Financial Friday: Do you have your gifts for your employers and donations for 2009 done?

Financial Friday: Do You Have Your Gifts for Your Employers and Donations for 2009 done?
by Alice Shaffer

As 2009 winds down we have a few things left to deal with. Have you made your final purchases for your holiday gifts for your employers? Have you made your final donations for 2009 to your charities?

Donations:
Make sure you get receipts for those items you donated. Do a quick sweep of your closet for any winter items you don't need that someone at a shelter could use this winter. Many places are still taking items for holiday gifts. Check your local listings for the Salvation Army and Goodwill openings for donations.

Gifts for Employers
As nannies, we are sometimes in a bind on what to get our employers if anything at all. NannyMall LLC posted a blog post on this very thing a week or so ago.

I recently had a NannyMall Nanny email to say she was giving gifts to the children of the family in which she was placed and she asked a really great question:
Is it appropriate to gift the parents and if so, what do you give them?

To read the rest of the article please visit The Financial Nanny

Tuesday Tips:What to do while you wait for the right job.

The following post is from Patti Mueller at Nanny Mall. She had some helpful advice for nannies waiting for the right job to come along. Thanks Patti for letting us share your advice with our readers!

Some suggestions for "waiting Nannies"
If you are a professional Nanny or just breaking into the profession, waiting to get placed with a family can be extremely difficult! It's not an question of your experience, your talents, your availability, your age, your anything, it can be simply explained like this:
Families are extremely particular when it comes to choosing a Nanny for their family. (as they should be)
After all they want someone "just like them."

If you polled families the general consensus would probably look a little like this: Nanny must be fun, energetic, playful, loving, gentle, kind, and above all, must love our children. You see, it's everything they offer their children so they expect to bring in someone with the same actions and feelings they have towards their children.
And true, they might even hold a brighter candle to you to make sure you pass the grade due to "you being the professional."

It's not always an easy choice. There are times when a family meets with just one applicant and "tag you're it!"
happens. There are families that had a clear idea on what type of Nanny they would like for their home only to interview many and decide they need to change their criteria and start all over. Then there are families that interview 15-20 applicants and decide not to hire at all.

It's constant wait and see but understandably a Nanny can become discouraged and feel she doesn't have what it takes should she be passed by time after time. (side note: a good support group or agency can help in that area)

Nanny Mall has some suggestions on their blog that may help keep your mind strong and your days busy during your waiting period.
Read them on their blog
Nanny Mall Blog

Weekend Round Up November 2-6

Here's your weekend Round Up just in case you missed something this week.
Our Random comment winner for October was Patti from Nanny Mall in St. Louis, MO.

On Monday Moxie Kellie gave you some upcoming dates that you should mark on your calendar.

On Tuesdays Tips Alice gave us some ideas on how to get "Electronic Time" under control.

On Wednesday's Creative Nanny we got some great advice from Becky Kavanagh on the basics of cooking with kids.

On Thursday Table Talk, Alice interviewed Buffi Gentry, a professional nanny with 20 years experience about caring for a child with Juvenile Diabetes.

On Financial Friday Alice told us about Smarty Pig a tool that helps you save money for big things like conferences.

Coming up this week on Regarding Nannies: We will get a report on TCP's Nanny Day and Mallette Parry will show us some great ideas for simple and fun kid gifts you can make yourself.

October Random Comment Winner is....

Patti of NannyMall, she has won a pack of handmade Breast Cancer cards by Alice Shaffer.

She commented on Table Talk Thursday: Nanny Portfolio A to Z

Anonymous October 29, 2009 8:00 AM

I forwarded this on to my Nannies so they can get started on updating and improving their portfolios.

Great idea!

Patti at NannyMall dot com

Thank you so much Patti for reading our blog and commenting! Please contact us by Friday November 6, with your mailing address for your prize. Email at regardingnannies (at) gmail (dot) com


Don't forget that we have a $25 gift certificate to Stuck on You giveaway. Details are here. Giveaway ends November 13th.

How to Build a Good Relationship with your Agency

Recently, Patti Mueller from Nanny Mall wrote on her blog about why the nannies working with her agency are rock stars. Working with an agency is all about building a relationship.

How to Build a Good Relationship with your Agency
(or how to be a rock star !)


*Stay in constant contact with the agency and communicate your needs and progress.


*Arrive on time for interviews and positions.


*Show us how excited you are about working with children.


*Know what direction you are headed in life.


*Be clear with your wants and needs within a placement.


*Call in and update regularly with the agency.


*Ask, "what's next, what can I do to help?"


*Have a sense of humor!


*Show your experience and love of children!


*Be willing to help a family in any capacity!


Show your agency that you want to help them as much as they want to help you.



Patti Mueller (Agency Owner) Email: Patti(at)NannyMall.com

Patti opened her Nanny agency, NannyMall, LLC in St. Charles County, Missouri in 2009. She has previous agency experience.
Patti’s agency strives for an intimate and personal approach while maintaining the highest level of service. Pattie offers ongoing support for her families and quarterly meetings for the nannies.
Like so many of the parents she assists, Patti has balanced her career life with her role as wife and mother of two awesome, grown children.

For more information you can visit her website Nanny Mall LLC.