Where did this year go? It just seems as though each passing year is going faster and faster. Since I was a little girl, I have set goals for myself...they were of course a lot simpler at age 13, but the list always included ways that I could improve myself. Some call this "making resolutions" but for me it was more "setting goals".
No matter how many years experience we may have in our fields and at what levels we work, there is always room for improvement. Even after owning an domestic agency for 22 years, there are still and always will be ways that I can improve my service and dedication to clients and candidates. Over the course of the last 10 years, much of my work has been directed toward creating training materials and cleaning systems which now are incorporated into seminars and other products available to homeowners and domestic workers.
We are all capable of doing so much more than we realize. Our potential is never fully reached. So here are some thoughts that may help you as you consider your own list:
Goals for Domestic Workers:
Education and training is the only thing that distinguishes you from another person working in the same capacity. In a competitive market, you need to stand out more than ever. Now is the time to analyze your skills and see how you can improve yourself to make you more marketable. Also keep in mind your level of professionalism, and what you can do to improve your employment relationships. Think about this past year and other times where you may have not handled a situation the best way possible. Consider new approaches on how you can become more efficient. Consider learning new skills that can help you expand your job opportunities.
Goals for Domestic Agency Owners:
Faced with job listing sites that make it easy to match employees and employers, we need to find ways to set our services above and beyond the norm so that clients see the value in using an agency. I believe what interests a client more than anything is continued support well after the placement has been made. Employment relations always have their honeymoon period, but then issues come up that often both parties are unable to resolve. Maintain continued close contact with your candidates and clients. Offer continued training and support to your candidates to help them become better workers and more skilled professionals.
A few on my list include:
1) Launching and marketing a bilingual learning tool called "El Ama de Casa Bilingue" that teaches the Hispanic domestic worker housekeeping, laundry, kitchen and cooking essentials and childcare basics AND English for the household and job.
2) Finishing "The Nanny in Charge" - January 15th - a book regarding how nannies can build a fulfilling career while always maintaining control of their jobs and lives every step of the way.
3) January 7th and 21st, The Professional Housekeeper training seminars take place in Chicago and Austin, respectively. I will continue doing local and out of state seminars and workshops teaching nannies, housekeepers and household managers professional development and all other household skills needed in their jobs.
4) Introduce to the market our new product "Clean in Time" that assesses every object/surface in a home and creates a manual showing a) how to clean, b) how much time it should take, and c) how many staff workers are needed to complete the job.
Take a moment and make out a list for yourself. Keep it handy in a place where you can see it daily. Remind yourself of what you must do to obtain these goals, and make sure that at the end of the year some are checked off.
Happy New Year to all and may 2012 be a healthy and prosperous that is fulfilling both personally and professionally!
http://www.MartaPerrone.com
We usually associate a "Doula" with the beginning of pregnancy, labor and delivery of a human life. Yet, there is another type of doula that specializing in the end of life. A death mid-wife is for those who know their lives are coming to an end but would rather not spend those last days in a hospital with machines and tubes. There is actually a "certified death doula". Her job is to make the environment as peaceful as possible for the person who's dying as well as for the family members and friends.
Unlike a hospice nurse, a death doula doesn't administer medicine or perform medical procedures and is not licensed by the state. She will also only stay after the client dies if the family wants her to help with the funeral. Her primary job is carry out the wishes of the person who is dying. She will also encourage the client to have a will, power of attorney for healthcare and for finances and a written plan for the disposition of the body...all in writing. Her goal is to maintain peace and harmony within the family relationships.
As Ms. Ana Blechschmidt, a death doula says, "If I am assisting in a death passing, what I'm really doing is assisting the soul to birth its new life. And that's such an honorable necessary thing."
Http://www.MartaPerrone.com
_ Frankie’s Paella
My brother and I were born in Madrid, Spain and traditionally ate many Spanish foods prepared by our mother. One of which is a famous dish called “Paella”. The name “Paella” actually comes from the pan that it is cooked in. Another story is that the name came from the inventor of the dish naming it after his lover and calling it “para ella” or “for her” which turned to the shorter version “paella”.
There are many possible ingredients in the traditional paella: Lobster, Shrimp, Clams, Mussels, Squid, Chorizo Sausage, Chicken, Rabbit, String Beans, Peas and Red Peppers. Only Olive Oil, Rice and Saffron are always used which provides the yellow glow. You may omit the Lobster and include Shrimp instead. For those allergic to shellfish, you can omit the clams and mussels and shrimp altogether.
The first paella was cooked outdoors in open fires that were actually an outside picnic. Spanish picnickers would plan a “paella cookout” as the main feature of their outings by building a fire and setting up their pan on a tripod. Finally they would wield their spoons traditionally directly from the pan.
The beauty of Paella is that you can use a variety of ingredients (not necessarily the same each time) and still come up with a wonderful meal that feeds a large family and visitors as well.
Ingredients:
2 Large Chopped Fresh Tomatoes
1 Red/Yellow (sweeter) Peppers
Thinly sliced Pork
Italian Sausage
1 Onion
7-8 cloves of Garlic
Chorizo
1 Whole Chicken
1 ½ Pounds of Large Shrimp with shells
Pinch of Saffron
3 Cups of Long Grain Enriched Rice
6 Cups of Water
1 package of Frozen peas
1 can of Black Olives
Several Lemons
Cooking Instructions:
1) Boil Italian sausage in water for 5 minutes. Drain, pat dry and slice.
2) In large skillet, season with salt and pepper and cook Chicken pieces in oil. Remove from the skillet and set aside.
3) Chop finely together peeled large tomatoes, onion, peppers and pork. Pull chorizo out of casing and mix in. – this is called the “Sofrido”.
4) In the same pan as you cooked the chicken, place the “Sofrido” - tomatoes, onion, pork and peppers. Cook down the “Sofrido” until all the juices are reduced. This becomes your base for the “paella” flavor.
5) Clean and devein the shrimp. (You can also leave the shells on; it gives the Paella more flavor.)
6) Place oil in the paella pan and add 6 cups of water. Add the Sofrido, rice and add a pinch of saffron. Bring to a boil over the stove.
7) Before putting the paella pan in the oven, place your chicken, sausage, shrimp, peas, and some black olives into pan decoratively.
8) Pre-heat oven 400 degrees and cook for 30 minutes.
If adding clams and mussels – just clean them well and add in last when putting paella into the oven.
Serve in pasta-type bowls with slices of lemon and a roll of bread.
Paired with a simple Rioja wine as you close your eyes and dream of Spain.
_Baby Avery Cornett's family is planning the infant's funeral this week. Health officials have traced the 10-day old's tragic death to a bacteria known as Cronobacter Sakazakii. The question, now, is how the bacteria entered the baby's system. The rare microorganism can grow in powdered formula. Now, scientists with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are investigating whether that bacteria was present in the formula baby Avery ingested. A statement from Wal-Mart reads: "Out of an abundance of caution, we made a company decision to remove the remaining product with the same lot number from our store shelves nationwide." The newborn formula comes in 12.5 ounce canisters with the lot number ZPLKG on the bottom of the can. A spokesperson for Mead-Johnson says the company is not issuing its own recall, right now, but they are working with government investigators to research the batch of formula in question..."We know every batch that goes out is tested for this particular cronobacter microorganism...we know that it was negative for that batch... we've gone back and confirmed that," the spokesperson said.. Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Sandy Hines says doctors to carefully consider which types of formula to use for premature babies...and infants less than one-month old...because their immune systems are not as strong. "The immuno compromised babies would probably be the ones wed be focused on the most as far as changing them to a liquid formula versus a powdered formula," Hines says. Health officials say parents should call their pediatrician with any question they may have about what they're feeding their newborn. Enfamil has this number, 1-800-BABY-123, that is also available for parents with questions about baby formula products. http://www.MartaPerrone.com
If you are reading this it is because you are one of three people: - Nanny - concerned about getting fired
- Agency - concerned that their candidate will need to be replaced
- Family - concerned that due to their nanny's conduct, they will need to hire again
It never ceases to amaze me at how people manage to make some very important mistakes causing them to get fired. Mistakes that could have been rectified with a little common sense and professional training. LATE, LATE, LATE - Yes, 3 times or more is simply going to get you fired. America does not run on the "mañana" mentality and if you work for a family who depends on you getting to your job on time, then PLEASE arrive ON TIME. Traffic is simply going to be worse around the holidays, so leave earlier to make sure you get there on time. AND, don't think because your boss works from home that you can get there late. She/He is on a schedule and depends on you to arrive in order to start the work day.CURIOUS GEORGE - If you are a Nanny you know about how Curious George would ask a lot of questions, but he is a monkey and not a nanny. Nannies often ask the wrong questions and find themselves losing an interview. You can ask about the household and the children and everything that pertains to the job, but DO NOT ASK personal questions....especially when interviewing or doing a trial with a celebrity. (They are the most offended by this action.)IMPOSING OPINIONS - We all have opinions about almost everything, and it is difficult to not share them. However, if your opinions are political, religious or simply personal thoughts on how to raise a child, and these happen to NOT COINCIDE with your employer's opinions, you are going to find yourself in a pickle. A nanny is there to follow the instructions that a parent gives on raising and caring for "their" child. The operative word is "their". TAKING ADVANTAGE - If you are working for someone who is paying you for every hour on the job, then it is your responsibility to perform to the best of your ability every minute on the job. This would mean avoiding, checking your phone and emails constantly, calling your friends, reading a magazine or watching TV instead of caring for the child in a productive manner, going on personal errands on the boss's clock, doing sloppy housework, ignoring a child's needs and professional care. Reserve your breaks for personal activities. ATTITUDE - As a parent, I can only say that when any of my children show me "attitude", it seriously upsets me. There have been employees in my office that showed a bit of attitude and quickly found themselves out the door. No one wants someone around them with a sense of "entitlement" or an "unpleasant mood". It gets worse when you have someone in your home that is your sanctuary with a BAD ATTITUDE. So if you can't come to work with a pleasant smile and a good attitude, then perhaps you need to find another type of employment...but actually, I can't think of any job that doesn't require a good attitude. NEGLIGENCE & FORGETFULNESS - At the ripe age of 55, I certainly understand what it means to forget things from time to time (that is why I take LOTS whatever that vitamin is called). As a nanny or housekeeper, you have a tremendous responsibility on your hands with a home and child or children. Being negligent and forgetful can cost your job but also someone's home and child. Example, not locking doors, opening doors for strangers who happen to be criminals, forgetting to pick up a child from school or an activity, leaving a child alone and unattended, forgetting to put the seat belts on a child, driving unsafely....and the list goes on and on. If you have trouble remembering things, put them into your household manual, refer to your daily list of assignments and keep your mind on the job! Finding a job today is not easy, so when you find it, do everything possible to KEEP IT!!http://www.martaperrone.com
__http://www.nanny.netAccording to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC), unintentional poisoning results in almost 82 deaths per day in the United States, and an additional 1,941 emergency room visits. Proper storage and handling of poisonous materials is a common-sense approach to safeguarding your family and pets, but do you know all of the poison hazards in your home? Of all the potentially dangerous products in the average home, the following are the 9 most common household poisons: - Medicines – If not kept out of the reach of children, or if not taken as prescribed, common medications in the home can be poisonous. Cold and flu medicines, and analgesics account for a large number of poisonings.
- Cosmetics / Personal Care Products – Among children under the age of 6, who account for more than half the cases of unintentional poisonings in the U.S., these products are most commonly involved. Perfumes, nail polish remover, mouthwash, even toothpaste are poison risks for children.
- Cleaning Products – Bleach, ammonia, solvents, furniture polish; drain cleaners, oven cleaners, lye and detergents all need to be stored properly and kept out of children’s reach and away from pets.
- Pesticides – When treating the home for pests, it is important to take care in what areas are treated and to observe the label instructions very closely. Rodent poisons should never be placed within reach of children or pets, or in food storage areas. Always wear gloves when handling pesticides.
- Paints / Paint Thinners – Whether via fume inhalation, ingestion, or lead poisoning, paints and thinners are potentially hazardous products. Care should be taken to use proper ventilation when using these products.
- Plants – Some household plants can be toxic when ingested by pets or small children. Around the holidays, hazards include such common decorative plants as mistletoe, poinsettias and holly.
- Small Batteries – The combination of their size and chemical composition makes these miniature batteries, like those used in watches and hearing aids, a serious choke and poisoning risk.
- Antifreeze – Can be fatal if swallowed. This common household item is particularly dangerous because it has an attractive smell and taste to pets, and is readily accessible to them if spills are not cleaned thoroughly.
- Hydrocarbons – These products include gasoline, kerosene, motor oil, lighter fluid, and lamp oils. They are not only a choke hazard, but pose a risk to the lungs when ingested. Another leading cause of poisoning death in children.
http://www.MartaPerrone.com
_This article was provided by Kathy Webb of Homework Solutions, Inc. http://www.4nannytaxes.comThe US DOL has proposed a series of rules changes that will result in a substantial number of elder care and home care workers being covered by the Fair Labor Standards Acts' (FLSA) minimum wage and overtime protections. This continues a trend of increased regulation and enforcement in the area of domestic service employees, with an increasing number of household workers being subject to Wage and Hour protections and enforcement. The proposal more strictly limits and defines the services of a "companion," and states that household employers MUST maintain accurate and contemporaneous time tracking records and pay household staff for every hour on duty. CURRENT DEFINITIONS: "Companionship services" as defined by the US Department of Labor in 1974 refers to "services for the care, fellowship, and protection of persons who because of advanced age or physical or mental infirmity cannot care for themselves. Such services include household work for aged or infirm persons including meal preparation, bed making, clothes washing and other similar personal services. General household work is also included, as long as it does not exceed 20 percent of the total weekly hours worked by the companion." PROPOSED DEFINITIONS: The US DOL website states "The proposed definition of companionship services is limited to those duties that are directly related to the provision of fellowship and protection for a person who, because of advanced age or infirmity, is unable to care for himself or herself. It also allows for the performance of personal care services when those services are performed incidental to the core companionship functions and so long as they do not exceed 20 percent of the employee’s time during a work week." Personal care services are now to be limited to no more than 20% of the employee's work time, and provision of incidental household services (vacuuming and dusting for example) is specifically prohibited under the proposed defintions. According to the DOL "The performance of duties that are not for fellowship and protection of the aged or infirm person, or incidental to the provision of fellowship and protection, are not “companionship duties,” and therefore, any performance of general household work would result in the loss of the exemption for the week." In addition to the more limited definition of job functions classified as "companionship services", the proposed regulations specifically limit the exemption to individuals employed directly by the individual or family. Third party employers must adhere to the FLSA for all of their direct pay staff providing home care and companionship services. OVERNIGHT CARE: According to the proposal, "an employee who is required to be on duty for less than 24 hours is working even though the employee is permitted to sleep. All the time is counted as hours worked. However, if the employee is required to be on duty for 24 hours or more, the employer and employee may agree to exclude bona fide regularly scheduled sleeping periods of not more than 8 hours from hours worked. If the sleep period is interrupted to the point where the employee does not have the opportunity for at least five hours of sleep, the entire period must be counted as work time. Where there is no express or implied agreement with respect to sleep time, all hours must be counted as work time." (Emphasis added) Lastly, live in domestics of ANY job description continue to be exempt from overtime when directly employed by the family. The proposed rules "requires employers to maintain an accurate record of the actual hours worked by such workers. It will no longer be sufficient to have a work agreement between the parties." However, live in domestics employed by any third party employer are covered by the overtime provisions of the FLSA. http://www.MartaPerrone.com
_There is no question that bonding with babies at an early age not only gives them love, but a sense of security and confidence as they mature into young adults. I will never forget the program on 48 hours regarding how in many parts of the world there were orphanages without enough personnel available to hold and physically care for the many abandoned children. These babies were left in cribs hours upon hours and only attended to for feeding and diaper changing. Although there are cultures where bonding with babies is not considered important, in Hispanic cultures, holding and caressing the children is mandatory. Studies now show that a mother lode of bonding - or a lack thereof - between moms and young children can predict a child's behavior in romantic relationships decades later.
Adding to evidence that even preverbal memories are firmly imprinted on young psyches, researchers found that children who had been more securely attached to their mothers, now grown, did better at resolving relationship conflicts, recovering from those conflicts and enjoying stable, satisfying ties with their romantic partners in early adulthood.
"It's often very difficult to find the lingering effects of early life being related to adult behavior, because life circumstances change," said study author Jeffry A. Simpson, a professor of psychology at the University of Minnesota. "People change, but there's a kernel of stability from early experience in a lot of people."
When I see my children, the first thing I do is hug them and give them a kiss. At 23 and 19, they are loving young adults who still look forward to their mama holding them, kissing them and telling them daily that she loves them.
http://www.martaperrone.com
It’s amazing the variety of colors that food comes in. One of the tricks that everyone can use to eat a balanced diet is to eat a variety of colors on our plate at every meal. There are times when kids will get on a kick and they will eat nothing that is not green, or orange or red. Studies say that kids have to be exposed to a food at least three times before they will start to develop a taste for that food. So hang in there and continue to spice up your food choices with color. Check out 10 different colors of foods kids love. - Green: Now I can hear you thinking, are you kidding? My kids hate green veggies. Well, do they really hate all green veggies? Some kids will eat nothing, but green food. Heinz has even come out with a green ketchup to cater to those kids who love green. Salads are green and can be jazzed up with cran-raisins and pecans. Spinach can be added to a fruit smoothie and it will taste great, but it will turn green. Good thing for the kids is that they can’t taste the spinach and the great thing for you is that they are still getting all of the wonderful benefits of eating spinach and enjoying it. Broccoli with a little cheese over it should entice even the pickiest eater to try it.
- Orange: Of course oranges themselves are orange and filled with vitamin C. Carrots are among the sweetest vegetables there are and kids love to eat carrots dipped in a little ranch dressing. Just make sure they aren’t just using the carrot sticks as a vehicle to just eat the dressing. And probably one of the best orange vegetables is sweet potato. These are filled with beta-carotene and are great for our kids.
- Yellow: Bananas are yellow on the outside and white on the inside, but they still count under the yellow category. Kids love bananas and these can be blended up into a great smoothie for the busy mornings when you’re running a little late and don’t have time for a complete breakfast. Yellow squash is another yellow and while I don’t think there are a ton of kids begging their folks for yellow squash they will like the bright colors when put on a kabob on the grill mixed with some other fabulous colors.
- Red: Who can forget red! Strawberries are a front runner for kids. If you mix strawberries into a spinach salad with some nuts you will probably have a much better chance of getting your child to eat a spinach salad. Raspberries are red and another wonderful source of vitamin C. But not just fruits come in red, what about tomatoes. Wait, are those a fruit or a vegetable? Well, technically they are a fruit, but most people don’t associate them as such. But kids tend to love these red beauties. Red bell peppers are fun to throw into a stir fry or to put on kabobs with yellow squash to make a fun and festive summer dinner.
- Purple: Yep, there are purple potatoes on the market now and kids love seeing these fun vegetables make an appearance on their dinner plate. Just make sure to leave the skins on! Yep, kids will eat the skin and all and get all of those nutrients that they tend to miss when we peel the potatoes. Purple cabbage is another fun purple food. It’s fun because it adds a colorful touch to a salad and increases the nutritional value of the salad while not really adding a lot of weird flavor that will turn off a child.
- Brown: Brown food gets a bad rap. Regular potatoes are brown and kids love French fries and mashed potatoes. Chocolate is brown too and not many kids dislike chocolate. Dark chocolate has been proven to be a great antioxidant and actually is a healthy thing for kids and grown-ups to eat. And nuts are brown. Some people are allergic to them, but everyone else should appreciate the great protein gained from nuts.
- Light green: Pears are a lovely shade of green. When ripe pears are sweet and kids love them. You can even make canned pears into a lovely gelatin dessert. Green apples are tart and juicy and a favorite of kids the world around.
- Burgundy: Not only are beets a lovely burgundy color, but there are several varieties of heirloom tomatoes that are burgundy in color. Mixing up the colors on your kids’ plate will surprise them and if you can take them to a garden or Farmer’s market and let them pick out things they would like to try it will improve your chances of actually getting them to eat it.
- Black: I know, we don’t think about eating black things because black is bad, but actually there are black mushrooms on the market that are wonderful as well as black olives. Kids love the salty bite of the olive whether served plain or on a pizza.
- White: Last but not least, white is the color of milk, cottage cheese, mozzarella cheese, and ice cream. What, I said colors of food kids love. I didn’t say they all had to be healthy!
http://www.Nannypro.com
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