Archive for the ‘Kids’ Category

Five Must Do’s If your Nanny is driving your children

Wednesday, March 31st, 2010

At LifeWorx, we are often asked, “What are the proper steps to take if your nanny, housekeeper or child care provider drives your car?” We are also asked, “What should you do to be safe and have proper coverage?” There are many essentials to keeping your family safe when allowing your housekeeper or child care provider to drive your children. Here are our top 5 tips:

  1. Drivers License Check: If any domestic worker drives your car you must do a drivers license check. This will show you if the child care provider or nanny has any violations, points, a suspended license, or anything else that would be of concern. If there is something concerning, discuss it with the candidate. You may want to repeat such a background check every couple of years.
  2. Add the driver to your insurance policy: If background is good, then make sure this person is added as a driver to your insurance policy. Sometimes it may cost a bit more based on their driving record, but if the driving record is fairly good, there is generally not much extra cost. If you have a high deductible, such as $2000, and your nanny is not a seasoned driver, you may want to change the deductible to $500 to take care of any fender benders that sometimes occur when the nanny or child care provider is pulling out of a school parking area or a grocery store.
  3. Car reliability, Inspection and Registration: The third thing to do is to make sure that your car is in very good working order with good tires and brakes. Also, make sure your annual vehicle inspection and registrations are up to date.
  4. Establish Driving Rules with your Nanny: The fourth thing to do is to discuss what the driving rules are for the nanny or housekeeper when using the car. For example, can he/she use it over the weekend, or only in the evening. Rules include: where to park, how to keep the car well maintained, how often to get a car wash, etc.
  5. Establish Rules of the Car with Children and Driver: The fifth and final thing to ensure safety is to establish rules of the car. What can/can’t kids do in the car – snacks, music, videos and conversations that could potentially be distracting. Rules such as seat belt and children’s car seat rules must also be enforced. It always works better when the parents and the driver both set the same rules for the children. One of our housekeepers in Armonk, NY was fired because she did not make sure the children had their seat belts on when she was driving them home from their bus stop.

Having a car for nannies and au pairs to drive is often a luxury, but a necessity, and it needs to be well respected and cared for in order for everyone to be safe. LifeWorx has done 20,000 services without any injury or car accidents.

If the nanny or housekeeper drives their own car, and drives your children in this car once in a while, additional items to take care of and think about include how they will get paid for the use of their car. Most importantly, make sure you have gotten your nanny or child care provider a business insurance – the cost is a few hundred dollars, but it is well worth it to ensure that you are covered when your nanny is driving your children.

Often housekeepers and nannies are smart, they know car economics and they do not want to put miles on their car for just gas money. One mom in Dobbs Ferry, NY wanted the nanny to drive her car; about 50 miles a week, and was willing to give her the standard IRS rate of about 50 cents a mile. Unfortunately, the nanny did not understand what that means in terms of added cost and income, and refused to put miles on her car; even though this arrangement seemed like such a win-win for both parties. You, as a domestic employer, may need to be patient and take the time to explain the car math to the nanny in order to build trust with each other and have safety, security and reliability when it comes to transportation.

Posted in Armonk NY, Child Care, Dobbs Ferry NY, Housekeeper, Kids, Nanny, Pay | No Comments »

sharing the disciplining of children and babies with nannies/care providers

Thursday, February 18th, 2010

There is no perfect answer to the question posed, and no one has written down the rules. However, it is one of the most important aspect of childcare starting from the toddler stages and extending to the teenage years. Often, parents don’t know how to have this conversation and set expectations and guidelines for their nanny, child care provider, babysitter, or housekeeper. Giving these care providers some level of authority and setting proper boundaries is very critical in helping the child develop respect and discipline. Often, young and playful nannies don’t know how to initiate a conversation about discipline and authority with parents. It is important to start talking about this on day one with your nanny. One family on the Upper East Side of Manhattan has always had the problem of their kids making fun of and testing the nanny. These kids locked the nanny out; they made fun of her and would not listen to her directions. Of course the nanny was weak and should have taken charge of the situation, but the parents should have also warned her with information about the situation at home so that she could have been more prepared. Most kids are sweet and most nannies are strong enough to manage the kids, but there needs to be a conversation about expectations. Also, another family with tweens had the kids cursing at the housekeeper. These situations create new challenges for nannies; as the kids are their charges but not their children. Nannies will generally see a situation that needs work and know how to make it better. Within few weeks they have all the respect and appreciation from the whole family. No one can have just dessert, we all have to eat broccoli too! This family in Greenwich, CT asked for a nanny that is assertive; it was the first sign of openness and clarity about the situation at home. Each family is different, and we have to find the right fit of command, warmth, discipline and play. There is a right balance for each, but it only comes as the result of good communication between all parties involved.

Posted in Communication, Greenwich CT, Kids, Nanny, New York City | No Comments »

swine flu shots for your nanny or housekeeper

Thursday, January 14th, 2010

As a homeowner, Mother or Nanny, you are obviously concerned about contracting the swine flu. Mothers are concerned about their children since they are more vulnerable to the swine flu then many other types of flu. One of the Personal Assistants to a family in Greenwich, CT that LifeWorx talked with recently told us the whole family she worked with was down with swine flu. As soon as she heard the news, she went to the doctor and took the proper medicine. She also made sure that the other service providers including childcare, elder care and nanny sot swine flu shots.

Another client in Chappaqua, NY who has newborn twins asked for only nanny and child care candidates who have taken swine flu shots or who are wiling to get the shots. There are legal issues about swine flu screening of nannies and housekeepers. As a childcare service provider, we are open to both types of candidates. However, as a homeowner and a Mother, you have the right to ask and screen for childcare and nanny candidates who have taken the swine flu shots. Most domestic service providers including Nannies, Housekeepers, Elder care professional and chefs are all very flexible about taking the flu shots. Some other service providers such as housekeepers may not be as keen on getting the flu shots.

The best advice for homeowners is to make sure that household help including childcare, elder care and nanny service providers have had the swine flu shot. We also recommend paying for the shot, which costs around $25 or directing the household help to a local clinic that may provide free swine flu shots. Giving the child care and nanny service providers an hour of time to get the shot would be very much appreciated by your service provider.

Posted in Chef, Child Care, Elder Care, Housekeeper, Kids, Moms, Nanny | No Comments »

helping moms de-stress

Tuesday, October 20th, 2009

I attended the “Go Red for Women Round Table Forum” last Friday at the Hilton in Rye Brook, New York and heard approximately 100 attendees share their experiences about being a mom! There were professional moms, moms of five kids, moms with three step kids, entrepreneurial moms, working late at night moms, young moms, pre-menopausal moms, cancer survivor moms, cardiovascular disease survivor moms, yoga moms, soccer moms, real moms, super moms etc. All of the moms discussed the things that keep them awake at night and what to do about them. The forum was full of great ideas and successful stress reducing techniques. For example, there was a mom cardiologist who brought awareness to the issue that moms have a lot of stress and need to take care of themselves. She talked about letting go, not feeling guilty, doing only what you can, and not sweating what you can’t get done. She went on to suggest getting the kids involved to make household chores easier, taking time for yourself, getting your nails done, not competing with other moms, and finally, being comfortable with yourself. All of the ideas shared were great ideas. Here are the 5 key nuggets from the forum for reducing stress:

  • Make a list of what you want to do along with what you don’t want to do
  • Use your emotional and intellectual strength to execute
  • Find time to recharge yourself
  • Let go of stuff that does not bring lasting value
  • Delegate the tasks that you can do at work, at home, and everywhere else

At LifeWorx, we try to bring moms peace and rest by providing good help at their home. By having an implemented strategy of organization, process, and systems, we can gather a team of professionals to take charge and provide reliable, trustworthy and much needed help to busy moms. None of our experts will replace a mom; her work is precious, but one day when we have helped all moms, we will sleep well too.

Posted in De-stress, Kids, Moms | No Comments »