by Candi Wingate

Busy moms have a lot in common with circus performers. We have to juggle many balls in the air – and we worry that it’s all going to come crashing down at any moment! Additionally, we strive to perfect our balancing act, some days feeling more surefooted than others. Add some crying babies, toddlers melting down and kids needing help with homework, rides to soccer practice, a Band Aid or a snack, and your life often feels like a three-ring circus!

Many moms are looking for that “perfect” balance between family, chores, work, “me time” and time with their partner and friends. But since there are only 24 hours in a day, how are we supposed to fit it all in?

* Rely on a nanny for help with childcare, shuttling kids to school and other activities, as well as errands and housework. Delegate some responsibilities so you can spend your limited time on things you want to do – like playing with your kids.

* Don’t forget to take care of yourself. Our inclination as mothers is to care for our children, husband, friends and colleagues…which leaves no time to take care of ourselves! Eat right, exercise, get plenty of sleep and drink lots of water. When you feel good, you’ll be better equipped to deal with your hectic schedule. And when you’re not feeling your best, you’re much more likely to feel overwhelmed. Read the rest of this entry »

by Candi Wingate

There are many reasons that families have nannies.  Most reasons are something similar to ensuring proper, nurturing supervision of the children while the parents are otherwise occupied.  However, there is another benefit.  Did you know that nannies can help parents be better parents?

Nannies As Stress Relievers

If you delegate your routine household chores (light housekeeping, laundry, washing dishes, grocery shopping, errand running, etc.) to the nanny, then more of the time that you have at home with your children can be quality time (time reserved for interaction with your children).  Additionally, if the nanny’s relieving you of these tasks makes you feel less stress on a day-to-day basis, you will be a more relaxed, patient, nurturing parent.  Finally, there are times when parents simply need more than two hands to accomplish all that needs to be accomplished at any given time in the home (for example, what does a parent do if both of the twins are crying . . . in different rooms . . . and no other adult is at home to help?).  By having a nanny, parents have another set of hands to help them attend to concurrent issues.  In sum, by enabling more time to be spent in quality parent-child interaction, increasing a parent’s ability to be patient and nurturing, and providing an additional set of hands in times where multiple time demands are concurrent, nannies can help you be a better parent. Read the rest of this entry »

by Marybeth Elliott

Job 21:11: They send forth their little ones like a flock, and their children dance.

Parenthood is a funny thing.  It is chock full of purpose and meaning, and we are plunged into it from day one.  And yet, God allows the richness and fullness to be revealed over time, much like our relationship with Him.  The longer I walk with the Lord, the deeper the love I find with Him.  The deeper the love goes, the more I realize how little I know of our magnificent Creator.  In my quest to know Him better, I see reflected back, my children’s quest to know their parents better.

Through the years as my own mother has aged, I have found it fascinating to hear stories of her in various situations.  Old college friends have shared with me special memories of their friendship with my mom, antics they participated in, special and fun times.  Conversely, they have shared fascinating and intense stories of coming of age and being married during World War II.

I’ve learned my mom is multi-faceted, much like a beautiful gem.  She was a brilliant and carefree girl, a young woman who was on her college archery team, and an accomplished horsewoman. Read the rest of this entry »

by Laurie Neumann

Having integrity in business doesn’t seem to be as important as it used to.  Today, there are many people afraid to do business with others because they don’t know who they can trust.

Maybe it has to do with the growth of the internet or a society that has gotten away from Christian principles.  Whatever the reason, having integrity in the way you conduct your business will set you apart.   It will help others see they can trust you and will bring them back to you over and over again.

What is integrity? Integrity brings to mind the concepts of honesty, reliability, dependability, following through on commitments and displaying high character at all times.  The Bible references integrity in the following verses.  ”He who walks with integrity walks securely…” Proverbs 10:9; “The integrity of the upright will guide them…” Proverbs 11:3; “But as for me, I will walk in my integrity… Psalm 26: 11 Read the rest of this entry »

by Ruth Martin

Does your professionalism ebb and flow with the changing seasons? Find it harder to keep that crisp edge during summer break with a house full of energetic kids (plus an added playmate or two) or with preschoolers 24/7 year round? I’m here to tell you that regardless of the time of year it IS possible. What’s the secret? A bit of pre-planning.

Pre-planning from snacks prepared ahead in the right grab-n-go size, to having a supply of rainy day projects in a special box – pulled out for those moments you need to really focus for 20 minutes of uninterrupted bliss, to covering the desktop in shaving cream for a little lime scented fingerpainting. Taking the time to line up some activities can be such a stress reducer and an empowerment tool that enables you to do what you do best without worries. No one knows your child and his attention span like you do so plan accordingly (and individually).

One of the biggest stealers of professionalism surrounds phone calls with child noises in the background so let’s review some solutions: Read the rest of this entry »

by Joy Jochems

Some of my biggest “ah-ha!” moments come in some of the strangest places: in the car, in the bathroom, at the kitchen sink. It was the latter that brought a moment of inspiration most recently. Perhaps you would like to hear it as my heart heard it:

“Joy?”

“Yes, Lord?”

“You had a really fun weekend, didn’t you?”

“It was awesome! There was the dinner out with friends, and then shopping with my best buddy, then a movie night … It was a weekend of fun that filled my extroverted tank!”

“And how are you feeling on this fine Monday?”

“Fine Monday? Seriously, Lord, it’s not so fine. Dishes, laundry, cranky kids, bills to pay … not exactly tank-filling material. I’m not really seeing the ‘fine’ in it, let alone the fun. To be honest, Lord, I’m just trying to make it through today.”

“So why is it that your weekend was so amazing, and now your joy is feeble?”

As I considered the Lord’s question to my heart and the Spirit’s conviction found its mark, I realized that I have been living for the next fun thing. I find myself thinking about that “next fun thing” that will fill my social appetite, or I find myself dwelling on how boring and tedious the every day is. Read the rest of this entry »

by Candi Wingate

School’s out for the summer.  You would like to plan fun and educational activities for your children.  Here are a few suggestions.

You can take advantage of sports, classes, and activities offered by civic or governmental organizations in your community.  These include municipal sports teams (i.e., baseball, softball, and soccer), YMCA/YWCA swimming lessons, art center youth programs and classes (i.e., painting pottery, drawing and painting, and clay art), museum youth programs (i.e., day camps and museum sleep-overs), planetarium youth programs and activities (i.e., junior astronomer programs), community theatre youth programs (i.e., youth theatre presentations), zoo youth programs (i.e., “all about __type of animal__” programs), public library reading programs (i.e., a Harry Potter reading group), club memberships and activities (i.e., Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, Cub Scouts, Brownies, Bluebirds, 4-H, etc.), and church summer camps.
Read the rest of this entry »

by Corrie Petersen

Do you know how to keep yourself organized while the kids are home for summer break? Working a business with kids can be a challenge at anytime, but it’s even more difficult when they’re at home all the time.

Depending on the age, they may want you to play games with them or they may need your undivided attention at times. When this happens, you may not get a thing done for your business.

You need to plan and organize your day so you can get the most work done during the day and still have time to spend with the kids. Here are a few suggestions for you to consider. Read the rest of this entry »

By Ruth Martin

Pass the time on those long summer days by letting the kids enjoy some backyard crafts and then having a clothesline exhibit. The kids will love creating and having a place to display their masterpieces just like adult artists. Afterwards, with a little help from Mom, an artists’ reception can be enjoyed around the picnic blanket or table.

Getting Hands On

One of our favorite backyard crafts is Painting with Soap Bubbles. This is super easy with amazing results. First, hang watercolor paper on the clothesline with pinch clothespins. Next, add a few drops of food coloring to soap bubbles. When the wand is inserted and the bubbles blown near the watercolor paper, they will float and pop! on the paper. To get the best results do not blow these directly onto the paper with force but allow them to float onto the paper. Want more than one color? Give each child a different dyed soap bubble set and ask them to work together to make some sudsy masterpieces. Note: Food coloring can stain so reminders to only blow on the paper and wearing old clothes are two things to keep in mind. Read the rest of this entry »

by Candi Wingate

These are but a few of the myriad opportunities for fun and education that await you and your child this summer.  Regardless of what opportunities you and your child choose, may your summer be fun and educational for both of you.

You are planning a great summer get-away with your two little ones.  What do you need to plan to make sure the trip comes off without a hitch?

Destination. Is the destination one that is of interest to your kids?  Water, amusement, and theme parks are usually a big hit.

Method of travel. Is the method of travel appropriate for your kids?  If the destination is more than four hours from your home, your kids may find the drive time trying.  For trips that involve more than an eight hour drive, you may be well served by flying if your kids are very young, active, or impatient.

Dining. Are you eating three balanced meals each day . . . in a setting that is kid-friendly?  On days in which an extended period of time is spent in your automobile or in an airport, a low calorie, low sugar meal is recommended.

Snacks. Do you have healthy snacks in the car, airplane, and motel room?  Snacks hold kids’ interest (for a while), provide nourishment, and can be used as a reward (i.e., “If you can go five minutes without asking, ‘Are we there yet?’, I’ll give you a snack.”)  Healthy snacks include fresh fruits and vegetables, nuts, granola bars, string cheese, juice boxes, breakfast cereals, etc.

Clothing. Is the clothing that has been packed for your kids both comfortable and situationally appropriate?  Having you done contingency planning on the kids’ clothing?  For example, if you are heading to a climate that is warm during the day but cool in the evening, have you packed shorts as well as a coat?  If you are heading to a warm climate, have you packed a light sweater just in case there’s an unseasonably cold spell or you spend time in an excessively air conditioned building?  Have you packed extra clothes just in case there’s a juice spill?

Toys and games. Do you have toys and games to keep your kids occupied while they are in transit or while they are in the motel room each evening?  Toys can hold kids’ interest (for a while) and can be used as a reward (i.e., “If you two can go without arguing for the next ten miles, I’ll play the license plate game with you.”) (The license plate game involves people trying to find license plates from as many states and foreign countries as possible.  Often, people keep track of who sees license plates the fastest.)

Luggage. Is the kids’ luggage on wheels?  Can the kids pull their own luggage?  If you have to juggle luggage for everybody, you will be exhausted before your vacation has barely begun.

Naps. Does your schedule allow for naps for the kids (and yourself)?  Young kids have a lot of energy and can run wild at times, but they need to nap at some point during the day to avoid fussiness later on.

Babysitter. Parents often joke that they need a vacation to recover from their vacation.  Vacation exhaustion can be mitigated by a mid-vacation date night.  We at www.Care4Hire.com can help you find a trustworthy babysitter in your destination location so that you can take an evening for a quiet, romantic date with your spouse.
By following these tips, your family should be off to a great start on summer vacation.

Candi Wingate, President
Nannies4Hire
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