Parent Gifts for any Season

by MaryAnn X. Meddish

2009 INA Nanny of the Year

reprinted with permission Regarding Nannies

Once again it is that time of year where we all start scratching out heads trying to figure out what to get our employers. I have been asked for ideas so many times over the years that I started keeping a list of ideas, it keeps changing so here are some tried~n~true and some new ideas for you to refer to all through the year as anniversaries, birthdays, Mother’s and Father’s days, Grandparent’s day, and next years holidays start to gang up on you. Craft gifts you can make with your charges: These ideas can also be used to make gifts for extended family members and the household staff (i.e. an apron for the cook, flowerpots for the gardener, a scrapbook for the Au-pair). Remember that the expense of craft supplies is usually covered by the employers or you can ask for a Christmas allowance for the children to make gifts.

Read the entire article at Regarding Nannies

Car Seat Safety - November Guest Speaker

Please join us at our November meeting. We will have a certified Child Passenger Safety Technician present us with the latest information on car seats and much more.

This course will help you learn which stage of car seat is appropriate for your child; when your child should be rear facing, in a forward facing harness, in a booster seat or adult seat belt. You will learn what to look for when shopping for a new car seat, and how to properly use it. You will learn how to tell if the car seat is properly installed, and where to find help if it's not.

You can RSVP to the meeting by:

• Replying to you member evite.
• Email us at events@dcareanannies.com
• Call us at 866.841.9139 Ext. 2176

All are welcome! Bring a friend.

Kathy Gutierrez has been a professional nanny since 2000, and a mother since 2006. In effort to keep her children and charges safe, she became a Child Passenger Safety Technician (CPST) in 2008. After certification, she worked side by side with a CPST Instructor with 25 years experience, and continues to do so.

The Nanny Financial Corner

by Alice Shaffer @ The Financial Nanny

Getting Ready to Start a Budget
As I have mentioned, being a professional live in nanny has wonderful benefits and sometimes a downfall of falling into debt. I have been working with a budget lately and wanted to help others set one up so they can be as financially responsible.

Over the coming weeks, I am going to share with you how to set up a budget along with weekly homework assignments that help you get to the next step in making a budget.

This week we will gather money totals for everything - money coming in and money going out. I suggest getting a one subject notebook for your budget and keeping things together. We will eventually put the budget on a spreadsheet so that it will do the calculating for you.

Here’s what you need to get started:
For all of the following you need the amount due, payment due date, amount of loan/balances of accounts, and interest rates.
*Your last paycheck (preferably two) and a schedule of when you get paid (weekly, bi-weekly, bi-monthly, etc) with dates
*Credit card bills (most recent)- Visa, MasterCard, Sears, Discover, Kohl's - all of them
*Banking information - this includes checking, savings, money market, CDs, Savings Bonds including fees.
*IRA/401K/Brokerage account balances and information
*Insurance paperwork - car, life, health, pet, home/renter's, etc.
*Utilities –phone, cell, internet, cable/satellite, electric, rent, water/sewer, trash, and appliances etc
*Student loans or other personal loans
*Prescription & health care costs
*Subscription/Membership fees - Health club dues/fees, Netflix, union dues, etc
*Doctor/dentist visits

Daily living:
*Groceries, clothing, eating out, dry cleaning, salon/spa services, gas, snacks, bus/metro/subway/cab fares, movie rentals, concerts, purchase of music/DVDs/books/toys/birthday presents, pet supplies, magazine & newspaper subscriptions

Yearly/Semi Yearly expenses:

*car insurance, organization membership fees, conference fees, hotel fees, vacation, tuition, music/language lessons, charitable donations
*anything else that you pay for or collect interest on

This is a large list of items to work on. I promise you that when we get this budget together, you will feel great about yourself.

Homework
In addition, to gathering the above information I would like for you to track ALL of your EXPENSES for this week. You can carry an index card and write down all cash/credit/debit purchases or write them in a notebook. This will help us figure out where you money goes and what kind of budget you need to work with.

If you want a spreadsheet to report them on, here you go Monthly Expenses

To find out other steps in setting up a budget please visit: http://www.thefinancialnanny.com/
Part 2: Setting up a Budget

Part 3: Putting everything into your spreadsheet

The Maid Movie

The Maid won this year’s Sundance Film Festival Award and will be premiering in DC on October 30th at the Landmark’s E Street Cinema.

THE MAID is a Chilean film about a woman named Raquel, who works as a live- in maid for a wealthy family in Santiago. We see Raquel go through an emotional journey as she tries to find her way back to becoming loving and open to others as she has trained herself to be cold and distant.

This film touches on Chilean culture along with the roles women play within a household.

Please feel free to watch the trailer at http://www.themaidmovie.com/ .

You can also become a fan of THE MAID MOVIE on Facebook and follow us on TWITTER.

What, Exactly, is a Nanny?

by Christine Watson Holsen

ADCAN Board at Large

The big question was raised at the most recent monthly meeting of ADCAN members: What exactly is a nanny? What sets her apart from a babysitter, an au pair, a parent/mother's helper, etc.? ADCAN Vice-president Janinne Gardner had been thinking about that question ever since she attended the recent Nannypalooza Conference. A speaker at that conference offered a definition that did not satisfy her. At the meeting, Janinne first asked the members to jot down their own definitions on index cards, then she gave a brief list, from dictionaries, nanny agencies associations, and from Wikipedia. There followed a general discussion of how a babysitter or an au pair differs from a nanny. The members agreed that a babysitter provided "basic supervision," and "follows the parents' instructions." An au pair, they agreed, is "a foreign exchange student who serves as the mother's helper" and becomes "part of the family." Her primary interest is educational opportunity and international travel."

The members then split into three working groups for in-depth discussions, which were at times quite passionate. When they reconvened, a representative summarized the views within each group, and the whole group discussed them. There was consensus on some basic points, and difference of opinion on others. On the question of how much authority and autonomy a nanny should have, for instance: "I'm a great nanny because I can adapt to my family's needs," or "I have no say in consequences/punishment [for a child's negative behavior]," vs. "... and adult who co-parents and assumes responsibility for the children in her care..." In the end it was agreed that this was different in every situation.

The definitions submitted anonymously by each participant before the discussion started showed an even greater range of views, including: "...first of all an educator, not a housekeeper.... a guide, a counselor, a second mother, disciplinarian...", "...takes full care of children (no parent at home)...", "...searches for ... opportunities for professional development and has no other defined agenda besides child care.", "does not use TV as a babysitter", "Mom substitute -- all things related to child(ren) + field-related continuing education."

This "focus group’s” consensus definition of a Professional Nanny :
* Legal
* CPR/First Aid certified
* Makes it her career, not just a job
* Pursues ongoing training through meetings, conferences, etc.
* Has the experience and confidence to advise and direct parents. Has the ability to offer options, resources and recommendations. Teaches parents how to parent.

Your thoughts on this important and complicated subject would be much appreciated by the author, possibly to be used in a follow-up article. Please email Christine at McLeanBabyPro@gmail.com.

This article appeared in the November / December ADCAN Newsletter.

Don't Miss the Next Sensory Friendly Film!

AMC Entertainment (AMC) & Autism Society of America bring families affected by autism and other disabilities a special opportunity to enjoy their favorite films in a safe and accepting environment on a monthly basis with the ”Sensory Friendly Films” program.



Read the entire article here ....

Nanny Groups blog features ADCAN!

ADCAN has been featured on Nanny Groups blog. Check it out.

An Awesome Trip to The Dump

After moving out of our old house and into a new one this weekend, a trip to The Dump (aka The Montgomery County Solid Waste Transfer Station) was in order. Neither the kids nor I had ever been, and boy, were we in for a treat. What I thought was going to be a dull domestic duty turned out to be an accidentally awesome family outing.

Read the rest of the story ....

Jessica writes A Parent In Silver Spring, a website with lots of fun outing ideas for both parents and nannies to share with their children.

Ways to Save ... The Financial Nanny

Ways to Save Money this Summer and all year round!

I just started getting the magazine All You. You can only get it at Wal-Mart or via subscription. I got an assume deal on the subscription through Southern Living at Home for $19.99 for two years. In store it costs around $1.99. That is a savings of about $24! The cool thing about this magazine is that it is chocked full of useful coupons from food, bathroom and household items etc. I also like that it has a month worth of meal planning and recipes to go with it. I will be getting a link to purchase it shortly up on my blog, The Financial Nanny.

The June 26 issue has a great article on when to buy things to get the best price. For the month of July, your best deals are on gym memberships. You can most likely get a great deal on a month to month membership. The gyms are trying to keep their membership quotas through the summer months. If you have been looking to join the gym, it sounds like now is the time. For the month of August, is of course, the biggest back to school shopping events. Everything from clothes, crayons, notebooks, pencils, pens and computers have large discounts on them. If you are in the department for a new air conditioner or camping equipment, August provides healthy deals too.

Are you one of the people who don’t like paying full price for things? If so, I have a website for you! This website, Current Codes, contains codes for over 2000 websites. These codes can be used for discounts on purchases and shipping etc.

Nannypalooza Deals:
There are two ways to enter for a free conference registration to Nannypalooza in the fall. The first one is sponsored from NannyNetwork/Homework Solutions

Details:
How to Win:

#1 You must be a registered NannyNetwork.com Bulletin Board Poster with a minimum of 5 posts on 5 separate dates. Why? NannyNetwork.com wants to reward loyal posters who understand the value of networking with peers.

#2 You must be a nanny! Sorry, business representatives and others are ineligible.

#3 Contest is open June 1, 2009 - July 31, 2009.

#4 Email Webmaster at NannyNetwork.com with the following information: Subject = NannyPalooza 2009, NN Screen Name, Your Name, Your email Address, Your Telephone Number, Sentence (or more) on why you post at NannyNetwork.com that may be quoted on NannyNetwork.com.

#5 HomeWork Solutions will choose a winner at random.


The Conference Pass and Hotel Room night are NON TRANSFERABLE. All entries agree that their name and quotation ONLY may be posted by the operators of NannyNetwork.com when announcing the winner. The winner agrees to confirm within 10 business days their firm intention to attend. If you are the lucky winner and you cannot attend - please have the courtesy of allowing another nanny to attend.

The next one is the Nannypalooza Bounce Back Scholarship. Details:
It’s been a tough year for our industry. Many longtime nannies have lost their jobs and are finding it challenging to land a new position at a livable wage. One of the results is that some past Nannypalooza attendees won’t be able to join us this year because of their financial situation.NANC, with the help of some generous nanny sponsors, is offering a scholarship to help those nannies make it to Nannypalooza 2009. The scholarship includes conference registration and Saturday night accommodations at the Doubletree Bethesda Hotel.

Eligibility Requirements

• Worked as a nanny for at least one year and lost her job due to economic reasons.


• Currently unemployed and actively looking for a permanent position OR currently working but were unemployed for 4 or more months between Nannypalooza 2008 and now.


• Attended a Nannypalooza in the past.


• Facing a financial situation that would making attending Nannypalooza 2009 a hardship.

To enter to win the Nannypalooza Bounce Back Scholarship, please send your full name, your city / state, and support group affiliation if you have one to info@nannycredential.org with Bounce Back in the subject line. On Friday, August, 14th, we’ll draw a name from random and notify the lucky winner.

Fun and Learning - Everyday Adventures in Montgomery County, MD

Another great resource for those who live in or are headed to Montgomery County, MD.

Fun and Learning - Everyday Adventures in Montgomery County Maryland

Thanks to Alice Shaffer for providing this information.

Things to Do - Washington DC

Thanks to Alice Shaffer for providing this great information.

Things to Do - Washington DC

Things to Do - Virginia

Thanks to Alice Shaffer for providing this great information.

Things to Do - Virginia

Come back and check out Things to Do - DC.

Things to Do - Maryland

Thanks to Alice Shaffer for providing this great information.

Things to Do - Maryland

Come back and check out Things to Do - Virginia and Things to do - DC.

Great Giveaway Open to All Nannies

Check out the NEW blogs of The Financial Nanny and Gentle Transitions for an exiting opportunity to win a FREE INA Membership.

The Nanny Financial Corner - Oh Budget!

The following article appeared in the May/June 2009 ADCAN newsletter.

by Alice Shaffer

Oh Budget!

We have all been told at one time or another we need to follow a budget. However the problem we run into is how exactly to set one up and where our money goes. We would all love a personal financial planner but can't afford one. Today I bring you some hope to this frustrating process. I recently discovered an incredible site called Mint.com. This is a FREE site that is the next best thing to a financial planner. It tracks your spending habits over the past 90 days. It will sync and track your financial accounts, help create budgets and alerts you if you have been charged a bank fee or have gone over your monthly budget. There is also a feature that analyzes your accounts and can recommend additional checking and savings accounts for better interest rates including credit cards. It provides you with a pie chart of your expenses and investments. This is great if you are a visual person. Mint automatically categorizes expenses and line items which is very useful. You can also create your own categories if the default ones don’t make sense to you.

I went to the site and in about 10 minutes I had signed up for my account. The main information you need is your login, password, and security question for all the accounts you want to track. Now you might be saying "Why, would I give them access to my information?" They use the same security sign in systems as your credit cards and banks. They are a "read only" site. They don't have your account numbers. You cannot move money around in this system. For more information on their privacy policies please go here. It is a secured network.

Mint.com was named one of the 50 best websites of 2008 by Time Magazine and has won multiple Webby and PC World awards. It was also named Best New Financial Service at the American Business Awards.

Measles Outbreak Warning - Maryland

Thanks to ADCAN Member Taylor Augustine for providing this information .....

http://www.wtop.com/index.php?nid=706&sid=1649416

Measles watch intensifies in Montgomery Co. ROCKVILLE, Md. - A measles watch in Montgomery County is intensifying. County and state health officials are asking anyone who was admitted to the emergency room at Shady Grove Adventist Hospital last weekend to call 301-826-6000. The potential for exposure to measles would have occurred last weekend while a patient was being treated in the emergency room. The patient was kept in the hospital's short-stay unit from April 5 to April 7. Earlier this year, measles was detected when an unvaccinated resident returned from a trip overseas. Since then, two adults and an infant have been diagnosed with measles. The first thing you'll notice with measles is a fever. "Once you develop the rash though, along with the fever, we want people to suspect measles," says Cindy Edwards, nurse administrator of Montgomery County's Department of Health and Human Services.
Other symptoms include:
· Runny nose;
· Red, watery eyes;
· Cough (can be similar to croup);
· Small red spots, with blue and white centers inside of the mouth.
But health officials are asking that you don't just go to the doctor or emergency room. "We want them to call ahead or sit out in the car until they can notify them that they are coming in and that they have a fever and a rash, so they can be immediately isolated and we can protect the other people in the area," Edwards says.

ADCAN Member wins INA Conference Scholarship Contest

Congratulations Alice Shaffer.

To read Alice's winning essay, visit her blog at Nanny Adventures.

The Nanny Financial Corner - How to have fun with a smaller budget!

The following article appeared in the March/April 2009 ADCAN Newsletter


The Nanny Financial Corner

by Alice Shaffer


How to have fun with a smaller budget! Having fun sometimes takes money, doesn't it? Well I have found 10 ways for you to have fun, look good, stay healthy and still save money. These cover areas from books, movies, exercising, dental care and sightseeing. Let us know what worked for you and what didn't.


1. Buying Books. Books are wonderful, but did you know that you can get them free at the library? Of course you probably do since you take your charges to story time and check out books. So why don't you check out books there instead of buying them at the store for $8-$25 each? You can easily save $100 dollars a month on books by checking them out at the library. Pull out your library card and make a visit today. Many times you can reserve the books online or get on a waiting list.

2. Trade books you’ve read for books you want to read! For the cost of postage, PaperbackSwap members receive credits for books they want by swapping books they’ve read. To get started you just need to fill out the registration form, submit 10 of your books you want to swap (using ISPN numbers) and you receive two credits free to get you started. You can use those credits immediately to get two books from someone else. Each book is worth one credit. Once someone requests a book from you, you mail them the requested book, and when they receive it - you get a credit. Then you can start requesting books you want, and others ship to you. All done through the PBS website, you print shipping labels and can even pay postage through their site. Drop in the mail or at the post office, and you’re on your way to reading some great books. You can also swap children’s books, and audio books. So start going through those shelves and boxes full of old books and make room for new ones. Easy as 1-2-3.

3.DVD purchases: You can go to www.dvdpricesearch.com/ and search for the DVD’s you want and where they are located for the lowest price. Also check out www.deepdiscount.com/, which has a large number of new and old DVD’s at discount rates. Checking out Amazon is a great idea too as they often have DVD sales (remember to shop through the ADCAN Amazon link). I recently purchased the entire Six Feet Under series for $60 and free shipping. At $12 a season, that is better than I could have found at any store. You can also swap DVD’s at SwapaDVD, a sister site to the above PaperbackSwap.

4. Movie Theaters: You can get a frequent movie goer card from AMC called MovieWatcher. You accumulate points each time you go to the movies. At certain levels you earn a free movie, free small popcorn, etc. Just remember it deducts points if you cash in for the free small popcorn instead of waiting for the free movie. Some theaters offer reduced rates before a certain time of the day. For instance, Tyson’s offers $6 movies before noon on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. I have found myself going to a Saturday movie at 9:35 am and still have the entire day available. Other movie theaters may have similar programs.


5. Free DVD rental: Mondays are FREE DVD rentals at Redbox. They are normally one dollar for 24 hours. On Monday's they have a code to get one free. Make Mondays your movie night! You can look online for where the movie is available and reserve it. RedBox DVD rentals are available in many area grocery stores. Check their site for more information.

6. Dental plans: Do you need dental care but don't like paying full price? With Dentalplans.com You can pay around $135 a year and get up to 50% off services. This week I went to the dentist and had a panoramic x-ray done. They normally charge $120, but with the plan it was $62. For my three surface cavities I need filled, it will be $111 instead of $205. Right there I saved $150 dollars. I actually have two cavities so that will be a total savings of $242. That is almost the conference fee for INA. If you would like to look into the program go to Dentalplans.com and if you sign up please use my referral code of: 49S97A27. I will receive three free months for each person that signs up. You can also refer someone as well and start building free months too! How awesome is that! The coverage normally starts within three days. You can search to see if your dentist is on the list. If they are not, I can recommend a dentist in Mclean who is awesome and the new one I just visited in Bethesda.

7. Clothes buying: Never pay full price for any new clothes, make sure they are on sale. You can also look at thrift stores as many of them have new unused clothes. Someone I know bought a whole bunch of clothes off Craigslist for $30 and got at least four good outfits out of the purchase. Swap clothes with friends. If you have lost weight pass along your clothes to a friend or try to sell them in lots on Craigslist.


8. INA Conference: Take advantage of the early bird discount of 10%. Or write a 300 word essay on what it means to be a professional nanny for your chance of receiving a free conference fee. Get two or three roommates to cut down the cost of the hotel room. INA is offering a discount code for American Airlines to use for your flight as well. Go to INA for all the conference details.


9. Working out: Did you know that you could arrange with a few of your other friends to have group personal training sessions? A lot of personal trainers will do group sessions. So check this out in your area. This is a great way to work out and stay motivated.


10. Visit Washington DC for FREE entertainment. Did you know that there are 19 museums in the Smithsonian and they do NOT charge an entrance fee? Not many places in the US offer free museum entrance fees. Check out www.si.edu/museums/ to see what is available at your fingertips. You can take the metro to the center of DC to reach many of the museums. The monuments are also a great form of entertainment and history. You can sit on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial and look out onto the Mall of the Smithsonian to watch the 1000s of people walking and visiting our wonderful Nation's capital. Visit www.nps.gov/state/dc/. This will give a listing of all the parks and monuments available in DC. Grab a picnic lunch and head outdoors.


Have other savings suggestions? We'd love to hear them.

INA Conference Scholarship Opportunity Offered to ALL Nannies

Here is your opportunity to have your INA Conference Registration Fee paid for.

For all the details, check out All Things Nanny.

The No-Cry Nap Solution by Elizabeth Pantley

Author Elizabeth Pantley has introduced her new book The No-Cry Nap Solution.

Will your child only nap in your arms, in a swing, or after elaborate rituals? Does your child take cat naps -- or none at all? Let world-renowned, trusted parenting author Elizabeth Pantley help you. She’ll guide you with the same sensitive expertise and gentle approach used in her other No-Cry bestsellers about sleep, discipline and potty training.

Research proves that daily naps improve health, mood, growth, intelligence and well-being. Yet children often resist the naps they need and parents don’t know how to make them happen. The results are fussy, crying babies and cranky, grouchy kids who also have trouble sleeping at night!In The No-Cry Nap Solution Pantley explains to parents of children ages newborn to kindergarten the importance of napping to both behavior during the day and sleeping during (and through!) the night. She then shares with you her gentle, loving child-friendly techniques--tested on families of all sizes and circumstances--and shows you how you can customize her solutions for your own family.

Pantley addresses issues such as children who resist naps, dealing with schedule changes, turning short naps into longer ones, helping a child go from needing motion for sleep to “stationery” sleep, nursing at naptime, daycare-related napping problems, newborn “in-arms” or “in-sling” napping issues, and much more.

Chili Recipe from January Meeting

Thanks to Deb Santamore for sharing this chil with us at our January Meeting. There were so many requests for the recipe, we've shared it with you all here. Enjoy!

Vegetable Chili

3/4 cup olive oil
2 zucchini, cut into 1/2 inch dice
2onions, cut into 1/2 inch dice
4 cloves garlic, finely chopped
2 large red bell peppers, cored and cut into 1/4 inch dice
1 can (35 ounces) Italian plum tomatoes, with their juice
1 1/2 pounds ripe plum tomatoes, cut into 1 inch dice
2 Tablespoons chili powder
1 Tablespoon ground cumin
1 Tablespoon dried basil
2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon fennel seeds
1/2 cup chopped fresh Italian(flat leaf) parsley
1 cup canned dark red kidney beans, drained
1 cup canned chick-peas(garbanzo), drained
1/2 cup chopped fresh dill
2 Tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 cup sour cream
2 cups grated Monterey Jack cheese
4 scallions(green onions) white bulb and 3 inches green, sliced on the diagonal

1. Heat 1/2 cup of the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the zucchini and sauté' until just tender, 5 to 7 minutes. Transfer the zucchini to a large flame proof casserole or Dutch oven.
2.Heat the remaining 1/4 cup of oil in the skillet over low heat. Add the onions, garlic, red peppers. Sauté until just wilted, about 10 minutes. Transfer the mixture to the casserole, along with the oil remaining in the skillet.
3. Place the casserole over low heat. Add the canned tomatoes, and their juice, the fresh tomatoes, chili powder, cumin, basil, oregano,pepper,salt, fennel seeds, and parsley. Cook, uncovered, stirring often for 30 minutes.
4. Stir in the kidney beans, chick-peas, dill and lemon juice; cook for another 15 minutes. Stir well, and adjust the seasonings to taste. Serve with bowls of sour cream, grated cheese, and sliced scallions alongside.

Serves 8 portions.

Notes... I use Pam instead of olive oil and you can just use a pot or a crock pot. I don’t always add all the chili powder.. Better to start off with less and add then too much that you can’t take out.

This recipe comes from The New Basics cookbook by julee rosso & sheila lukins

Montgomery County Maryland Nanny Contracts

Kathy Webb at HomeWork Solutions has some great information and resources regarding the Montgomery County Maryland Nanny Contracts legislation requiring that domestic workers (nannies, housekeepers, maids, companions) be provided a written employment agreement effective January 18, 2009.

Nanny Contracts (also referred to as Work Agreements) are vital in our industry and there are many resources available to find one, including 4NannyTaxes.com.

Kathy will be joining us at our February 15 meeting (2:30-5 pm) at the McLean Community Center to discuss contracts with all attendees. Currently have a contract? Want to improve it? Don't have one and need to learn how to start one? Join us at this meeting and we'll answer your questions.

Please RSVP to this event by emailing us or call us at 866-841-9139 Ext. 2176