to yieu and yieu and yieu."

A few days ago I learned that, after a year and a half, the family I have been sitting for no longer needs me due to a change in work schedules. They will keep me on their call list in case they need me on occasion, but I will no longer be sitting regularly. It is wonderful for them and for the children, but sad for me. I have watched the children grow and helped in a small ways to guide them and shape them as they discover and become the incredible people they are now and will be. Though necessary, it is difficult to let go of and say farewell to the children and their parents. Anytime they need me to sit, I am ready and willing.

I am still recovering from and working through this development. I am not sure if I will apply for other nanny positions or not. I am also not sure where that leaves this blog either way. While I figure this out, I hope you will visit me at my Brainy and Beautiful Blog.

With thanks and hope that you will bear with me during this transition <3

Christmas is for Kids

In these economic times, I have been asking friends how they are handling the holidays. No matter what they are doing, the resounding refrain is "Christmas is for Kids." and, in some cases, "Hanukkah is for Kids."

My friend Irma (24 years old) is one of 7 children. Her husband Brian (28) is one of 5 children. This year both of their families have decided not to buy any Christmas gifts, but to instead enjoy the time they will be spending together. Some of them protested because they had already seen things that they had a strong desire to purchase for certain people in their family. The solution: If you happen to come across something that really reminds you of someone that you have an overwhelming desire to give to them, buy it BUT don't go out seeking gifts AND just because you buy for one does not mean you have to buy for everyone.

My friend Tanya (27) is the oldest of 7 children and a nephew who is 3 and her husband Greg (28) is the middle of 3 grown children and has one niece who is 4. This year they have made an agreement with Greg's family that they give each other the gift of their time and attention, but all are allowed to purchase for the 4 year old if they are willing and able. Tanya's family has not given over to that idea, maybe in part because 4 of the 7 children are still under 18.

My husband and I made some changes this year, too. We sent out nearly 50 holiday cards, but purchased gifts for just 22 people. Of the 22, 8 are children. Of the 22, 16 are blood relatives. Of the 22, 3 are pets. We did not spend more than $30 per person/pet and in many cases spent $20 or less, in some cases $10 or less, in a few cases $5 or less. We did this by being savvy shoppers. As is tradition for us, we are simply putting stockings together for each other and stocking items that are too big or oddly shaped for the stocking go under the tree. We considered leaving pets off the list this year, but we love them far too much. Our pets give us unconditional love always, the least we can do is throw them a bone or some kitty treats at Christmas. Total expenditures: $298.87 which averages out to $13.58 per person/pet. I am not laying the numbers out there because I think how much you spend is important, just the opposite. I am laying the numbers out there to show that if you shop savvy and stay within your own pre-set budget, anything is possible. Also, simply sending a card to show the people in your life that you care and you appreciate them is a real gift in its self. We have had many phone calls from people thanking us for the cards and wanting to be in closer touch with each other and scheduling times to get together. Acknowledgment and time, invaluable gifts to be freely given, seem to be valued above all.

In every case above, there are two themes:

1) The holidays are for the children. Make it as fun for them as possible.
2) Time together is the most valuable gift one can give.

Combine these two gifts:

If you have the means to donate gifts or time to volunteer this holiday season, please consider giving to these worthy causes:

Toys for Tots
Children for Children
Teen Voices
Perkins School for the Blind
Feeding America
Angel Tree
My Two Front Teeth

or another that is dear to your heart.

Happy Holidays!

Safe Toys for the Holidays

or any day!

Last year at this time there were all kinds of concerns about toxic materials in toys imported from China. So, my interest in organic and eco-friendly toys for babies and children increased. I learned that organic and eco-friendly don't have to mean expensive. Here are a few of my favorite places to shop for the kidlets in my life:

the little seed is run by Soleil Moon Frye (a.k.a Punky Brewster!) and her friend Paige Goldberg Tolmach.
Their goal: "to create a one-stop shop for parents seeking products from skincare to bedding to toys that are made with organic or eco-friendly materials – healthy for babies and healthy for the planet… because it’s never too early to sow the seeds of care and responsibility."
Their blog: Seedling Blog
Their shop: the little seed shop
Links to a few of my favorite items:
Footed Pants - not a toy, but adorable none-the-less
Pocket Jacket - again not a toy, but a practical gift that will be used infinitely
Speesees Booties - slippers are always a good gift. Warm feet are essential.
Fruits and Veggies - I love ALL of these soft toys!
Recycling Truck - they sell all kinds of wooden cars, but this is my fav
Twig Crayons - endless hours of imagining. I grew up playing in the woods so these really bring me back to childhood.

BabyStyle is a major weekness of mine. So many of their products are irresistible. Plus they carry everything from maternity clothes to furniture to diaper bags to toys. One stop shopping! They also have a Gifts page that is incredibly well organized, categorized, and easy to navigate. On a really tight budget? Visit their Outlet Store!
Their Safety Standards: Safety First
Links to some of my fav. items:
Delilah the Bunny - my mom always called me bunny. If I really was one, I think I'd like to be just like Delilah or at least be her friend.
Eco Babies Wear Green book - books are always wonderful gifts! More books by M.S. Colman here.
BabyStyle Xylophone - music to everyones ears and a toy for people of every age
Building Block Choo Choo - made of Ecofriendly rubber wood and grows with the child. Not-yet-walking little ones can enjoy the blocks and when they begin toddling around they can drag it around the house with them.
Doggie Backpack - for the kid on the go

Under The Nile is another favorite of mine. Everything is made with 100% organic cotton. Every item is pure and Fair Trade. They even began the 13 Villages Project. They also carry items for preemies and adults!
About Under the Nile: "...working harmoniously as one"
About the Owner: Janice Masoud
Links to my favorite items:
Fruit Tote - portable yum yum
Ear Flap Hat - give the gift of soft warmth
Sleeping/Teething Doll - everyone needs a lovey
Gnomes - engage the imagination
Crazy Dolls Two-Pack - check two little ones off your list with one purchase or make one little one doubly happy
Veggie Crate - eat your veggies and you'll be big and strong enough to carry them around
Pencil Box - adorable on a child's desk and helps cultivate a love of learning and/or expressing through writing and art

That is enough for now. If you know of any other places to shop for organic, eco-friendly items for children, please share your favorites with me in the comments section :-)

Comments on Compliments

MomCat from Truth is Stranger Than Fiction commented on this post of mine recently.

She said:

Wow, what a day! You're better than a mom. I don't think I ever had the energy to entertain the kids the whole day like you did. I'm sure they enjoyed their day and no wonder you were tired. Well done!

While I thank you, MomCat, for your kind words and acknowledgment of my competency, this set me to thinking about how I go about caring for the children.

When I am with the children, I am with them. I take their cues from moment to moment and fulfill their needs or teach them to independently fulfill their own needs. There is structure in terms of meals and naps and rule following (pick up your toys, share with each other, xyz show is over so it is time to turn off the tv, time to go get some fresh air, would you like to go to the library or the park?, etc.), but otherwise I pick up on their cues and live in the moment with them.

What really struck me in MomCat's comment was that I am "better than a mom." That is such a sweet complement and I appreciate it greatly. I really do love the children as if they were my own and treat them as such. But, I'm not their mom. When I am with the children I do not have to run out and do errands, find time to pay the bills, or wash the laundry. I have the greatest respect for moms who are juggling all of these responsibilities every day, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, for life. Maybe, not having to worry about all those other responsibilities (though I do try to keep everything having to do with the children in order) frees me up to be "better than a mom" whatever that means. I don't think I am any better than anybody else and C&K have an amazing mom and dad.

MomCat, thank you for your lovely comment and for being my first "Follower" :-)

A Spoon Full of Sugar

Last night I watched Mary Poppins on ABC Family. Oh how I love her! She is supercalifragilisticexpialidocious! The quintessential nanny.

The Original Trailer is a quick treat.

I loved seeing it again. It is full of important reminders for adults and it brings me back to childhood. Truly classic.

A Nanny's Love

Out of the horrors of the terrorist attacks in Mumbai comes this story of a nanny and her charge. Out of evil, good can come.

No More Nanny?

Economic times are tough and it seems, according to this Wall Street Journal article, that families are doing away with the nanny.

When I started with the family I sit for, I was working nearly every day. Then I went down to once every week or two. Now I am only with them once a month.

When I started with the family I sit for, Mommy K was only working two or three days a week. Now she is working full-time. In order to make more money and save more money, Mommy K and Daddy M have arranged their schedules so that one of them is home with the children except for my one day a month. I certainly don't fault them for that. They have a family to take care of and they are doing everything they can to provide for and best care for their family.

I am lucky though. I still get to see their family once a month AND I have a husband who works full-time as a salaried employee for a, thankfully, for the time being, stable and reliable company. My income is our "fun fund" and, while nice and fulfilling, not necessarily necessary.

What if we were depending on my salary? Too scary to contemplate...

I just checked available jobs in my area on Sittercity and found 477 possibilities. Maybe not so scary after all...

Nagity Nag Nag

The Mom Song

Nagging = Love = Nagging

School, Sleep, and Wild Abandon

On Monday I played nanny to C&K. It was a whirlwind day. I arrived at 7:45, Mommy K left by 8:00. While C was eating breakfast K woke up and I dressed her and got her a sippy cup of milk. By the time I had K ready to go, C had finished breakfast. I helped C wash-up and get dressed for pre-school. We all bundled up and ventured into the chilly, rainy New England morning to get C to school.

On the way to school C was quiet, in spite of my vain attempts to talk to him about his various activities, what it feels like to be five (his birthday was end of November), school, and the holidays. So, I gave him the most important job of directing me to school as this was the first time I was driving him there. He was very clear and concise and knew his lefts from his rights. This was most fun and woke him up a bit and got him chatting.

We were 10 minutes early to school, but the teachers were there. C showed me his cubby, hung up his jacket, and gave me a little tour of the classroom. Very cute.

10 minutes later, Miss. K the Amazing 18-month-old Bundle of Energy and I arrived back home. She picked strawberries, peaches, and cheerios for breakfast and happily chowed down interrupting bites only to utter contented sighs and yumyums. We read books, played with musical instruments, watched the fish swim around their tank, and gave love to K's stuffed animals and dolls.

K normally takes a nap around 11:00, but Mommy K instructed me to keep her up until it was time to go pick up C from school around 12:30. Mommy K said K would fall asleep in the car and that would be fine. So, at 11:00, I decided to bring K to the library which I thought might stave off the grumpiness that comes with being sleepy, energize her and a keep her awake just a wee bit longer. It worked... for about 40 minutes.

I remembered that there is a playground near C's school which I thought might prove an excellent distraction for K. In the eight minutes it took to drive from the library to the playground, K had drifted off to dreamland. I continued driving the extra three minutes to C's school. We were 45 minutes early for pick up. Having not brought my cell phone or a book with me, I sat and wrote this very rough first-draft of a poem (K's name has been changed to protect her identity):

Kara

Asleep in her carseat, she is peace.
Toe-head rests on left shoulder squishing left cheek like putty.
Transparent eyelids reveal complex maps of purple and blue veins.
Bow-shaped lips part slightly allowing breath.
Chest rises and falls perceptibly, steadily.
All systems go.

What does she dream of?
I wish she could tell me.
I have dreams for her.
As she sleeps, I speak those dreams outloud.
Broad dreams like happiness, fulfillment, love, and inspiration.

"Did you have sweet dreams, Miss. Kara?"
"Puppy, woof woof. Flower pretty. Elmo."
"Sounds wonderful!"
I reach into the diaper bag.
Out come her stuffed puppy, fake flower, and Elmo phone.
She giggles.
I've made her dreams come true.

We are all born into endless possibility.
Hold on to it.
Believe in it.
Pursue it.
Sleep to dream.
Wake-up and live it.
All systems go.

Writing helped the time pass more quickly and soon I had collected C and headed home. At home, K was still sound asleep in her carseat. I got C, the diaperbag and his school bag out of the car, locked it, and got him inside and settled with a juice cup. Then I went back for K who stirred a bit, but settled right into her crib once I lugged her up the stairs. Surprisingly it is her height and not her weight that makes getting her upstairs more difficult at this stage. Maybe that is because I am only 5 feet and 1 inch tall.

K all settled, I sat with C and talked with him about school. I suggested all kinds of fun things we might do, but he just wanted to veg on the couch in front of Noggin for a little bit. So, we did. Then he rode his new scooter around the livingroom and did some tumbling. By this time, K woke up from her nap ready for lunch. I gave her one hotdog (after I removed the skin), leftover spaghettios I found in the fridge, and greenbeans. She found lunch just as delicious as breakfast.

The rain had let up so we went outside and ran and played and imagined with wild abandon. I pulled them around the yard in the wagon which at varying times was a train, spaceship, and racecar. I pushed them on the swings while we named all different animals and things that can fly. We ran from and with monsters, horses, dogs, and dinosaurs.

Then it was snack time and more indoor play before it was time for me to go.

I was pleasantly exhausted and slept incredibly well for 12 hours. I guess you could say, I slept like a baby.

Thanksgiving Books

Check out this post by SmallWorld Reads. There is a list of books at the end of the post.



Then there is this list at about.com.



Wild Rose Reader compiled this list of books and reviews.



For those of you who home school or are looking for fun ways to teach your children about Thanksgiving through books, check this out.

Thanksgiving Crafts - Turkeys

When I went to buy trick-or-treat candy on Halloween the store employees were already setting up the Christmas displays.

In an effort to not forget Thanksgiving, I have been searching for and crafting Thanksgiving crafts.

I found this Turkey Shirt at One More Moore's Blog.

A more traditional version of the Turkey shirt is the Hand-Trace Turkey which I remember making in elementary school and beyond. If you want to take the hand-trace turkey a step further, give it more meaning, check this out.

Taking it a step further is the Hand and Foot Turkey.

The great thing about the hand turkey and the hand and foot turkey is that each year you can take them out and display them side by side to see how your children have grown.

Diaper Week Continues With...

The PeePee Teepee





Thankfully I have never been peed on while changing the diaper of any of the baby boys I have cared for over the years, but I have heard it can and does happen often. The PeePee Teepee takes the fear out of baby boy diapering. It is shaped like a little hat or teepee and fits perfectly over the penis of any baby boy. Instead of hitting you in the face while you are cooing at baby to keep him calm or fumbling with the intricacies of the diaper, any eliminations your baby may make while temporarily free from the confines of the diaper will be soaked up by the PeePee Teepee.

I had not heard of the PeePee Teepee for the Sprinkling WeeWee until my friend Alison gave birth to a baby boy 14 months ago. She found the PeePee Teepee helpful in the beginning, but harder to use as the baby got older and more wriggly. By the time her baby was to wriggly for the PeePee Teepee she had become more adept at diapering though.

The PeePee Teepee comes in many colors, designs, and fabrics (cotton, terrycloth, flannel). They come five to a package and can be purchased at these online retailers and these stores near you. If nothing else, PeePee Teepees make a great, cute, and unusual gift for the new parents of a baby boy.

I leave you with The PeePee Teepee Poem:

The Pee-pee Teepee™ Poem
Changing a baby girl is not all glitz and glory;
Changing a baby boy is an even bigger horror story.
You hold his feet in one hand, and the diaper in the other;
The whole time praying, "Please don't pee on your mother!"

Halloween

Last night, on my way home from picking up cat litter and Halloween candy, I stopped by the house of the family I nanny for. I arrived just as the kids were getting dressed. C was Raphael the Ninja Turtle. He just started karate lessons so this was appropriate. His dad and I were trying to get him to show me his moves, but it was all for naught. K was an adorable sparkly witch and I had the pleasure of putting her black patent leather shoes on, the final touch. I was dressed up as a Boston Celtics Cheerleader. As I was leaving, their mom took our picture together. Quite fun!

Hope you had a trick-or-treat'y' Halloween'y' :-)

Extending Diaper Week

I have realized that one week was just not enough. I haven't talked about the Diaper Dude or gdiapers or peepee teepee or Tushies or Seventh Generation and I want to, I want to, I want to!!!!!

So, I will, NEXT WEEK!

Stay tuned!

Diaper Week Catch Up

Ok, I have not been posting an item a day. The best laid plans...
To make it up to you, I have three items today:
Bamboo Wipes by BumGenius
Flannel Wipes by BumGenius
Cloth Diaper Service Directory

All three are environmentally friendly, cozy, and convenient.

Bamboo Wipes by BumGenius


I am in love with these. Just looking at their pillowy softness causes me to seriously consider using them on my own body, but I digress...
Multi-Purpose - Bamboo wipes can be used not only to wipe sensitive baby bums, but also to wash baby faces and wipe runny noses.
Easy Care - They are machine washable and can go in the dryer.
Environmentally Friendly - Bamboo is a renewable resource, grows quickly and easily without the use of pesticides or fertilizers, and is biodegradable.
Antibacterial - Bamboo is naturally antibacterial and helps fight bacteria in baby's diapers.

Downside? These are slightly more expensive than other reusable wipes and certainly more expensive than disposable wipes. BUT you just have to buy them once, when baby grows up you can still use them as every day face cloths, and you are investing in the survival and health of the planet!

A more affordable, still environmentally conscious choice is:

Flannel Wipes by BumGenius


Flannel Wipes are much like Bamboo Wipes in that they are reusable and therefore environmentally friendly, easy care and multi-purpose. The difference? Not biodegradable, not naturally antibacterial, not made of a renewable resource. AND those differences are part of the reason why they are more affordable.

I like them because you can still feel good about purchasing something that is easier on the environment, but you can also feel good, especially in these economic times, about the monetary cost.

Finally, the
Cloth Diaper Service Directory.
I think that there are a few reasons why people shy away from using cloth diapers.
1) They aren't sure how to use them. The Cloth Diaper Service Directory takes the mystery out of it by answering questions and demonstrating cloth diaper use.
2) They don't want to wash poopy diapers or have their smell linger. Cloth diaper services in your area will wash the diapers for you. As far as smell, as long as you use the items provided and follow the directions provided by the diaper service, it should not be an issue. Also, most diaper services drop off and pick up weekly.
3) They don't know where to locate cloth diaper services in their area of the country. Click on your state to find services in your area here.
4) They can think of no good reason to use cloth over other options. Reasons why can be found here.

Why do I like cloth diaper services? Cloth Diapers are easier to use than they look, environmentally conscious (reusable), made of a natural fabric (cotton), and multi-use (double as burp cloth, nose wipe, face cloth). Cloth diaper services make them even easier to use, are quite affordable (often less than $20 a week), and can be found in almost every state.

So, now I've caught up. Hope these products were worth waiting for and give you something to consider.

Just a reminder, I have not been compensated by the makers of the products or providers of the services highlighted during Diaper Duty Week on Notes on Nannying.

Stork's Choice

On this the second day of Diaper Week on Notes on Nannying, the feature is Stork's Choice Disposable Diaper Service. To me, most disposable diapers are all the same. The reason I picked Stork's Choice is because they make diapers, training pants and wipes AND THEY DELIVER ANYWHERE!

Anatomy of a Diaper


Anatomy of Training Pants


My favorite thing about this company is that they have such a wide variety of sizes and once you place an order they automatically continue to deliver monthly.

I my experience, new parents would rather not leave the house for anything. New parents are generally exhausted and focused on their child. No one wants to leave the house to get diapers or worry about running out. Stork's Choice fills this need.

Just a reminder, I am not being compensated by Stork's Choice or any other diaper week company for recommending them.

Eco Diaper Bag

I found out this weekend that my friends, Tim and Meg, are expecting their second baby in 6 months. I also learned that my friends Alison and Keith are on the path to conceiving their second baby. Congratulations!

The Diaper Duty product of the day is the Eco Diaper Bag by Wee Generation.



You can buy the bag for $200.00 here.

Before I lose you with the $200.00 price tag I should tell you that 100% of the profits go to the non-profit organization Healthy Child Healthy World AND the bag includes $100 worth of eco-friendly treats such as:

Seventh Generation baby product vouchers
Naturally Clean: The 7th Gen. Guide to Safe & Healthy Non-Toxic Cleaning
Wee Generation baby T
Healthy household tips from Healthy Child Healthy World

I also love this bag because:

It is made from recycled beverage bottles
It has removable totes for feeding and changing (Yippee for easy organization!)
It also comes with a changing pad, a bottle cozy, and an accessories pouch.
Neither mommy nor daddy will be embarrassed to carry it.

If I were a parent, this would be on my wish list. I also think it makes a great shower gift especially because of all the products and information included.

Meg? Alison? Either of you interested?

Dear Reader, if you are interested, just click on the links included in this post for more info. and/or to purchase.

Oh, and an important note, I am not being compensated for endorsing any of the products I am including in Diaper Week on Notes on Nannying.

Diaper Duty

As a result of caring for many children, I have been exposed to all kinds of diapers. I have changed disposable diapers, all natural environmentally friendly disposable diapers, and cloth diapers. I have used disposable wipes and, in moments of desperation when ingenuity was needed, a washcloth or toilet paper or tissues. I am intrigued by bamboo wipes, flannel wipes, products for Dads, PeePee TeePees, and other such products all related to diapering. I also noticed that my list of links to products includes several items related to diapering.

So, I declare this week Diaper Week on Notes on Nannying.

Look for reviews of a different diapering product each day!

Reading for Readiness

There are lots of wonderful authors of books for children. I loved reading books in the Golden Books series and books by Eve Bunting, Tomie DePaola, Louisa May Alcott, Eric Hill (Spot books), Lynley Dodd (Hairy McClary, Slinky Malinki), Barbara Cooney (Miss. Rumphius), Laura Ingalls Wilder (Little House on the Praire), Lynn Reid Banks (Mystery of the Cupboard), and so many more. You can find a list of children's book authors and illustrators here. So, when actors turn children's book author I am automatically skeptical. Jamie Lee Curtis surprised me though.

This morning Jamie Lee Curtis was on Rachael Ray where, among other things, she read from and talked about 'Little People, Big Words', the book she released most recently. I was intrigued enough to visit her website here. Exploring the synopsis' of each of her books, I was pleasantly surprised by the themes and ideas running through all of them. Each of these books is a tool to expose your children to a greater lesson and maybe even engage your children in a greater discussion. There is a point and a purpose to each of the books. The website also provides teaching resources and activities to go along with the books. I found them really well done.

Looking at Jamie Lee Curtis' books, I began thinking about all children's books and questions we should ask ourselves about the messages they contain, the overall affect they have on our children, and how we might use books as a teaching tool and impetus for discussion.

Do you have a favorite children's book? Any thoughts about this post? Don't be shy! Comment!

Bounce a Bye Baby Ball

Luna Lullaby has some great products, but my favorite is the Bounce-a-Bye-Baby Ball. It comes in three sweet designs and has many uses before, during, and after the birth of the baby. I think the best thing about it is the base that it comes with. Since the designs are so cute, it is easy to put the ball on the base in the corner of the nursery, playroom, livingroom, wherever for storage. Plus, having the base increases the number of uses of the ball and offers a safer way to bounce yourself and/or the baby. You can exercise and sooth the baby at the same time! At $52, I think it is well worth the investment.

Check out and, if you want to, purchase the Bounce-a-Bye-Baby...



Soothing Blanket...



Bosom Baby...



and Belly-Ups...



at Luna Lullaby.