UltimateMama loves buying her two girls cute Valentine’s Day gifts that are not candy-related.  It is always a nice surprise to have some new Living Royal socks, Crazy Aaron’s Thinking Putty, and Mia hair ties!

Childcare bliss – How to select the right caregiver for your family

By Kristen J. Duca

Article appeared on pages 18-19 in the February 2017 issue of Manhattan Family magazine (NY Parenting)

Selecting a caregiver for your child is one of the most important decisions many families will make. Whether you need childcare because you are returning to work, craving some time to yourself, or spending some time with your significant other, you will want to find the ideal caretaker for your child. Below are a few tips to help you navigate the nanny search:

One size does not fit all

A multitude of childcare possibilities exist for you to consider, and of course there are pluses and minuses to each of them. Just remember that you are in the driver’s seat and can choose the path that best fits your family’s needs. Hiring a caregiver to look after your child is a very personal decision. Every family has its own dynamics and unique views on parenting. Feel secure and confident in your child-rearing decisions.

Be patient

Do not rush the childcare search. Finding the ideal person to take care of your little one will take time and patience. It is important to be prepared and detailed in your search. Finding the ideal caretaker for your child requires a lot of time and hard work. However, if you put the effort into the search up front, you will be rewarded with the result.

Lay groundwork

Laying the groundwork toward building the ideal childcare situation is critical.

Formulating a clear description of your childcare needs now will save you loads of future frustration. You can zero in on exactly what type of situation you need to make sure your household runs smoothly and happily.

The ideal or “perfect” childcare situation depends on you and how specific you are in recognizing and expressing your needs, as well as on how your family spends its time. It is important that before you start your childcare search you set aside time to sit down and ponder what it is that you are hiring for and develop interview questions based on your needs.

Interview candidates thoroughly

Always remember to conduct a thorough interview and check references. You will want to conduct interviews (by phone, in person, or via webcam) with potential candidates in order to screen them through a series of questions. You need to ask prospective candidates the right questions in order to narrow down your list and eventually pick a suitable nanny for your family.

If possible, try to interview candidates in person so you can see their immediate reactions, facial expressions, and overall poise. These interviews do not have to be conducted in your home. You can always meet up at a local diner or coffee shop or get together at another mutually convenient location such as a library or bookstore.

Be reasonable

Be aware of what assistance you are asking for, and make sure it is reasonable. To put it bluntly, if you are not willing or able to do it all, then your childcare provider should not be expected to either.

Childcare providers are not superheroes. They are humans who have strengths, weaknesses, and feelings, just like you. As a rule of thumb, it is generally never a good idea to ask your childcare provider to do tasks that you cannot handle yourself.

Understand that your childcare situation will evolve

As your child changes or your family dynamics change, your childcare needs will change. These childcare needs will constantly evolve as your child blossoms through the stages of life. It is important to realize that you are not pigeonholed into the first childcare situation you created at a specific point in time.

A situation that works for your newborn child will likely need to be scrapped, tweaked, or revised as your child starts school. You may have to realize that expecting the unexpected and having the ability to be nimble is crucial to formulating the right childcare situation at any given point in time.

Go with your gut

You may luck out and hire the first nanny you meet, or you might have to interview several candidates. Everyone has a different experience, but if you are dedicated to the childcare search, you will find the best candidate for your family.

Always go with your gut, and trust your instincts.

Trial

Suggest the nanny candidate you are interested in start working with your family on a trial basis so you can ensure you find the right fit for your family.

A trial period of a few days, a few weeks, or even a month is a good way to find out if your nanny’s personality and style fit well with your family’s. Remember that a happy child makes for a happy parent!

BIO: New York-based working mother Kristen Duca and her husband are the parents of two girls. Kristen has worked in the financial services industry for two decades in addition to serving as a contributing writer for New York area publications. She is the author of “Ultimate Nanny: How to Find, Interview, and Manage the Most Important Person You Will Ever Hire – Your Child’s Nanny” available on amazon.com now. Get the inside scoop on how develop the right criteria, identify, and select the ultimate nanny.

02-01-17 Childcare Bliss – Manhattan Family-KJD article

http://www.nyparenting.com/assets/print/manhattan/2017_02_mf.pdf

UltimateMama loves these cute emoji headbands for girls!  Perfect for holiday gifts, birthday gifts, or party favors!  Beautifully crafted with a hip and trendy emoji ribbon bow for  your favorite emoji lover.  Buy your emoji headband on Etsy today before they are gone.

UltimateMama wishes everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving! And easy way to get in the Thanksgiving spirit (not to mention a great centerpiece for your table or buffet) is by decorating cupcakes with Thanksgiving colors! Red, orange, and yellow frosting make for a beautiful and delicious fall treat to kick off the holiday season. Enjoy!

In my new book “Ultimate Nanny:  How to Find, Interview, and Manage the Most Important Person You Will Ever Hire — Your Child’s Nanny” which is on Amazon.com now (by Kristen J. Duca) I help parents and guardians navigate the childcare search in an organized manner.

Think about your family’s needs before starting your childcare search.  You will want to take a moment to reflect on the following:

Your child/children:  What are their ages, developmental stages, and needs?

You/your partner:  What are your work/social schedules? Do you have flexibility in the hours you need childcare help?

Your family:  Are you hiring solely for childcare?  Do you also need assistance with housekeeping, cooking, cleaning, pet care, and errands?

Layers of help:  Are their suitable, willing family members or friends nearby who can help you in a pinch?

It may take time and patience to find, interview, and manage the ideal childcare provider for your household but it is worth it in the end.

Read the full Care.com article today and head to Amazon.com to order the book “Ultimate Nanny”!

UltimateMama loves serving her children fun breakfast smiles on the weekend – – usually before sporting events.  Recently,  UltimateMama was able to share her morning creativity with her daughter’s friend who slept over.  She was delighted!  All it takes for a quick, easy, and cute breakfast is a little turkey bacon (hair), blueberries (nose), scrambled eggs (eyes), and half a donut (mouth).

UltimateMama and her kids had a fun time berry picking at 7 Ponds Farm in Water Mill, NY last week!  With so many berries we brainstormed recipe ideas but ultimately came up with one of our own.  A quick and easy Three Berry Pie that pleases everyone – recipe as follows:

2 Deep dish pie shells (approximately 9 inches each)

For the filling:

2 Cups of blueberries

2 Cups of blackberries

2 Cups of raspberries

2/3 Cups of sugar

1 1/2 teaspoon Vanilla

3 Tablespoons cornstarch

For the topping:

1 Cup brown sugar

1/2 Cup of white flour

1 Cup of oats (we used old fashioned oatmeal)

1/2 cup melted, unsalted butter

Instructions

Preheat oven to 370

Use a big mixing bowl and a wooden spoon and mix all the topping ingredients together.

On the stove top in a medium to large pot cook all the filling ingredients on medium heat.

Pour filling into the 2 pie crusts.

Use a wooden spoon and gently put the topping on top of the filling in the pies.

Bake in the oven on the middle rack for approximately 35 minutes.

Cool or serve warm.

Store in refrigerator.

UltimateMama knows summertime is just as chaotic as the rest of the year so she’s happy when she can involve her kids in creating a meal with “leftovers”.  Soft tacos are an easy, appetizing meal to make with leftover kebobs!  All you need is the following:

– Corn or flour tortillas

– Leftover vegetables, meat, or seafood from kebobs (cut into strips or bite size pieces from the kebobs)

– Cheese (cheddar, mozzarella, or monterey jack)

– Olives and/or salsa (if desired)

To do:  Heat up your vegetables, seafood, and meat.  Have your child grab a tortilla and fill it with the heated vegetables, seafood, and meat. Sprinkle some cheese.  Add olives or salsa if desired!  Also, if you want to melt the contents of your tortilla it is easy to do just that on a stovetop, in an oven, or on a grill but be careful it doesn’t  burn!

UltimateMama loves to involve her two kids in making dinner.  Not only is it good for kids to learn the importance of healthy cooking at a young age but also it offers immediate gratification.  Now that we are in the thick of summer, UltimateMama wanted to share her quick, easy kabob creation with you.  Steps are as follows:

– Preheat your grill (UltimateMama uses charcoal as the taste can’t be beat — always remember to be careful with kids around grills)

– Grab a bunch of wooden skewers (Roland Foods Bamboo skewers work well)

– Precut vegetables into cubes (green zucchini, yellow zucchini), square pieces (red peppers, green peppers, yellow peppers, orange peppers, onions), or remove stems (mushrooms)

– For Chicken Kabobs:  Dice the chicken

– For Shrimp Kabobs:  peel and devein the shrimp

** (always tell your children to be careful with handling uncooked meat and seafood–wash hands thoroughly both before and after)

– Create an assembly line and have each child grab a skewer and assemble it as they wish

– Grill until thoroughly cooked!

– Enjoy!

UltimateMama wants to let you know that her book, “Ultimate Nanny:  How to Find, Interview, and Manage the Most Important Person You Will Ever Hire — Your Child’s Nanny” is now available on Amazon.com.

Learn how to find, interview, and manage the most important person you will ever hire — your child’s nanny.

Buy it today for yourself or a friend!