IN THIS ISSUE:
Message from Kathy |
Calendar |
Ask the Expert
MBF in the News | MBF Superstars | Craft Activity
Job Openings at MBF |
Serving the Community
Welcome to our Spring Newsletter!
At MBF, we are always looking for new ways to  support you in the marvelous work you do. Starting in February, in an effort to give you more opportunities to ask questions and get answers on whatever topics you think are most important, we began offering two question and answer forums—one for nannies and one for clients—on a quarterly basis. These are designed to be open forums in which you can learn how to improve or maintain a positive and productive relationship with your employer family, with extra opportunities for one-on-one coaching. They’re also confidential, meaning you can feel free to discuss whatever you what to without reservation.
Cecelia Zapalac, our Nanny Network Coordinator, also has included some fantastic summer travel tips in our Ask the Expert section below.
As we move forward, we are committed to continuing to find new ways to build on our support system. That’s because we want you to remain confident that our work on your behalf never ends at placement.
Yours,
Kathy Dupuy, Owner and Founder
Playgroup Schedule
 Playgroup will meet at around 10 a.m. and can last until around 1 p.m. (You leave when ever you need to go). Please bring a lunch for yourself as well as your charge. We will make a note if we plan on eating at a restaurant.
Please don't try to change our location at the last minute. It is unfair to any nannies that weren't called about the change. Non- weather related changes should be SUGGESTED to the group, via the nanny network yahoo group, no later than 24 hours prior to the event.
- Wednesday, March 26: Zilker Park- train costs $2.75 adults, $1.75 12 and under, 1 and under is free. rides are every hour on the hour so let's shoot for 11 AM (Indoor alternative- Going Bananas 11600 Manchaca Building 2)
- For April dates, please email austinareananny@yahoo.com to contact Cecelia Zapalac, Nanny Network Coordinator, for more information, and to receive future updates.
Q: My employers have just asked me if I would travel with them during the summer. I’m really excited but a bit nervous since I’ve never traveled as a nanny before. What should I do to ensure we all have a smooth trip?
A: Traveling with families can be really great. With a little bit of preparation, the trip can be both relaxing and enjoyable for everyone and your employer will never want to travel without you again. There are several things you must know and do before you leave to ensure everything go smoothly.
 The first and most important thing to do is have a one-on-one meeting with your employers well before your trip! This is crucial! Discuss all aspects of the trip so that you don’t have any misunderstanding about anything later. Remember, If your employers have never traveled with a nanny before, they might not know about things like proper compensation and time off. Here are the four most important areas to discuss in you meeting:
- Expectations: Discuss and come to an agreement about the expecations each of you have for the trip.
- Accommodations: Will the children be in your room or will you have your own room for some down time?
- Compensation: Discuss any extra paid hours or time that will be off while traveling.
- Discipline and rules for the children: Sometimes it’s hard to know what the standard practices are while traveling, and it's a great subject to address.
You should also keep the mindset of a nanny and think about any obstacles that may come up away from home, so you can prepare for them. Don’t leave all the planning for your employers. Try to come up with ideas for activities to do with the children during down time in the hotel or airports. It’s always a good idea to books, pack games, videos, coloring materials, or small toys.
Remember to be professional while traveling. Just because your vacationing doesn’t mean you can underperform. Your employers will still be expecting you to act appropriately. Some things to remember:
- Be on time when on the clock
- Try to keep your things and the children's things organized and ready to go
- Be patient with your employer as well as the children
- Everything might not be perfectly planned out so go with the flow and be flexible
Lastly, don’t forget to have fun and pack lots of sun screen!
Thanks!
Cecelia Zapalac, Nanny Network Coordinator
Ways to Help Find a Good Nanny
KVUE News Austin turned to Mom's Best Friend in a story about how to avoid nanny hiring issues.
Mom's Best Friend Gives Back
Child-friendly publication Parent: Wise Austin described the details of the Mom's Best Friend Charity Program.
Parent: Wise Austin, February, 2008
How are Austinites Connecting with each other for child care?
The Austin Business Journal solicited several local families regarding their childcare preferences, and several noted Mom's Best Friend as their nanny / sitter agency choice!
Austin Business Journal, January 25, 2008
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Martha has extensive experience as a childcare provider and manager of other providers, and has been in charge of developing educational curriculum and instruction. She was owner and director of Touch of Home Daycare in Buda for over three years, and a teacher and caregiver at Rocking Horse Academy and First Christian Childcare for several years before that.
One particular family applauded Martha for her “wonderful talent teaching young children,” and noted that children do not want to leave her care at the end of the day. Martha holds a master’s degree in education, a certificate in early childhood education, and a bachelor’s in business administration.
She was placed with an MBF family at the beginning of September and has been a wonderful addition to their family since that time. The family said she does everything and more and have nicknamed her "Supernanny." |
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Tori is patient, energetic, and fun. Tori brings a wide variety of childcare experience into any assignment. She has worked as a daycare lead teacher, a special needs teaching assistant, an after school teacher, a preschool teacher, and a sitter.
“Dependable, patient,” and “resourceful” are some of the words that her former employers have used to describe her. She has worked with special needs children for years and has ample experience with Fragile X syndrome, Down’s syndrome, speech delays, autism, and mental retardation.
Tori enjoys playing school, taking trips to the library, and volunteering with her charges. In her spare time, Tori writes children’s stories, dances, acts, and practices photography.
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Egg Carton Tulips
Materials:
- Egg carton
- Paint
- Popsicle stick or pipe cleaner
- Glue
Instructions:
- Cut out a few egg carton cups
- Cut each cup to look like tulip petals
- Poke a hole in the bottom of the cup and insert and glue a pipe cleaner or Popsicle stick as a stem
Internal Position: Placement Coordinator
Mom's Best Friend is seeking a Placement Coordinator in our Austin office. The primary role is to screen and process all incoming sitter candidates, schedule and complete in-person interviews, keep available sitter pool’s availability current in contact management system, and place nannies on available temporary jobs. The position requires a multi-taking, fast-paced individual with great oral and written communication skills. Microsoft Office knowledge is also required, and prior office experience is a plus. If interested, please email Laura Patterson with your resume, and request a detailed job description.
Exciting Job Opportunities!
MBF is always offering amazing opportunities with great families! Currently in Austin, we have family 6279 seeking a full-time nanny with newborn experience and family 56453 looking for a part-time nanny to help with 2 teens. We also have  some great Executive Housekeeping positions with families 6294 and 2227! We would love to have more Temp Nannies who are available all day to help out our amazing families. If you know someone who is looking for part-time work, this is a great job for them with really flexible hours! Corporate Back-up childcare is also a great way for our nannies to meet wonderful families and help out working parents! Please let us know if you know anyone who might be interested in these positions.
Also don’t forget to check out the job board for all of the amazing opportunities we have available.
Creating Keepsake Boxes at the Settlement Home
 Each quarter, our staff looks forward to our time with the girls at The Settlement Home. In February, we worked with 25 girls on an afternoon when they were off from school. We decorated and transformed shoe boxes into fabulous keepsake boxes! The creative juices were really flowing as the girls spent over an hour creating little masterpieces to keep in their rooms to remind them of fun special memories.
Mom's Best Friend Charity Program
Mom's Best Friend continues to donate $25 of every membership fee to local child-related charities. What a wonderful partnership we are making with our client families and the community!
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