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Confessions of a Tattle Tale

photo credit: christopher frier brown

“Tattle tale, tattle tale..Karen is a tattle tale” … I heard this many a day from my six siblings while growing up in a large middle-class family.  As the family tattle-tale, I had my nose in everyone’s business and couldn’t wait to run to Mom with all the details.  Of course, this didn’t make me very popular with my brothers and sisters.

Fortunately, Mom was a very wise woman who realized my need to feel important.  Tattling wasn’t about getting my siblings in trouble, well not completely, that was only a bonus,  my real reasons for tattling were to get my Mother’s attention.  The goal was to be her “right-hand girl”.

With her Mommy instincts ramped-up to above average,  Mom realized this weakness in me and turned it into a strength.

So exactly how did she solve the tattle tale dilemma?

By setting this one rule.. I could only tattle “good stuff”.  That meant  only telling on my siblings when they were doing something “right”.   Things like.. “Mom.. Darlene is sharing her coke with Jim and John and she is even giving them the most!”  or “I saw Butch outside helping Tracy’s Dad clean up his yard”.

I became a pro at spotting my brothers and sisters doing good and making sure I was the first to tell Mom.  Of course, my brothers and sisters wanted to tell Mom for themselves but they were at least grateful  that I wasn’t reporting the negative news.

Do you have a little tattle tale?  Try encouraging them to spread the “good news”.

photo credit: griffhome

HELP MOMMY, I NEED A ROUTINE, PLEASE!!!!

All babies are born with an instinctive need for routine in their lives.  They know when they are hungry and cry, they know when they need to be changed and cry and they know when they just need some me time with mommy or daddy and cry. Surprisingly, each need has a distinctive cry, and we quickly learn to respond to what the need is.  What do we do? We feed them every 3 to 4 hours and change them after feedings, routinely. We pick them up for cuddles and coos to soothe them.

Sadly, as they grow older, somehow we forget that they still need that daily routine in their lives.  One day, with hands on our hips and rubbing our brow, we wonder what went wrong. Take time to check out the routine you are now following, or, could it possibly be that you don’t have a routine that you are following anymore. Chaos sets in, no order, no time, you are frazzled, OMG,  and so is your little one feeling the stress.

Honestly, if you would just take a few moments and set a routine plan up for your day, once again, you will be able to breathe and enjoy your day and so will the child. If you’ll take the time to watch your child and take heed to what you see and hear, as you are going through your daily routine,  you’ll notice how much more peaceful it becomes. You will be surprised how your own lives as parents will become less complicated, when all are following a routine. When there is peace in the house,  you can get your groove back and all are  happy and a lot less stressed. …..Click here to read more

Nanny Personality and Risk Assessments – Benefits and Challenges

Nanny personality and risk assessments are psychological tests that help parents assess potential Nannies, Au Pairs or Babysitters. The tests provide a better insight into the caregiver’s personality and traits, as well as an assessment of possible risk factors, and allow parents to select the best possible nanny. Similar tests are used by corporate and government organizations worldwide (including some 80% of the US Fortune 500 companies and 75% of the UK Times 100 companies) as well as by some Nanny, Babysitter and Au Pair agencies and childcare organizations. As a matter of fact, such tests are mandated by the US government for all Au Pair agencies.

Why are such tests needed? Aren’t interviews and checking references sufficient to select a nanny? Most recruitment specialists agree that the validity of interviews is quite low, even when conducted by trained professionals. Most parents are not trained interviewers and are usually lacking the necessary experience to properly formulate interview questions, read between the lines of what the applicant says, interpret non-verbal signs and body language, etc.

A Nanny Personality and Risk Assessment test can be considered as a very detailed and structured interview that overcomes some of the parents’ face-to-face interview limitations.  The test includes several hundred questions, covering all relevant issues, including questions which parents may feel uncomfortable to ask in a face-to-face interview. Personal traits covered may include responsibility, obedience and discipline, self control, emotional stability, coping with pressure, positive attitude and service awareness. Risk assessment issues should include violent behavior, drug abuse, drinking problems, truthful reporting, respect to property and more. In a similar manner to an ordinary interview, online interactive tests of this sort allow different questions to be asked according to prior responses, as well as provide real-time feedback to the applicant triggered by specific answers that are considered problematic. …..Click here to read more