Dedicated Domestics Weblog

Since California’s cell phone law recently went into effect I thought we would be hearing less about the unsafe practices of drivers.  One might think driver’s would understand the correlation between being distracted on a cell phone and a high accident rate would carry over to other distractions as well.  But it appears that since driver’s can no longer talk on their cell phones they have resorted to texting instead.  Maybe the law isn’t clear or maybe it is just me, but isn’t texting even more dangerous. 

With kids in the car screaming and mom texting whoever, the distractions of driving are making our roads even more unsafe then they once were.  Don’t get me wrong, I love technology and like being able to stay in touch as much as I can.  But, especially when shuttling kids around town, I would hope we could all put our toys away and pay as much attention to driving safely as we can.  It is bad enough that we take risks with our own lives, but we should be more careful with children around. 

The law may not have banned every distraction and it can’t.  But it should be a wake up call pay more attention to what we are doing.  It is sad that so many people will watch what the eat and get plenty of exercise in hopes of living a longer and healthier life.  They then get in a car and and forget the number of lives that have been ruined or shortened in a crash. 

This is not another public service announcement.   Just a concerned parent reading about to many accidents that could have been prevented.

It has been interesting to listen to some of the many ideas of what some of our friends and families plan on doing with their anticipated rebate checks.  As expected, there is an almost daily barrage of advertising from companies offering to help you spend it before the check even arrives.  While some families will need the money now to help make ends meet others plan on spending it in an assortment of different ways.  Very few people have suggested they plan on saving the money since they feel that it is too small an amount to matter.  I beg to differ with that idea.  Even a few dollars can make a difference when saved and properly invested. 

Being in the childcare field might make us think of uses more geared toward children than most, but I think that is a good thing.  Our suggestion is starting a college fund.  If you receive a $1,200.00 check it may not seem like much right now, but invested at 8% in a college fund for 18 years and it will grow to almost $5,000.00.  If you can afford to add just another $100.00 per month to that rebate check your college fund will grow to over $50,000.00 by the time your little one is ready to go. 

With expenses at universities continually increasing that small check may be a big help someday.  Even if it doesn’t cover all the costs it can make a very big dent.   

So how much is that little check worth?

With so many titles how does a Mom know who to pick for what?  Over the years many people doing similar jobs have been labeled with so many different job titles that even the industry has difficulty making a distinction between some positions.   All of the positions involving the care of children can and often is referred to as simply “child caregivers”.  But most families will request the services of a Babysitter or Nanny.  The two titles are so intertwined that most families, caregivers and even agencies have been using the terms interchangeably. 

In general a Babysitter is a person that is hired for a temporary situation, like having someone watch your child on Saturday night so you can go out.  Whereas, a Nanny is the title used most frequently when wanting to hire a person for full or part time child care so you might go back to work.  The title Mothers’ helper is much easier to understand since as the name implies, it usually will refer to a person who is helping mom take care of her kids while she is around.  Many times “stay at home moms” with multiple children have found that a little extra help can be very useful.  While occasionally a Mothers’ helper might watch the children for short periods of time, their job is mainly to provide additional support for a mom.  Mothers’ helpers tend to be entry level positions or positions for a person that prefers not to have all of the responsibility themselves. 

Another title that is often overlooked in the United States but is still very important around the world is a Governess.  Generally, a Governess will be equivalent to a private teacher.  They will usually have the added responsibility of etiquette training as well. 

While Nannies remain the most flexible of titles the important part is determining what your family needs and not being as concerned with the title.  While some Nannies are college educated with teaching credentials others may barely speak English but have many years of experience handling young children.  It is important to remember that a Nanny is not a replacement for a Mom.  A Nanny with teaching credentials might be perfect for helping with homework or for home schooling but they generally will not help with housekeeping too.  Then there are some Nannies that have little formal education but have a wonderful way with kids.  Some Nannies may also specialize in newborn or infant care.  While other Nannies will prepare dinners for the whole family but may not be able to drive. 

There are way too many possible areas that a Nanny can help a family with to list here.  The most important item of course is peace of mind.  Whatever your needs are, never hire anyone that you do not feel comfortable with.  Since you and your family will be working closely with the caregiver and you will entrust them with the care of your son or daughter, you need to know that you can trust and rely on the person you choose above all else.

Welcome to Dedicated Domestics Weblog.

As our agency has grown we want to share our knowledge of the in-home staffing industry with all of you.  Families hiring for the first time and professional Estate Managers seeking additional staff all want to find the best candidates that will fit their individual needs.  Of course, candidates are also looking to match up their skills with a family that will respect them and treat them fairly.  By working with an agency that takes the time to understand the individual needs of both parties, the quality of care and the length of service are dramatically improved.  The right care can give you and your family the peace of mind that you need to tackle life’s other little obstacles.