| IN THIS ISSUE:
Message from Kathy | Ask the Expert | MBF Superstars
Craft Activity | What Clients and Nannies Are Saying
Job Openings at MBF | Serving the Community Summer Greetings!
As I speak to nannies, I continue to hear themes of partnership and teamwork between you and your employers. MBF families place a great amount of dependence on you to help “run their lives.” As amazing caregivers (the title is no coincidence as you do indeed care for the whole family), you are always stepping up to the plate to take on greater responsibility, ease the often heavy burden of your employers and walk alongside them to assist in whatever capacity is most needed. In my household, that may change on a daily basis! My precious nanny of 2 years functions as camp director, driver, chef, trainer, personal assistant, project manager, travel companion, activities coordinator, personal shopper, and much more! I can barely function a day that she is not a part of this parenting team responsible for molding and shaping the character and development of four little lives! Many hours have been spent brainstorming together on creating goals and plans for fine motor skills, large motor skills, language development, cognitive development and social/emotional development. Together, we work toward achieving these goals and then together, we celebrate the victories!
Thanks for doing a great job and contributing to a wonderful partnership with your families! Kathy Dupuy, Owner and Founder
Everyone knows that good communication between employer and nanny is key to a successful relationship. Many nannies are used to talking with their boss about what needs to be done when they get to work in the morning and giving them a run down of the children’s day when they return in the evening. This is a great way to keep everyone on the same page about what happens on a daily basis, but what about setting developmental goals for the children? How do you fit this into your daily talks with your employer?
 Going over developmental goals on a daily basis can be a little daunting and probably unrealistic. Most homes are hectic at the end of the day with children being excited to see their parents and parents being tired from work. A better time to discuss setting long term developmental goals would be at a monthly one-on-one meeting. This meeting should be set up without the children being present and at a time when mom and dad can focus on you and the meeting.
There are a couple of steps you can take to make these meetings a success and therefore help your charges succeed: - Wow your boss by being prepared for the meeting! Do some research about child development. Look up what some of the developmental milestones are for fine motor skills, large motor skills, language development, cognitive development and social/emotional development for a child the same age as your charge. Remember, all children develop at different rates. Assess your charges' abilities in these areas and set some realistic goals for the next month or so in these areas.
- Put your thoughts on paper so you can keep the conversation on track and not lose your train of thought. (We have the perfect form for this at MBF- email me at ctaoftx@aol.com for a copy.)
- Provide your employers with a copy of your plan to help your boss better visualize the goals you have set and also give them a place to put their ideas down too. Keep an open mind about what they might want you to work on and don’t take it personally if they don’t agree with some of your observations or goals you have set. This is their child after all, so you want to be mindful of what you are saying about the child and always try to avoid statements that would imply the parents have done something wrong. You may not always agree on what is most important for the child to be learning, as long as you end up agreeing what goals you will be working toward together.
- Keep a daily log about your activities as a great way to track milestones.
- Celebrate their accomplishments, whether it be with a hug, a high five, or a trip to TCBY.
- Make a big deal about a success to help your charge want to succeed. Don’t forget to reinforce good behavior and show enthusiasm, as well as having the children with you when you are talking to mom about the child’s accomplishments.
- Lastly, remember to write down these accomplishments so that you and your boss can go over these accomplishments at next month’s one-on-one meeting and also so you all can celebrate your success as a team. Hey, go to TCBY- you deserve it!
Cecelia Zapalac, Austin Nanny Network Coordinator
| | | | | | | | | Rosa is a wonderful nanny who is originally from Venezuela, where she was a teacher. She spent the past fourteen years as a nanny manager for a family of three children. She helped the family tremendously by not only providing loving care for the children and taking them to various activities, but by preparing meals, and doing laundry and cleaning. Rosa has a giving heart, spending her free time visiting children at the Shriners Burns Hospital at Galveston. | | Camille is currently studying Psychology at Houston Community College and plans to attend the University of Houston in 2009. Camille has nannied for 3 families with children ranging in ages of two through thirteen years. She loves being outside with her kids taking trips to the zoo, museums, and the park. She encourages leaning by incorporating teaching into daily activities and making education fun. Camille has always been there to help her kids with homework.. One of Camille’s families described her as “one of those people that always goes above and beyond.” |
Bubbles with Bubble Blower Materials Needed for Bubbles: - 1/2 cup Dish soap
- 1 1/2 cups Water
- 2 teaspoons Sugar
- Mixing bowl or cup
- Spoon
Mix all 3 ingredients together and pour into pan, bowl or plate. Materials Needed For Bubble Blower: - Drinking straws
- 1 plastic six pack can holder (6 plastic ring holders which hold cans together)
- Tape
- Pan, Bowl or Deep Plate (to hold bubble mixture)
Instructions: - Cut the 6 pack holder into three rows of two.
- Tape the holder to the straw.
- Pour bubbles into bowl or pan.
- Dip into bubbles and wave threw the air
 MBF should be commended for its response time to requests and availability.
--Derek A, Nanny Client - The sitter was great. She really interacted well with my son. They played board games, hide and seek, and much more. I was very pleased with her service. Thanks so much! It really eased my mind knowing I could leave my child in very capable hands and feel comfortable doing so. I appreciate your time helping me in a time of need.
--Angie J, Sitter Client - You work very hard to make sure that I get all the jobs I can. You also make sure that the clients who request me, get what they ask...you are my great agent working very hard on my behalf and looking out for my best interest.
-- Temujin Scott, Sitter
Exciting Job Opportunities!
MBF is always offering amazing opportunities with great families! Currently in Houston we have family 60385 looking for an overnight nanny for an adorable 2 year old boy! We also have family 6297 looking for full-time infant care for their sweet 6 month old baby boy.
In the household staffing department, we have some amazing opportunities with families 12989 and 13209 seeking Executive Housekeepers. If you know of anyone seeking employment in South/Southwest Houston, please let them know we have some wonderful positions! If you know someone who is looking for part-time work, send them our way because we are seeking Temp Nannies with lots of availability! Corporate Back-up childcare is also a great way for our nannies to meet wonderful families and help out working parents while getting in some great hours! Please let us know if you know anyone who might be interested in these positions. Referral bonuses are always in effect! Also, don’t forget to check out the job board for all of the amazing opportunities we have available!
Each quarter, our staff looks forward to our time with  the girls at The Settlement Home. Coming up at the end of July, our ladies at MBF will make crafts and decorate cookies with the girls. We are looking foward to a day of fun and interaction with the girls! The girls can give their creations to their house parents and friends!
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