Chicago's Premier Nanny Agency Blog

Nanny Lijun – Candidate Spotlight of the Week

Erin Krex — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:07:00 +0000

Lijun is a college grad with 7 years of professional nanny experience for 2 long term families. She has cared for children from newborn and up. Lijun is bilingual Chinese (Mandarin) / English, very sweet, bright, warm, calm, professional, happy, flexible, organized and a little shy at first. She did open up quickly and smiled the entire interview!

Lijun is seeking a Full Time Live-In or Live-Out Nanny Position.
Salary Request: $14-21 an hour

What childcare tasks are you willing to perform? Bathe Children · Clean Children’s Room · Clean Children’s Bathroom · Make Children’s Beds · Organize Play Areas · Children’s Laundry · Children’s Ironing · Children’s Bed Linens · Children’s Meals · Read to Children · Art Projects · Outdoor Sports · Arrange Play Dates · Purchase Children’s Clothes · Supervise Outdoor Play · Play Music

What household tasks are you willing to perform? Vacuum · Dust · Make Family Beds · Laundry · Cook for family · Grocery Shopping · Run Errands · Pet Care

With respect to childcare, what activities would you organize on a daily or weekly basis? I would plan activities that the children are interested in and activities the parents allow. I am happy to teach the children Chinese. I can plan arts and crafts, trips to the park/playground, hide and seek, games, and imaginary play.

If you are interested in meeting Nanny Lijun please call First Class Care at 847-733-2700 x310

The childcare dilemma – What to do when you have older kids?

Erin Krex — Tue, 15 May 2012 21:44:18 +0000

The childcare dilemma – What to do when you have older kids? By: Chris Pines

Many dual working families face the challenge of finding reliable care for their children. When the children are young, the solution is pretty simple: day care or a full-time nanny. Things get trickier when the children reach school age. They are in school for most of the day, but then there is a gap between 3 and 6 pm when the kids are out of school and the parents are still at work.

To find out how parents handle this dilemma, I recently had the opportunity to sit down with Erin Krex. Erin is the owner of First Class Care (www.firstclasscare.com) and is also on the board of the INA (International Nanny Association). She has been working for years to help families resolve issues like these. When she saw a problem in Chicago, she founded First Class Care with her husband Steve. I was anxious to grill such an authority on child care.

What made you decide to start this business? Erin: I have always been interested in both sides of the child-care and mother equation. I am aware of the challenges faced by both, and I want to help people find good solutions.

What are the options for working parents? Erin: What we recommend is either a full time nanny manager or a housekeeper/nanny. This gives the parents the flexibility they need when the kids are sick or off of school for breaks and complete coverage for after school. They also get a huge bonus by having their house clean, groceries shopped for, dinner cooked and dry cleaning picked up. This allows the working parents to spend every minute with their kids instead of worrying about the little details around the house.

Why should someone hire a full-time employee if they only need a nanny for a few hours per day? Erin: That is probably the biggest question every mother faces, and she often finds that she runs into inadequate solutions. Say you wanted to hire someone from the hours of 3-6 pm. It’s tough to find someone who is willing to only work for 3 hours per day. It is very difficult for that person to have another job and be at your home by 3pm. In order to support themselves, they would need a high hourly rate for those 3 hours. Some nannies do this, and some parents are willing to pay. However, for a little more per day, you could hire someone for the full day. This is a win-win. The parents get help for a much longer period of time, and the nanny gets full-time work.

So what would this nanny manager or housekeeper/nanny do during the hours when the child is in school? Erin: There are all kinds of things you might have your employee do! Basically they can keep the household running efficiently. They can do all the cleaning, shopping, laundry, organizing and cooking. They can manage the yard crew, gardeners, maintenance men, or contractors who come to your home. You might even have them manage your household expenses. They can basically do anything that a mother might do throughout the day, but when your kids come home from school, they assume the role of a traditional nanny.

Don’t all those extra responsibilities detract from the care that they give to the child? Erin: The kids are always the #1 priority, and we go to great lengths to make sure every employee knows that. All extra duties occur while the children are in school. When the parent comes home from work, they can focus fully on the children rather than worrying about shopping or laundry.

Ok, I think I understand. So why not just hire someone directly? Why should a parent go through your agency? Erin: Well, that’s one of the challenges that I saw parents were having. If you try to hire someone directly, it’s very time consuming and tough to find the right fit. They must go through the process of checking each candidate’s references, experience, performing background checks, etc. It can become an arduous task to sort through all the applicants. By going through our service, a parent knows that each applicant has already been carefully screened, interviewed and reference-checked. We accept less than 3% of applicants to give you an idea of how much time it takes. We send only the best matches for their job and they will see at a glance which candidates we hand-selected for them. We schedule all interviews for the client making it easy for them to interview and then pick the best one for the family.

What happens if the employee doesn’t quite meet expectations? Erin: It happens less often than you’d think, but we provide a free replacement for up to 6 months.

Thanks for your time. Any last words or tips for parents? Erin: Sure, one last tip. If you plan on hiring a nanny manager or housekeeper/nanny, try to allow at least 2 weeks for the process. We have hundreds of great candidates available, but you need to have the time to interview, which for working parents is usually only in the evening or weekends. To prepare yourself for our first consultation it is best to have a list of duties that you want done throughout the week or day so we know what we are searching for. We can guide you on what to expect and lend advice after you hire how to keep the relationship strong.

If your children have recently reached school age, this may be an option to keep in mind. Hiring a qualified nanny for only a few hours per day often makes little economic sense. Instead, you might hire someone full-time to take care of your children, who at the same time can dramatically improve the productivity of your home. If you’re facing this challenge, then a combination nanny/manager or nanny/housekeeper may be the way to go.

10 Snapshots You Should Keep in Your Phone’s Photo Album

Erin Krex — Mon, 07 May 2012 15:52:23 +0000

Have you ever forgotten the name of a prescription? What about the measurements of your air filter? Thanks to the ubiquitous nature of smartphone cameras, it’s now possible to carry around your entire life (well, at least a 2-D version) in the palm of your hand.

You might already use your email or notes apps on your smartphone to keep track of little everyday reminders. But your camera app and photo album can be just as useful as a memory aid.

Here are a few things that can easily be remembered with a quick snap of your camera phone’s shutter button:

• A reminder of where you parked. Parking in the city is no joke.
• Your printer cartridges. Make sure you can see the refill numbers.
• Your family members’ clothing sizes.
• The measurements of your air filter.
• Travel confirmation numbers. Take a screenshot of the email your airline sends you. When you check in later and need to find confirmation numbers, your photo album will be less cluttered than your inbox.
• Pictures of current medications. Make sure you can see the prescriptions’ names and dosages in the photo.
• The types of lightbulbs that fit your home fixtures.
• A recipe from a book or magazine that you want to use soon.
• Anything “borrowed” that you might want to buy later, like the brand of a smooth-writing pen at the bank or a great-smelling hotel shampoo.
• Expensive home furnishings you just know you can DIY at home. Get shots of all the important angles for when you’re ready to DIY.

Article by: http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/10-snapshots-you-should-keep-in-your-phones-photo-album-170492

Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) vs. Social Security Number (SSN).

Erin Krex — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 13:47:56 +0000

The Legal Review by Breedlove and Associates shares findings from real-world situations in an effort to illuminate potential tax and legal landmines and how to help families avoid them

All employers — including household employers — are responsible for verifying the eligibility of their employee to work in the U.S. When doing so, there is often confusion between an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) and a Social Security Number (SSN).

In this issue of The Legal Review, we share a case that demonstrates the differences between ITINs and SSNs and the potential issues that can arise if families don’t address it properly.

The Situation

After narrowing a list of candidates down to two qualified finalists, the Smith family made an offer to a nanny to care for their 2 toddlers. Like many busy, dual-income professionals, the Smiths did not have much time to research employment laws, but they were business professionals so they figured they had a pretty good idea of how to employ someone legally. To get the nanny on the books they gave her a Form W-4 to fill out. She returned the completed form on her first payday. This gave the Smiths just enough time to go online to our free nanny pay calculator and calculate her first paycheck. (They intended to join our service at that time, but they procrastinated).

In their haste, the Smiths missed an important step. They did not verify the nanny’s employment eligibility. (In the past, the Smiths had hired college students that they knew through friends and family, and they had never heard of the requirement to have an employee complete a Form I-9 in addition to a W-4).

The Law

All employers are required by law to verify to the best of their ability that each and every employee (even part-time and temporary employees) are authorized to work in the United States. Employers must have all new hires complete Form I-9 (Employment Eligibility Verification Form) within the first three days of employment.

In order to satisfy the requirements of the I-9, the employee must produce a combination of designated documents such as a passport, driver’s license, social security card, etc. The completed Form I-9 is not filed with any government agency, but it must remain in the employer’s files for at least 3 years after the date of hire or one year after the employment ends, whichever is later. Failure to comply with this law can induce a fine for each day that the illegal employment continues.

Individuals are not required to have a Social Security Number (SSN) to fill out an I-9 or to be eligible to work in the United States. (Some individuals are allowed to work in the United States temporarily, and are not assigned a SSN because they will not retire here. Therefore, they are not eligible to receive long-term benefits, such as Social Security and Medicare and do not need a SSN).

The IRS issues Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers (ITINs) to individuals who do not have and are not eligible to obtain a SSN in order to provide an efficient means to handle income tax returns and payments. Getting an ITIN does not change a person’s immigration status or right to work in the United States.

The Mess

The Smith’s nanny filled out Form W-4, including the portion that asks for her SSN. But the number that she wrote in the SSN field of the W-4 was actually her ITIN, which she believed to be a valid substitute for a SSN on the W-4. While the ITIN looks like a SSN (it has the same number of digits and the same xxx-xx-xxxx format as a SSN), it cannot be used interchangeably with a SSN. The Smiths did not realize that the identification number she entered on the W-4 was not a SSN because it looked exactly like a SSN.

The Smiths’ nanny filed a personal income tax return at the end of the year using her ITIN. The Smiths asked their accountant to file year-end employer reports, Forms W-2 Copy A and W-3, with the SSA using what they thought was their employee’s SSN. Unfortunately, it was really her ITIN.

Since the SSN is the identification number used for crediting of Social Security, Medicare and Unemployment taxes, when an employer shows an ITIN on the W-2, the SSA posts the W-2 Copy A in a suspense file because an ITIN is not a valid SSN. Sooner or later, the SSA sends “no match” letters to all employers in the suspense file.

The Smiths received their first “no match” letter from the SSA almost two years after the nanny started working for them. The letter penalized the Smiths for filing a Form W-2 Copy A with an invalid SSN. The Smiths pulled their file to review the Form W-4 that the nanny had submitted during her first week of work. The number that the nanny had provided clearly matched the number on the notice. Now the Smiths were worried that the nanny had given them a bogus SSN.

Mr. Smith, a partner in his law firm, was terrified that a felony charge might cause him to lose his license to practice law. He called an immigration attorney friend to ask about the letter. His friend explained to him that the notice implies that the Smiths are knowingly employing an individual that is not authorized to work in the United States. The friend explained that the Smiths had 90 days from the receipt of the notice to verify the employee’s information and “clean up” the paperwork mess.

Not sure how to do that, the friend recommended he call Breedlove & Associates.

The Outcome

After reviewing the SSA notice and their nanny’s Form W-4, Breedlove & Associates determined that the number that the nanny had provided in the SSN field of the W-4 was actually an ITIN. The string of numbers had “9″ as its first digit. SSN’s never start with the number 9.

We explained that a Form W-2C (Corrected Wage and Tax Statement) needed to be filed as soon as their nanny obtained a valid SSN. In order to protect the family from charges and fines, we also advised them to suspend employment within the 90-day window, unless and until the nanny submitted a Form I-9 with the required documentation.

Immediately prior to the deadline, the nanny was able to obtain a SSN. We helped the family clean up the mismatched records with the Social Security Administration and avoid any fines or charges.

In this case, the family escaped unscathed — except for the dozens of hours of wasted time and unnecessary stress for all parties.

How the Whole Thing Could Have Been Avoided

With immigration and worker eligibility continuing to be a hot political issue, it is very important for household employers to be aware of their Form I-9 responsibilities. This is one of many legal landmines that a reputable nanny staffing agency can help families avoid before, during and after the hire.

If a family decides to employ on their own, they need to make time for the administrative/legal paperwork. Failure to obtain the proper identification numbers and documents can lead to time-consuming and potentially- expensive problems.

If you have additional questions about this or any other aspect of household employment tax and labor law, please call 888-BREEDLOVE (888-273-3356) or visit us online. We’re here to help.

It’s not as hard as it looks

Erin Krex — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 18:57:25 +0000

Would you spend 2 minutes to save someone’s life?

Learning CPR is easy and fun. And, it works. Immediate, non-stop chest compressions until the paramedics arrive increases the heart attack survival rate by 60%. This is what hands only CPR (insert hyperlink handsonlycpr.org) is all about. If you are helping the adult victim and you don’t know how to do mouth-to –mouth breathing, or don’t feel like doing mouth-to-mouth breathing; kneel alongside the victim and do nonstop chest compressions – Hard and Fast. Switch off with someone, about every 2 minutes, to maintain the correct speed and depth. This is exactly what 20 rock-star citizens did to save this man’s life ( http://abcnews.go.com/Health/96-minute-cpr-marathon-saves-minnesota-mans-life/story?id=13048099). Fifty three year old Howard Snitzer collapsed from a heart attack, in a grocery store, in a tiny town. More than 20 citizens, not nurses, not doctors, rotated doing chest compressions for 96 minutes until the paramedics arrived via helicopter. When one person got tired, someone else took over. Ten days after being transported, Howard walked out of Mayo Hospital.

How do you know when someone needs CPR? We like to explain this as a math equation, A + B=C, or
Unconscious + no breathing = immediate CPR

Taking a CPR class that allows for hands on practice with manikins is the only way to learn effective CPR. But, until you can take a class, spend 2 minutes now to learn more about Hands only CPR. . Do you have an iphone or ipad? Download the free Hands only app . Or, go to the American Heart Association webpage (www.handsonlycpr.org) for a fun video tutorial. Yes, the AHA is actually fun! Choose the ‘chest’ you want to practice on and get to work. I chose the tan, male chest because it reminds me of my colleague at Chicago CPR, Sam Holloway. Besides being cute and fun, he is a Chicago firefighter and a top-notch CPR instructor. Chicago CPR, a division of Safety Squad, offers classes at various family friendly venues throughout Chicago and the suburbs. Register here

Kim Wilschek, RN, CCE
AHA CPR instructor
Owner, safety squad & Chicago CPR

Best Indoor Playground and Cafe in Chicago – Little Beans Cafe

Erin Krex — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 18:43:14 +0000

Little Beans is a family café and imaginative indoor playground for kids. The café boasts a delicious assortment of coffee drinks and snacks where parents can enjoy the ambiance of our comfortable café with their tiny tots. At Little Beans, kids have the freedom to play, learn, imagine and create in our custom interactive indoor village and playground. They are truly a destination that is fun for the whole family.

Little Beans is now offering CAMPS!
Little Beans will be offering two and four week sessions in June and July. You can sign up and pay for either two week sessions or the four week session at a discount.

Each week will be the start of a new “theme” and the weeks curriculum will include a rotation of activities including:

Music
Art/crafts
Literacy (storytelling)
Theatre
Imaginative play (in the Little Beans playspace)
Outdoor time for games (on the secure LBC Deck, weather permitting)
Snack Time (in the Little Beans Cafe)
And much more…

They always have something fun for EVERYONE!
Check out some of their upcoming events:
Mani/Pedi Friday – Head 2 Toe Mobile Spa – Every Friday 10:00am–4:00pm

Storybook Mom: Nili Yelin (Every Other Tuesday) 10:30am–11:30am

BUILDING BLOCKS PRESENTS: LITTLE BEANS CHARACTER DAY! – Friday, 4/20 | 4:00pm–5:00pm

Little Beans Summer Concert Series – Baby Disco – Friday, 5/18 | 6:00pm

Learn to Knit with Waldorf Handwork Teacher and mom, Megan Cummins – Friday, 4/27 | 10:00am–11:00am

Pre-Mother’s Day Pancake Brunch – Friday, 5/11 | 10:00am–12:00pm

Make sure and check out http://www.littlebeanscaf e.com
Little Beans Cafe is a sponsor of National Nanny Training Day

Got Lice? Get help from moms who Know!

Erin Krex — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 18:24:43 +0000

The Lice Detectives, LLC is an affordable, in-home head lice treatment and removal service in Chicago, Illinois run by parents like you who know firsthand how frustrating head lice can be.

Our lice prevention product line of Lice Shampoo, Conditioner and Repellent sprayare now available online and in select retail stores in your area.

Our do-it-yourself Complete Lice Removal Kit with free online video tutorial makes lice treatment as easy as having one of our skilled technicians right there with you.

Lice Detectives products are the perfect non-toxic alternative for camps and schools.

F & Q:
What are the signs and symptoms of head lice infestation?

Tickling feeling of something moving in the hair.
Itching, caused by an allergic reaction to the bites of the head louse.
Irritability and difficulty sleeping; head lice are most active in the dark.
Sores on the head caused by scratching. These sores can sometimes become infected with bacteria found on the person’s skin

How is a head lice infestation diagnosed?
The diagnosis of a head lice infestation is best made by finding a live nymph or adult louse on the scalp or hair of a person. Because nymphs and adult lice are very small, move quickly, and avoid light, they can be difficult to find. Use of a magnifying lens and a fine-toothed comb may be helpful to find live lice. If crawling lice are not seen, finding nits firmly attached within a 1/4 inch of the base of the hair shafts strongly suggests, but does not confirm, that a person is infested and should be treated. Nits that are attached more than 1/4 inch from the base of the hair shaft are almost always dead or already hatched. Nits are often confused with other things found in the hair such as dandruff, hairspray droplets, and dirt particles. If you are not sure if a person has head lice, the diagnosis should be made by their health care provider, local health department, or other person trained to identify live head lice.

Will laundering kill head lice?
Washing, soaking, or drying items at a temperature greater than 130°F can kill both head lice and nits. Dry cleaning also kills head lice and nits. Only items that have been in contact with the head of the infested person in the 48 hours before treatment should be considered for cleaning. Although freezing temperatures can kill head lice and nits, several days may be necessary depending on temperature and humidity; freezing is rarely (if ever) needed as a means for treating head lice.

For more Information about LICE visit http://www.licedetectives.com/

Lice Detiectives is a sponsor of our National Nanny Training Day in Chicago!

Motherhood The Musical – A baby is just the beginning. Stretch marks are forever.

Erin Krex — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 18:10:42 +0000

Motherhood The Musical is a proud sponsor of National Nanny Training Day in Chicago! First Class Care has 10 sets of tickets to raffle off!!!

From GFour Productions, the Producers of Menopause The Musical^®

Previews March 30 at the Royal George Theatre for a limited run

CHICAGO, IL – The joyous journey and loving look at the blessings and perils of being a Mom is the subject of the new musical sensation, Motherhood the Musical® starring Madeline Duffy-Feins as “Amy,” Jennifer Chada as “Barb,” Kimberly Vanbiesbrouck as “Brooke,” and Melody Betts as “Tasha.” The hilarious and insightful musical previews at the Royal George Theatre, 1641 N. Halsted, previews March 30, opens April 12 and runs through May 20. Hailed as “Engaging, hilarious, and touching!” by Variety, Motherhood the Musical® is produced by GFour Productions, the team who successfully brought Menopause The Musical® to every major market in the United States.

Motherhood the Musical® opened with a sold-out premiere run in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. in fall 2010, where it was named “Best Musical” by the Broward-Palm Beach New Times. It has delighted sold out audiences in cities across the U.S. including Tampa; Fort Worth, Texas; Richardson, Texas; Atlanta and Philadelphia. The production is currently on a 65-city tour in Australia. In addition to Chicago, the 2012 production will play Huntsville, Ala.; Atlanta; Mesa, Ariz.; and Providence. The 90-minute musical features a local cast in each city.

Motherhood the Musical® is written by author and songwriter Sue Fabisch, a mother who understands that sometimes the best way to cope with the joys and trials of motherhood is to share the experience with other moms. The 20-song musical includes the hilarious Billboard Top 10 comedy hit, “The Kids Are Finally Asleep;” the rousing call-to-shoppers, “Costco Queen;” and the tender ballad, “I’m Danny’s Mom.” Motherhood the Musical® shares the humorous and loving journey of Amy, a soon-to-be first-time mom; Barb, an over-worked, underpaid, stressed-out mother of five; Brooke, a lawyer who works too much and barely sees her kids; and Tasha, a single mom struggling to balance work, family and a divorce. The four-member company is directed and choreographed by Broadway’s Lisa Shriverand award-winner Johnny Rodgers supplies music direction and supervision, arrangements and orchestrations.

“Motherhood the Musical® is the rare show that audiences not only relate to – they actually can ‘see’ themselves on stage through the cast’s portrayal of common experiences all moms have,” says Kathi Glist, Motherhood the Musical® producer and co-founder of GFour Productions. “From being pregnant to succumbing to driving a minivan, from facing an empty nest to anxiously awaiting one’s first grandchild, the musical really covers the entire wonderful, crazy journey of being a mom. Anyone who has ever been a parent–fathers as well as mothers–can relate to this show.”

GFour Productions
South Florida-based GFour Productions is one of the fastest growing production and management companies in the theatrical community, bringing shows to small regional theaters, Broadway and beyond. They began producing in 1981 with Nine, winning the Tony Award® that year for Best Musical. Among their favorite Broadway productions are My One And Only, Zorba The Greek starring Anthony Quinn, BABY, The Rink, Grand Hotel, Grind, Big, True West, the original and the revival of La Cage Aux Folles which won them the Tony Award for Best Musical in 1983 and the Tony Award for Best Revival in 2004, Catskills On Broadway; I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change, and their production of Dolly Parton’s 9 to 5: The Musical, currently on a national tour. GFour is also the producer of the international hit, Menopause The Musical®, which has entertained audiences in more than 450 U.S. cities, nearly 300 international cities and a total of 15 countries. Their combined shows have been nominated for 76 Tony Awards, winning 30; 53 Drama Desk Awards, winning 23; and 13 Outer Critics Circle Awards, winning nine. For more information, visit www.gfourproductions.com.

Tickets are on sale and range from $48 – $65. Performances are Wednesdays and Thursdays at 7:30 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays at 2 p.m. and Sundays at 5:30 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at www.ticketmaster.com, by calling 800.982.2787 or at the Royal George Theatre box office, 1641 North Halsted Street. Groups of 10 or more pay just $35 for the March 30 – May 16 performances. For discounts for groups of ten or more, call Group Theater Tix at 312.423.6612.

For additional ticket information, visit www.theroyalgeorgetheatre.com. For more information about the musical, visit www.motherhoodthemusical.com.

Is Your Time Your Most Precious Asset? Good Karma is Here to Help!

Erin Krex — Sun, 08 Apr 2012 13:04:28 +0000

By Sharon Schneider, Founder & CEO of Good Karma Clothing for Kids

With Spring in the air, you probably have been thinking that you need to cycle out the too-small, Winter baby clothes in the drawers and replace them with larger, lighter outfits. If you’re like me, you just haven’t found the time, and when you do get around to it, you’re wondering what to do with the Winter Clothes and where to get a few more spring outfits.

After facing this challenge a few dozen times with my three kids (after all, babies go through 7 sizes in the first two years!) I thought, “There has to be someone who can do all this for us!” There wasn’t, so I started a company to do it: Good Karma Clothing for Kids.

Good Karma Clothing for Kids is a monthly subscription service that allows you to get great clothes from your favorite brands and designers, in the sizes you need, when you need them. After signing up on our website (www.goodkarma.co), you’ll receive your first bundle of 7 outfits within a few days, washed in environmentally- and baby-friendly detergent and ready to wear. Use them until baby hits a growth spurt, and then just send them back in the prepaid, reusable shipping bag to exchange for the next size up. Whether baby basics or boutique brands, you can supplement what you have or build a wardrobe from scratch. It’s the perfect trifecta for busy moms: save time, save money and save the planet.

I know what you’re thinking: what if an outfit gets dirty? What if the baby has a diaper disaster and an outfit is stained beyond salvation? Not to worry. We’re moms, too, and we know that sh—I mean spit happens. Send it back anyway and we’ll turn everything that isn’t able to be re-used into “upcycled” baby bibs, quilts and other products to get the most life out of the good fabric.

And for all you moms who are involved at your kid’s school or daycare, there’s more good news. Good Karma builds its inventory of like-new baby clothes by partnering with schools and nonprofits to sponsor “Clean out Your Closet Fundraisers.” There’s nothing to buy—you just ask parents to bring in their like-new baby clothes as a donation to the school. Good Karma pays cash for the clothing, and everyone wins: families get a tax deduction, the school gets cash (easily $1,000 or more just for providing volunteers to greet parents who “drop off donations while dropping off the kids”) and Good Karma gets inventory for other parents.

You can find more details on our fundraisers here (goodkarma.co/fundraiser), or by emailing info@goodkarma.co.

Good Karma is a sponsor of our National Nanny Training Day in Chicago April 28th.

Our Nanny is our MVP

Erin Krex — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 17:21:27 +0000

A message from Jessica
BabbaCo by Jessica Kim
(http://www.babbaco.com/)

Creating harmony at home is not something that just happens. It takes effort, love, compassion and understanding. The health and happiness of my children are paramount to everything else in my life. Our family is a team– strong, determined and supportive beyond measure.

In our house, our team MVP is our nanny. She doesn’t live with us but she is with my children (gulp) sometimes more than I am. She loves my little guys to pieces, keeps them happy, busy, heals their boo-boos, makes many of their meals, knows their friends and, above all, keeps them safe. She “gets them” and has from the beginning. When their mix of babble and baby talk were unrecognizable, our nanny always knew what they were saying. She knows what they won’t eat, what toy they can’t sleep without and how to avert a meltdown. She’s part Mary Poppins, part Super Nanny, but mostly, she has become my dear and trusted friend.

I don’t treat my nanny as our hired help because she is so much more than that. We communicate clearly and frequently. We listen to each other, exchange ideas and treat one another with mutual respect and understanding. We say thank you. We are good to each other.

This open line of communication has not only allowed us to nurture a strong and enriching relationship, but it makes my kids feel happy and safe. We are all connected, all in touch and all part of the team that makes up this (awesome!) family.

***

About “BabbaCo by Jessica Kim”: The BabbaBox is a monthly subscription box that is delivered to your home with ALL the physical materials plus know-how content to really engage with your kids. Learn all about it here: http://www.babbaco.com/babbabox

BabbaCo is a sponsor of our National Nanny Training Day!