7 Quick Takes Friday (Vol. 140) Little Ways to Brighten the Day

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Grace is…people from countries around the world coming together for the Olympic games, realizing that if you’ve impressed upon children the important lesson that they need to wash their hands with soap and water you have taught them a skill and health tip with immeasurable worth, especially in the midst of flu season, a delicious meal at a family-owned restaurant, going to daily Mass with your spouse, learning to be gentle with yourself…

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My Reflection on the Little Way How often in our lives are we challenged by the seemingly small things in our day or on our to-do list?  How attentive are we when doing those many mundane chores that don’t seem very significant?  For me, there are many times I really have to slow down and be aware of being present if I am to do even the most menial daily tasks with great love.  
    Most often we are sanctified by looking to the Lord for love and living each moment, doing each minor task set before us as if we were carrying it out for Jesus Christ Himself.  Does that include washing another load of laundry, preparing another meal, doing more dishes, paying the bills, being the chauffeur, holding the door for someone, smiling to cheer someone else up, and being friendly even when you don’t feel like it?  Yes, it includes all of those things and many more…Read more here.

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Three Gifts of Thérѐse of Lisieux As someone with a special affection for Thérѐse of Lisieux (as well as some other well-known St. Teresas), I knew I’d enjoy reading about how a bishop who considered The Little Flower as a sister to him from the time he was in seminary.  He was inspired to serve the Lord and live out the prescribed “Little Way” she wrote about in her autobiography The Story of a Soul.  Patrick Ahern cherished Thérѐse’s writing and example so much that he went to the trouble of learning French when he was 70 for the sole purpose of being able to read the original manuscript and other works written by scholars in her native tongue.  That to me shows a profound respect for the written word and the desire for an even deeper understanding of a saint he loved dearly…Read the entire book review here.  (Since I already know French, I do believe I'll have to read the book in the original language it was written.  I know much can be lost in translation or gained in reading more than one version.)

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Stuff my husband says: while watching the Opening Olympic ceremonies and in regard to what the United States athletes wear for the Opening Ceremony   
I said: “The only people that should be wearing sweaters like that are the mothers of some of the athletes.”

Kevin said: “Did Grandma forget to take her meds?” and later on: “I think they’re psyching out the competition.  If you look at those sweaters long enough it may create convulsions, possible black-outs.”

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Saving Mr. Banks My mom, Kevin, and I went to see Saving Mr. Banks in the theater last Friday night.  I had to laugh every single time someone in the movie said: “You’re perfectly capable of...”  I find myself saying that all the time, especially to young children who are just discovering the many things they can do on their own if only they’re given a chance or expected to take care of such tasks.  When Sunshine is old enough to see the making of the Disney movie Mary Poppins from the book by the same name, I have a feeling it might make her think of me, hopefully with a smile.    

 

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New Winter Weather Faves There are some children’s books that quickly make it on to my list of favorites to read and share with little ones, and here are two of them I love for winter weather: If It’s Snowy and You Know It, Clap Your Paws which is quite entertaining and can be sung to the tune of “If You’re Happy and You Know It” and Ten on the Sled which can be read/chanted to the tune of “There Were Ten in the Bed…”

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Creative Outlets Often I’m inspired by what the kids I am taking care of and/or teaching are interested in doing.  Watercolors were something Sunshine and I enjoyed doing together often when her twin sisters were sleeping.  I’ve pulled my paints out at home a number of times for a quick creative outlet.  This is one of the pieces that I added additional embellishments to with Sharpie markers once the paint dried.

Check out Jen Fulwiler’s tradition of 7 Quick Takes Friday at her tremendously popular blog Conversion Diary.

7 Quick Takes Friday (Vol. 138)

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Grace is… having food, clean water, shelter, and skills you can use to help others who don't have those basic necessities, something I’m much better about remembering to pray before meals when I'm not juggling, running, and attempting to prepare food and serve it to young children who at every meal and snack act as if they haven’t eaten in a week…

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A Man for All Seasons Kevin and I finally got around to watching this award-winning film this evening.  I hope and pray that at the end of my life I will be able to say that I have remained true to God, above all.  I highly recommend A Man for All Seasons and any others that help us learn more about those who said yes to God and Truth, no matter how difficult the circumstances.

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Under Construction I have been grateful for snow this week, not for the reasons many others might find it exciting, pretty, comforting, but because it helped preserve my sanity.  For several days in a row, yes including both early Saturday and Sunday mornings, there have been men walking, hammering, drilling, pounding, and otherwise creating as much noise as possible on the roof of our building.  Since we live on top floor, it has sounded and at times felt that we have been the unfortunate victims of an attack of elephants, apparently ones with wings or at the very least ladders.  Once it snowed enough and then froze, the gentlemen saw fit to let our roof be for a few days. 
     I do feel that I've missed offering Sunshine an interesting learning opportunity to witness such work.  She is very fascinated by Handy Manny and his friends.  Our place is one of the farthest things from childproof, but if both of her parents came with her and her twin sisters, then there would be four adults and three children under four, so the odds would mostly be in our favor.   

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Stuff my husband says: “Not for nothing, but…” followed by all sorts of helpful and just as often, if not more, not-so-very-helpful words of wisdom.  My response to this beginning of a sentence is usually to roll my eyes and groan.  Regardless of the time of day, I’ll suggest that it’s too early in the day for one of his “not for nothing” proclamations.   

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Quality Child Care This week among other things I have caught up on is my required training hours for working at school.  One of the ways we can fulfill these hours is by reading certain training books and passing the tests on them.  Again, I really enjoyed the book I read about Early Childhood Education called The Practical Guide to Quality Child Care by Pam Schiller and Patricia Carter Dyke.  It includes information on everything to management, hiring and screening employees, to setting up the best programs for students to learn, and for parents and families to be involved in that process.  Anyone who wants to learn more about what quality child care looks like, how it is achieved, and maintained will find this book quite helpful.

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March for Life 2014 

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A Lifelong Learning Blog This is a link to a fantastic idea for kids that parents and grandparents will be excited about.  Would you like to encourage your child’s writing interests and abilities while supporting their academic pursuits?  I don’t know many parents or teachers that don’t.  Check out this video and consider the possibility of setting up such a thing for the young ones in your life. 

Check out Jen Fulwiler’s tradition of  7 Quick Takes Friday at her tremendously popular blog Conversion Diary.

God Incidents and Surprises Are Always Blest!

   “Can I stay with you?  Can I stay with you, please?” I asked in my best imitation of Eddie Murphy as Donkey in Shrek.  I didn’t get any response.  I hung up hoping my friend would be amused by the message I left on her voicemail and still be willing to let me sleep on her pull-out couch while I figured out new living arrangements. 

     After graduating from college in May 2003, I immediately began courses to get my Masters.  I had been working with a family as tutor, homeschool helper, babysitter, etc. during my senior year at Hollins University, so when looking into various lodging options, they offered to let me rent a room from them that summer.  That’s how their schoolroom became my bedroom for a time.  It worked out pretty well.  The family is devoutly Catholic, so I could help the kids with all of their homeschool subjects, including religion, and I joined them nightly in the mother’s room to pray the family Rosary.  My classes were in the evenings, so I could be at home with the kids during the day while their mom was at work, then I could make dinner and eat with them before I went to class. 

Kevin and me after my
undergrad graduation
in May 2003.

     I was invited to go to their Eastern Rite church with them, attend little league softball and baseball games, and participate in various outdoor recreations.  In addition to my coursework and caring for the kids (who were in the 10-13 age range), I was doing some freelance work for Zondervan, collaborating on an activity-based Bible study with specific age-appropriate sections for use with preschoolers and elementary school children. 

     During that summer, I met with my friend Martha whom I had gotten to know through our involvement in Catholic Campus Ministry (CCM) at Hollins.  She brought her best friend, Nel, whom I had also gotten to know through CCM but hadn’t seen in a while.  The three of us had a great time catching up over lunch, often quoting lines from the recent blockbuster hit movie Shrek.  None of us knew at the time how that lunch would be a jumping off point for greater blessings.

     Within the next of couple weeks (if not the next few days) I suddenly found myself in need of a new place to stay.  I was stunned and heartbroken that I wouldn’t be helping out with the kids, even if living somewhere else, but I had enough peace and reserve to move forward when I got very clearly “you’ve done what I sent you here to do.”  It wasn’t an audible voice, but a deep knowing in my heart that it was time to move on.  That reassurance from the Holy Spirit and the new door that had opened gave me the courage to move forward. 

Me and Nel at the Sept. 4, 2004
wedding reception after Kevin
and I finally got married after many,
many years of talking about it
& looking forward to it.

     Only God could have timed things so perfectly that I would reconnect with a friend from college who in turn brought her friend, who just happened to be looking for a roommate as well as a new two bedroom apartment to move into.  Nel and I had a great time living together, attending Mass, hanging out at home, shopping, watching I Love Lucy reruns, cheering at her company’s softball games, going to concerts, and such over the next year while I worked on my Masters degree and she plugged away at her office job. 

     Kevin had moved to Richmond by then, so he was often able to come and visit me in Roanoke the year before our wedding.  .  He was quite relieved that I’d found a happier living situation and made a new life-long best friend.  Of course, he got along wonderfully with Nel as he has with all of my close friends and had fun hanging out at our apartment (which, unlike the place Kevin and I currently live in, had both a dishwasher and a washer and dryer in it). 

     What felt like a door slamming in my face actually opened the way for new friendships and adventures I wouldn’t have had otherwise.  I try to remember these sorts of experiences when one friendship ends or becomes more distant, when a job is over, a move is necessary, and/or God makes it clear that He’s got something else in store.  
     I find that I am most determined to do what God asks of me or nudges me to do when I’m clear that it’s His Will.  I don’t have to understand it or be even be happy about it, but if through prayer, discernment, spiritual direction, and other indicators I’m led to a particular path, then eventually, ready or not, there, with the grace of God, go I.  

It’s Time to Move On: Trusting God When Unsure of What’s Next

I rarely like any news that begins with “it’s time to move.”  My family has had to relocate out-of-state multiple times while I was growing up due to my father’s successful career in pharmaceutical sales.  I hated having to start new in each place, being the new kid on the block as well as at school.  I never liked saying goodbye to friends.  In the fall of 2012,  my mom sold the only family home my sisters and I lived in and/or visited since I had just finished my sophomore year of high school and was about to meet the man I would one day get to date and eventually marry.

    
When I got older, the moves I made were usually my choice.  Roanoke for college, Paris, France, to study abroad, Rochester, New York in the summers to be near Kevin, Richmond to get married and settle down were all my decisions.  It was still hard to say goodbye to friends as well of the children whom I took care of in each of those places, but I knew mostly when the end of my time somewhere would be.     

It is only because God has recently made it clear that moving on is what He wants of me (of us) now that I have the courage to take this step.  I don’t like major changes, and I honestly don’t know what’s next for us, but we’re doing our best to trust God with everything and do what He tells us.  This is why my last day nannying for the three silly sisters I love so dearly will be on Thursday, January 16, 2014.

    
I’ve gone through a time of mourning each time I have stopped taking care of little ones for an extended period.  It was hardest and most painful when I stopped nannying for “my little guys.”  The grief over not seeing them for 50+ hours each week hit me in waves in the two months up to my last day of taking care of them as their nanny and for several months after.  On some days and in some ways, it felt as if I was losing two sons.  Even now, I still think of and pray for “my two little guys” and keep in touch with their families.

Knowing how much I love and get attached to the children I take care of, it was only out of a clear ‘yes, do this’ from the Lord and a sincere love for the family who has “adopted” my husband and me that I was even willing to consider nannying for anyone again.  I honestly didn’t think I would be willing to risk loving children so much who would only be in my care for a limited time. 

I’m hoping and praying that this transition will go as smoothly as possible for all of us and that this period of grieving (on my end) will be lighter and easier to deal with since we are close friends/family as well as the twins’ Godparents.  We aren’t saying goodbye, just seeyasoon as opposed to see you in the morning.   

     
My very talented husband has been out of work since he was let go on Labor Day (I know, crazy, right?!), and we have been without health insurance since mid-November, so it doesn’t seem all that logical for me to stop nannying right now.  However, I’ve found that what God leads us to isn’t often what makes sense to us at the time, nor is it the easiest path, but it has always, (every single time!), turned out to be the best for all involved. 

    
Kevin’s still looking for a full-time job with benefits and getting things together to patent his invention.  My immediate plans are to pick up more hours as a substitute teacher at RMS, give private French and Creative Writing lessons, and possibly do some after-school programs as I have in the past.  With some freelance writing and editing, and perhaps a creative writing workshop or two for adults, we should be able to manage.  I’ve also gotten the nudge to put a manuscript in order of my adventures in nannying and childcare, so I’ll be doing that as well.
     
My husband and I would very much appreciate your prayers as we continue discerning what God wants of us next in all areas of our lives and do our best to carry it out.  The prayer God first inspired me to pray many years ago still rises in my heart: Lord, plant Your Will in our hearts and make it our deepest desire and most fervent longing.  Amen.               

Pope Awesome and Other Stories: How I Found God, Had Kids, and Lived to Tell the Tale by Cari Donaldson

Pope Awesome and Other Stories: How I Found God, Had Kids, and Lived to Tell the Tale is proof positive that God has a great sense of humor and that His plans for each of our lives are indeed much wilder and more wonderful than any we could come up with on our own.  I found snippets of my own family’s story, out-of-state relocation adventures, hilarious situations, and quotable quotes within this hilarious spiritual memoir.  There are several sections I read aloud to my husband, so we could share some much-needed laughter. 

   
Cari Donaldson tells about how she and her husband Ken went from being a Jesus wasn’t invited to our wedding, two-dog, double income, no kids household to a family who put God at the center, welcomed Jesus, Mary, and the Catholic Church into the fray, then gradually added six children to the mix. 

   
Because of the irony and ensuing laughter when it becomes clear God had other plans far beyond the ones the Donaldsons had, I kept thinking of this clip from the movie Evan Almighty about how to make God laugh: tell Him your plans.

   
It’s always fun to read and/or hear about another couple’s story, especially one that affirms that high school sweethearts can make great husbands.  (Kevin and I met when I was still in high school, too.)  The Lord so often works through our spouses to nudge us in the right direction or to ask us the question that will make us stop stewing and start doing.  Sometimes it’s easier to appreciate this quality than others.    

   
Cari certainly wasn’t prepared for her husband’s offhand comment apropos of nothing that he made on his thirtieth birthday: “A couple rugrats wouldn’t be so bad.”  Once recovered from the initial shock, she warmed up to the idea and decided she wanted the Miraculous Mother on her side for the journey.  With the Perfect Mom and a highly recommended obstetrician "Doc Ostrich Boots" onboard, they saddle up for a surprising “Whoa Nellie!” that has all of them shaking in their stirrups. 

   
Her husband isn’t the only one to come out with a humdinger in transit.  One day her intelligent four-year-old asked the question parents dread: “How did the baby get inside you?”  Cari gave a brief, age-appropriate description that her daughter ran with.  The daughter’s commentary went like this: “Mommy has a baby inside her.  It got there because Dad’s sperm cell and her egg cell SMASHED! together, and BAM! A baby was started!”  Her daughter’s birds and the bees for beginners with sound effects and gestures mini spectacle is unintentionally taken on the road.  This little skit assures that one elderly neighbor’s experience handing out candy to trick-or-treaters will never ever be the same. 

   
Thank goodness God doesn’t give up on us just because we try to run in the other direction as fast as we can.  Cari thought she and her husband were fleeing from God, but they later realized they were just taking a bit of a detour before they ended up right where the Lord most wanted and needed for them to be.

   
One morning, Prince Phillip, who bears a striking resemblance to their four-year-old son Joaquin, enters their bedroom with quite the assortment of makeshift weapons and offers to protect the kingdom.  Cari graciously accepts and asks the prince some questions about himself.  She does her best to hide her amusement when he informs her in a very serious manner that he is married to the queen, has six children, an abnormally long horse on which all of his kids can ride at once, and that his animals use jingle bells to alert him when an evil giraffe needs to be slain. 

   
Was this seasoned mother swept off her feet by a wee warrior in green, stripey, footie pajamas valiantly stepping forth to protect the kingdom?  The proper answer to that would be: “You had me at ‘Good morning, lady.  I am Prince Phillip.’” 

   
I highly recommend Pope Awesome and Other Stories.  The writing is great, and the stories hysterical. Plus, the conversions of two individuals and how they raise their self-proclaimed Pope Awesome the First and his posse are very inspiring.  To find out more about this book and/or to order your copy immediately, click here.  Want to keep up with the Donaldson clan?  Check out Cari's blog at www.clan-donaldson.com.  

     
Cari and Ken, the two of you and your pithy posse are indeed the champions riding off into the sunset in your passenger van, heading towards new adventures since you’ve let Jesus take the wheel.  Ride on at Godspeed! (And for the amusement of us all, write on as well!)

7 Quick Takes Friday (Vol. 130) Storytelling, Silly Songs, & the Cookie Caper Question

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Grace is…a delicious Thanksgiving feast shared with family, having my youngest sister home even for a brief visit, Mom’s homemade apple pie, wanting to be a better servant of the Lord, working at being more Christ-like by doing small things with great love, genuine encouragement and inspiration from those who love you, the sense to stay in on Black Friday, playing with your youngest nephew, the vulnerability it takes to be honest in kind and gentle ways…

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Thanksgiving Across the Years This Thanksgiving was a really nice one for Kevin and me.  We began the day by going to Mass to celebrate the ultimate feast, the Eucharist (the word literally means “thanksgiving”).  Later we headed over to my sister and brother-in-law’s house for the family meal and visiting.  The food was delicious and the quality time together very enjoyable!  To read about some of our past Thanksgiving adventures, mishaps, and traditions, click here.     

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It’s Your Fault! Yesterday, my sister and I broke into a song about rubber duckies that my mom used to sing to us when we were little.  My other sister and my mom looked at each other and made faces at us.  I elbowed my mom, and informed her: “It’s your fault!”  And really it is.  She’s the one who stayed home with us when we were little and sang to us, danced with us, read to us, played with us, and inspired a love for little people that she passed on to each one of us.  

     The song my sister and I were singing is from Sesame Street.  You might recognize it.

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10 Facts about Advent I happened upon this article the other day, and it’s a great starting point for remembering what Advent is about.  Here’s a hint: it has nothing at all to do with the craziness of Black Friday, but is an important precursor to Christmas and the prelude to Good Friday.  The actual Advent wreath that Kevin and I have and will be putting out this weekend is a very special one that was made by a friend of ours who is hardcore about spreading hope.   

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Run that by me again! Sunshine has a very active imagination.  Sometimes, I’m not sure right away if she’s telling me about something that has actually happened or if it’s another one of her pretend stories.  Either way, I try to listen closely and follow along.  Not too long ago, she told me that her grandma and grandpa don’t like rabbits, so she doesn’t either.  I had no way of verifying that, but since her grandparents do have a farm, I deduced it was at least possible.  This week, she was a good two minutes into her story before I figured out that we were in a real world with real people fairy tale.  What tipped me off?  Suddenly she was the one driving mommy and daddy’s van to go find her mom, who had left her at school while she went to Walmart.    

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Last Night Kids concept of time is amusing.  Lately, Sunshine typically begins and/or ends each of her stories with “last night.”  This has occasionally helped me in the department of distinguishing fact from fiction, though, with her it can be a very convincing mix of the two.  Knowing that her parents had trouble with the minivan’s alarm going off by itself, I was incredibly impressed when in subsequent weeks, she spun a very animated, action-packed, high adrenalin story about a school bus needing to be fixed and babies crying because of a loud alarm that went off when a battery died.  Kevin was visiting us at the time and got to witness this based on a real life event story, and we were both amused and awed.  Just remember, your children are always recording audio and video whether you want them to or not.

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The Cookie Caper Question I have a tendency to take things personally and assume that people think the worst of me.  Here’s a hypothetical situation that closely resembles my line of thinking: If Kevin were to ask me why cookies were being stolen from the cookie jar in a household of three or more individuals all capable of reaching the container, I would typically assume that he was informing me of a problem while at the same time accusing me of stealing the cookies and/or blaming me for not having a better system for keeping track of the baked goods in question even if this wasn’t at all his intent or line of thinking.  (Truth be told, I do find it very difficult to resist the urge to consume baked goodies when they are left out or easily accessible.) 

     Like most people, I prefer to be informed of a problem and asked questions rather than immediately accused of being the culprit when I’m just as likely a suspect as the next person.  If the cookies have some type of chocolate in them, it might be most efficient and also highly likely to assume that I have been one of the people responsible for the disappearance and consumption of some of the cookies.  Though it would be unfair and presumptuous to believe that I am the only guilty party involved in the case of the missing cookies, it isn’t unjust, given my appreciation for goodies, to think that I’m among the likely suspects…

     I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving and that you are willing to share your holiday baked goods with whoever comes to call this Advent and Christmas.                  

Check out Jen Fulwiler’s tradition of 7 Quick Takes Friday at her tremendously popular blog Conversion Diary. 

A Letter to Parents (My Nanny Diary)

Dear Mom and Dad,

If you think that no one other than the two of you will ever love your child and care for him as much as you do, except for God, you’re probably right.  Your child will always have a very special bond with you two, and your love is deeper, wider, and stronger for him than other people’s, and that isn’t likely to change, nor should it. 

From what I’ve read, heard, and observed, it’s perfectly normal to wonder if a child would be just as trusting, content, and relaxed to have pretty much anyone feed, burp, change, wash, clothe, hold, play with, read to, supervise, entertain…him.  The truth is their sense of trust, security, and love comes initially from the two of you.  Even when you are five kinds of tired and doing things only other parents or caregivers as sleep-deprived as you are would come up with, your child knows you love him, will take care of his basic needs, and not give up on him no matter how difficult he can be at times

The Lord chose you out of all of eternity to take care of this little one in body, mind, and soul.  The connection between parents and their children is much stronger than many realize.  I’ve had a number of parents, both mothers and fathers, make comments to me that indicate they feel their child is some sort of “traitor” when he warms up to me and seems comfortable with me taking care of him.  Actually “traitor” was the exact word one mother used when she came home on her lunch break the first day her son was in my care to check in and make sure everything was going well.  He was perfectly content, and she felt a little slighted as well as relieved and grateful.    

Another important aspect of life that children learn from very early on is that Mom and Dad show them who they can trust.  Part of your responsibility is to ensure that your child is always in reliable, competent care when one or both of you aren’t present.  You are your child’s most important, influential, and trusted teachers.  That’s not to say your child won’t challenge you frequently, but he knows that the bottom-line is that you’re the one who will appear in the middle of the night when he’s thirsty, hungry, teething, cold, having a nightmare...     

 

I don’t know what it feels like from your perspective to have a child you have sacrificed everything for run up and give someone not even related to you hugs and kisses, but I imagine it would make me feel envious and wonder where I rate if I were in your position.  If ever you feel a twinge of sadness, jealousy, or regret when your child runs up to someone else, remember that your child is able to love because God and the two of you loved him first and taught him how to trust by being trustworthy.    

The best performance review I’ve ever received from a parent is that they can tell I love their child “almost as much as they do.”  When one father said that, I knew he could understand how I feel and where I'm coming from.  Though I have loved each child for whom I have nannied as much as I possibly feel I am capable of love, I know that their parents love them even more, and I rejoice that’s the case. 

You’re right in thinking you’ll never find a babysitter or caregiver who loves your child as much as you do.  However, it is quite possible and very probable, that with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, you will find someone who really loves and adores your child and will give him the best care they know how while you two are at work.  It may mean searching a bit harder, interviewing more candidates, and/or training someone who has the potential to be a good fit, but it can be done.  It is possible to find quality child care you can trust and depend on to love and keep up with your little one. 

 

People have billions of ideas about what’s best for kids, but what they need most is to feel loved, safe, and have their physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual needs met.  God always intends for there to be people in addition to the mother and father to love a child, care for and about him, and lend support and encouragement.  They aren’t kidding about it taking a village to raise a child.  Don’t be afraid of letting other people love your child dearly.  When it comes to the top spots in the child’s heart, you’ve got them.  Just like it says in Mary Poppins once she’s interviewed, “The position has been filled.” 

No matter what child care situation you discern is right for your family, your child will always have the strongest bond with the two of you, his mom and dad.

Sincerely,

Your Nanny

7 Quick Takes Friday (Vol. 129) about Singing, Dancing, Training, Laughing

 

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Grace is…getting a short nap when you’re beyond ready to collapse, a glimmer of hope in the midst of innumerable struggles, God putting people on our hearts and minds who need our prayers, people with whom we can be completely honest and vulnerable, reconnecting with friends you don’t get to see often, having a child bring you a book to read them, being reminded of the place in your heart that suffers when those you love are suffering, the gift of laughter, the undeniable cuteness and joy of little ones…  

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Gotta Sing and Dance I was raised with a love for books of all sorts, Broadway musicals, and Disney movies among other things.  I have shared my passion for books and musicals with the children for whom I have nannied and worked with over the years.  My mom, sisters, and I have been known to break into song at family meals and gatherings, and I regularly burst into songs from Singin’ in the Rain, The Sound of Music, White Christmas, Mary Poppins, The Music Man...when taking care of little ones.  Of course, I also sing them the usual ABCs, Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, London Bridge is Falling Down, If You’re Happy and You Know It, She’ll be Coming Round the Mountain, I’ve been working on the railroad, but I also enjoy spicing things up a bit with some lesser-known oldies but goodies.     

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The Music Man Over the past couple weeks after Kevin and I watched one of the movies I know by heart from my childhood, I was inspired to introduce another couple songs to the repertory of Broadway musical classics that I sing and dance to at times while nannying.  The girls have really enjoyed the opening scene from the original The Music Man movie.  This has been the favorite and most requested Youtube clip this week (at least in the department of musicals):

    

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Hit by a Train The other day it happened to me again, I was hit by a train.  It was a small child’s toy train, but I still got hit by it.  When Kevin and I were dating, he took me to a model train store and was showing me how detailed some of the to-scale models are.  I was holding one box up and examining the locomotive inside, admiring the intricacy of the windows, seats, etc., and tilted the box a little too far.  The black engine thumped onto my chest.  I turned to Kevin with a look of mock horror, and said, “I’ve been hit by a train!”       

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Keep It Simple I’ll set up a lay-out of train tracks, and one of the girls tries to attach all of the trains to each other and not let her sisters have any to play with.  Another will make it her mission to destroy whatever train tracks are connected, especially if they happen to be held up or supported by Duplos.  The third cutie has cracked me up this week by taking one piece of track less than a foot long and one train and running the train back and forth along that little bit of track.  It’s portable, cannot be disassembled, and doesn’t draw nearly as much attention or interference as other attempts to play trains.  You go girl!    

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When Words Aren’t Enough Over the past couple weeks, I have had people share with me a number of serious situations for which they want and need prayer.  Regardless of how tired I have been, God has granted me the grace to listen and be present when possible, and to lift up all of those who are suffering and caring for them in prayer.  I’m encouraged to know that there are people who pray for Kevin and me daily.  Just so you know, I am always honored when people ask me to pray for them or for their loved ones.  Prayer requests are always welcome!   
    

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A Fabulous Tradition A couple who we are good friends with has made it a tradition each year to invite a group of friends and/or family members over for an early Thanksgiving feast at their place.  Kevin and I are looking forward to this get-together quite a bit after having a blast in years’ past.  Good food, good friends, great memories, abundant blessings, who could ask for anything more?

                  

Check out Jen Fulwiler’s tradition of 7 Quick Takes Friday at her tremendously popular blog Conversion Diary.  

Screening & Selecting a Child Care Provider (My Nanny Diary)

Do you know the most important questions to ask when interviewing a person whom you’re considering leaving alone with your children for hours at a time? 

  
If not, you're not alone.  Most parents don't know all the pertinent things to ask and look for when selecting the right child care scenario for their family.  Fortunately, there are many resources available to help you.  

 
Below are links to some articles I’ve found that have a good set of pertinent questions to ask when interviewing the person who will be responsible for your child’s health, safety, and well-being while you are at work.  Each list is specific to the type of child care scenario sought after, so some of the questions overlap.   

An Extensive List of Pertinent Interview Questions for Finding the Best Nanny for Your Family

A good list of questions for interviewing a Child Care Provider 

In-Home Child Care Provider questionnaire and checklist

How to Interview a Daycare Provider

A variety of nanny agencies have done well because for a fee, they will take care of the criminal and personal background checks, references, pull up DMV records, and have the individual applying to be a nanny fill out a sea of paperwork indicating her (or his) experience with children, early child development training, her preferred work environment, what licensing and training she has in CPR, First Aid, Medication Administration Training…so parents don't have to do that part of the search.  (I say she, because the vast number of nannies I know are female, but I know there are some males who have also stepped up to the plate to devote themselves to providing excellent child care.)

  
The first two nanny positions I found out of college were through a local Christian nanny agency that took care of screening applicants and then passing a brief summary of their info and qualifications along to families in their database looking for an independent child care professional.  From there on out, it was up to me to decide with and for whom I wanted to work, the number of hours per week, terms, conditions, fees, etc. of the contract we agreed upon. 

  
I was impressed by how thorough the questioning, scanning, and screening process was on the agency’s side.  As I believe should be the case, those at the agency and the parents who hired them knew enough about how important it is to hire someone who is reliable, responsible, capable, hard-working, experienced with children and infant development, and basic safety that they wanted to make sure they asked the right questions and got the necessary answers. 

  
Of course, not every family can afford to pay a fee so someone else will do the proper screening and background checks, so that is often something that falls on the parents to take care of as part of their interviewing process.

The above links can help get you going in the right direction and may very well bring up some issues and concerns that might not have occurred to you.  Also, talking with friends who have found child care they're happy with and networking with other parents in your area can help you narrow down what it is that you're looking for and may help you figure out the best way of finding that person.

In a blog post that will appear in May 2016, I will explain and give links to specific agencies and websites that will tell you how child care providers in your area rate in terms of safety and quality of services provided.

7 Quick Takes Friday (Vol. 128) about inspiration, making a difference, and persevering

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Grace is…believing you’re loved even when you can’t feel it, knowing that living out our vocations requires ongoing discernment and sacrifice, people recognizing and affirming those who have spent time away from the workplace to take care of family and friends at home, the acknowledgement of anyone that raising a family is the most challenging and important job there is for married couples and parents, learning about inspiring people who use their talents to serve others, being able to pray for and with others…

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What’s a Life Worth? Late last night, I finished reading the amazing Mountains Beyond Mountains by Tracy Kidder.  The book is about a remarkable man, Dr. Paul Farmer, whose passion for treating people in poverty (starting with those he served in Haiti) with the utmost dignity, respect, and the best medical technologies available literally impacted and dramatically improved treatment of infectious diseases such as tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS in poor countries around the world. 

     "...the idea that some lives matter less is the root of all that's wrong with the world" is the essence of Dr. Paul Farmer’s philosophy.  I know a book is very well-written when, though it’s about a topic as depressing as rampant illness affecting the poorest of the poor, I’m left feeling hopeful, inspired, and completely in awe of what happens when one man insists and believes that every life is of incalculable value; every person is worth treating; and every individual deserves the best we have to give, whatever the cost to ourselves or others.  

.   God did it again.  I was led to read this book at the perfect time. The pastor of our church and a group of parishioners are on yet another mission trip in Haiti this week, visiting our twin parish in Dos Palais, which is supposed to be opening a medical clinic soon.  

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Noisy Toys After a three day weekend, suddenly a vast number of battery-operated 'noisy toys' no longer make sounds. When Sunshine told me all of the batteries just ran down, I rolled with it, and told her if they were taken out and not replaced it must have been for a good reason.  My guess is that their parents, like any adults who have a reasonable amount of sanity somewhere on their top ten list of most important attributes of a caregiver, can only take but so much of Rock'n'Roll Elmo, an endless loop of "The Itsy-Bitsy Spider," and toys that add more sound effects that make it seem like their children are actually being raised in a barn. 

     I recall quite clearly a few toys that the boys loved to play with that would “disappear” at random intervals when I deemed my sanity more important than their need to press the fire engine’s siren another bazillion times.  I found it particularly taxing when the battery was about to run out on the sea-themed exersaucer activity center.  One of the boys picked up on how much it annoyed me to hear a painfully slow, scratchy version of “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star” that was the equivalent of nails on a chalkboard for me.  Kid was smart.  When he was upset with me for failing to concede in any way, shape, or form that only the exersaucer, not the entire universe revolved around him, he would purposely press the star and watch me cringe.  
     You will never convince me that kids aren’t clever enough to torture their parents and caregivers on purpose from a surprisingly young age. I know better.

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Calling for Back-up The other day was a 3+ time-outs, not enough sleep (them or me), and call for at least one of our favorite visitors kind of nannying day.  I feared that after five hours of feeding, cleaning up after, playing with, and refereeing three young girls in a limited space I was likely to run completely out of energy and patience sometime in the remaining four and a half hours before their mom would get home from work. 

Cuties with Contraband

     I’m sure it would have helped somewhat for at least a while if we could have gotten outside, but it’s been a couple weeks since I have been able to locate shoes that fit two of them (over socks) which I consider mandatory, not optional when playing outside, especially when the temperature is under 70.  I also hesitate to do much outdoors when the oldest is racking up time-outs, because I can’t trust that we’d get too far on a walk or other outdoor activity before a total and complete meltdown would make it necessary for me to get all three of them inside.        
     Fortunately, Kevin came over late that afternoon in case there was a repeat after naps (theirs, not mine) of I-want-whatever-you’re-playing-with-when-you’re-playing-with-it-and-I’m-going-to-grab-it-from-you-and-knock-you-over-to-get-it Advanced Pre-school Aerobics/Kung Fu Class. 
     The girls only napped for an hour, so it was even more vital that I had back-up on the way.  Kevin and I had the girls running, playing, giggling, and in much better moods than any of us were in that morning. Thank God Almighty for the gift of my husband, and I do!  To read about more of my adventures as a nanny, check out posts from My Nanny Diary.

    

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JAM Session Highlights Our parish has a really great, very successful ecumenical Job Assistance Ministry (JAM) which has helped hundreds of people in our area find employment.  Kevin’s been going to the meetings regularly as he searches for a new job.  The numerous professionals and business people involved offer a wide variety of career services for free that other recruiters and job search agencies charge hundreds of dollars to do.  Check out the ministry website, activities, and successes here. 

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My Guy Gets It This past Wednesday at JAM, the speaker was swamped with questions after his
presentation, so Kevin took it upon himself to approach a woman wondering what to put on her resume since he has spent several hours working, revising, and rewriting his with the recent tips, tricks, and trends he’s learned.  Kevin’s a friendly, helpful guy, so this gesture didn’t surprise me.  What I was really excited to hear is that he reassured this woman, who has gone 17 years without a paying job, that raising a family is the hardest and most important job anyone can do and made it abundantly clear to her that she must have a number of marketable skills from such a feat that will translate into the work world.  While they were talking, another woman came up who’s been out of the workforce for 21 years raising her family.  I am beyond grateful that my husband gets what so many men and women don’t: there’s nothing more challenging or more essential than raising a family, and those who devote their time and energy to that are generally hardworking, very talented individuals who deserve respect. 
    

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Hope and Help for the Philippines This is a very good article on what has happened in the Philippines and what is being done to help the many victims of Super Typhoon Haiyan.  There are links in the article of what organizations are already in place to help and how you can donate to the effort.    

     Lord, please open our hearts and minds to do and be what you need us to in order to alleviate the suffering that is taking place in the Philippines right now. 

                  

Check out Jen Fulwiler’s tradition of 7 Quick Takes Friday at her tremendously popular blog Conversion Diary.

Things Your Toddler Might Be Thinking (My Nanny Diary)

“You have fun putting those books back on the shelf, because it’s gonna take me a whole two seconds to dump them all back on the floor again...which is where I want them to stay anyway.”

“Oh, look a Cheerio!  Still mostly crunchy with only a little dirt on it. Scrumptious!”

“Hi!!!” 

“Go ahead.  Make my day!  Pull out those blocks again, and I’ll show you who’s boss.”

  

“Let me outta here or I’m going to scream, yell, kick, flail my arms, throw my head, arch my back, and basically whatever else I got to do to get your attention and your submission pronto.  Am I making myself crystal clear?”

“It’s peanut butter jelly time!”

“Take that!” the little one thinks after thrusting a book in your hand.  “Yeah, that’s the one I want to hear.  Yes, again!  Come on, it’s not that hard.  Mr. Brown can do it.  I’m sure you can manage, too.  Here let me help you: Moo, buzz, yada, yada, yada, knock, knock.”

 

“Miiiiiiiiiilk!  I’m so thirsty, I think I’ll drink a whole three sips before I pour as much of this out as I can before someone tries to stop me.

“If I shake this gate hard enough, it will swing open, and I will be able to wreak the havoc I have contemplated every single time I see that stupid contraption which mercilessly thwarts my efforts.”

“Run!  It’s a bear!”

"The itsy bitsy spider...if you're happy and you know it clap your hands."

Oh, how nice.  It’s a clean, dry diaper.  Time to take a big, stinky, messy dump!

Knock, knock, knock. Little pig, little pig, let me come in.  Not by the hair on my chinny chin chin (whatever that is).

Here we go again.  Looks like they put away all the books, blocks, and toys I put right where I wanted them.  Some people never learn.  I go to sleep and they put things in strange places and I can’t find anything at all.  I never get a rest.  They keep messing everything up when I’ve finally gotten it where I want it, and I have to start all over again. 

Row, row, row, row your boat gently down the scream. Maylee, maylee, maylee, maylee, life is buttercream.

I have just about had it!  I go to all of the trouble of sprinkling my cereal and snack foods on the floor, so I can eat them when I feel like it instead of when I’m strapped into a seat and given a big white surface that they won’t let me use the way I want to.  Maybe I don’t want my food on a plate, in a bowl, or on my spoon.  Did you ever consider that there’s a pattern here?  If you would just put my food on the floor and let me eat it when I feel like it, then we wouldn’t have to do this whole thing where you put things on my tray, I toss them off, you get cranky and put them back on or throw them out.  This is really rather ridiculous, but the show must go on.

Bye!!!!!

Note to Reader: This list has been inspired by many years of taking care of young children.  Some of my guesses about what they're thinking have been confirmed when they start talking more and/or become even more proficient in baby sign language, so I know more of the time what's going on in their little heads. Others just seem likely to follow the actions observed by toddlers throughout the course of most given days.