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Smart Mom

Nanny 411 Here’s help for those stressful summer days. by Maria Bailey and Jennifer ArnoldPublished: May, 2010

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For working parents, the more relaxed, unstructured months of summer can also present a unique set of challenges. Between your shifting child-care situation and a patchwork of camps, the long days of summer may have you calling for help! A vacation nanny is a great option.     Nannies can be enthusiastic caregivers for children. College students, teachers and teacher’s aides are great nanny candidates.     Two local entrepreneurs, Patrick Porter and Brad Arbab, recognized this niche soon after graduating from college. The two took matters into their own hands by matching the need for summer jobs at a time of high unemployment. They created two College Nanny and Tutors franchises in Laguna Beach and Newport Beach – and have recruited the best and the brightest.     Follow these quick tips to help you along in the nanny-hiring process: > Know exactly what you’re looking for. What are the hours and responsibilities you will require of a nanny? Are you looking for a student or a professional nanny? A nonsmoker and someone who is CPR certified?     Develop a written job description of your nanny position, and be specific about the level and duration of commitment. The clearer you can be in the initial stages of your search, the easier it will be for you to refine your list of candidates. > Get referrals. The best way to find a summer nanny is to ask around. Talk to everyone you know and everyone you meet, letting them know about your search and what you’re looking for. More than likely, someone will know a friend of a friend, or perhaps it’s the daughter of your child’s teacher. Getting the seal of approval from someone you know and trust in this situation is priceless. > Interview your candidates. Conduct your initial screenings via phone, and once you’ve whittled your list down to three to five candidates, begin the face-to-face interviews. Depending on your comfort level, you may want to meet in a neutral location, such as a local coffee shop, or you can invite the candidates into your home to meet your children.     This part of the process is critical, because while this person will not be running the finances of your business, she will be looking after your most precious commodity.     Devise scenarios that depict what might happen on a typical day. For instance, if you’ve got a bad case of sibling rivalry going on, or if pre-dinner snacking is a huge issue, ask her how she would handle those scenarios. Remember to ask open-ended questions.   > Check levels of digital dependency. These days it is also important to find out how “connected” your potential nanny is. Having a cell phone is a plus, but in the event of an emergency, it is also a distraction. You certainly don’t want your nanny texting her pals while at the playground with your kids or hopping on Facebook instead of interacting with them. Draw clear lines as to what is expected. > Determine if your styles match. Find out what your candidate’s child-care style is, and make sure it is in line with yours. Some candidates have years of child care under their belts and may already ascribe to a particular child-care method or philosophy – or have a preferred way of disciplining.     You want to be sure your candidate is flexible and will listen to you. For example, if it’s important to you that your kids maintain a healthy and active lifestyle, make sure the candidate is on the same page and will serve (and eat) healthy meal options to ensure that your kids get plenty of exercise and time outdoors. You want someone who will adopt your parenting style and who seamlessly meshes with your family’s values and goals. > Do your research. Ask your candidate for at least three references and call them all. Again, ask open-ended questions, such as how the nanny juggled stress and multipleresponsibilities, or one way in particular that she shined. This way you can really gain a full understanding of how she works. In addition, request your candidate’s permission to conduct background checks, including criminal records and driving history, as well as a credit check if you wish.  > Create a contract. Once you’ve found your perfect fit, create a work agreement outlining the expectations of everyone involved in the partnership. Include start date, rate of pay, days and hours, holidays and sick days, transportation, child-care expectations and any other household duties you’re requiring (i.e. light housework, laundry, grocery shopping, etc.) Don’t leave anything out; by putting these details in writing, you will leave no questionable gray areas during the course of employment. •> SMART MOM GOES GREEN Okay moms, get on your running shoes – here comes summer! Time to get fired up for lemonade stands, bike rides, scavenger hunts, magic shows and a slew of other fun events you’ve planned. And if all else fails, take a deep breath and cling to a bauble swinging around your neck reminding you of your power – that you are all things MOM!     The Gilded Lily is an earth-friendly pendant – created from recycled Scrabble game tiles and finished with a non-toxic sealant – that sells for only $6.95. (The product’s ball chain is sold separately.) This pendant makes a great “green” Mother’s Day gift for your mom pals. Find it at etsy.com. •> SOLUTION OF THE MONTH 2 must-haves for summer camp A week before opening day at camp, have a labeling party with your child. Make sure everything has a label.     Several companies have made a business out of customized labels for everything from shoes to clothing to bags – check out Mabel’s Labels (mabel.ca) as well as their fun blog The Mablehood at mablehood.com for packing tips.     Bugs, ticks and other creepy crawlies are best left at camp. Arm your child with plenty of sunscreen and bug spray, and don’t forget the threat of lice that lurks when children share close quarters. Take preventative measures with products like Zippity Doos All Purpose Shield Spray.  It’s formulated to provide protection from lice and other insect infestations. Spray it on your child’s backpack, sleeping bag and pillow before he heads off to camp, and send along some other Zippity Doos products like shampoo and gel to ward off lice and other bugs. (zippitydoos.com) Need more Smart Mom solutions? Go to smartmomsolutions.com or listen to Mom Talk Radio: momtalkradio.com.

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