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 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 has purchased numerous goggles for her kids in the past 9 years, many with extremely disappointing results (uncomfortable, leakage, breakable, and so on).  However, after purchasing Aqua Sphere’s youth goggles she found a winner.  For younger children who swim recreationally, the Moby Kid goggles reign supreme.  For older children, the Vista Jr mask is a must have for ultimate comfort in the water!  UltimateMama’s kids used their amazing Aqua Sphere googles on a recent snorkeling expedition in the Caribbean!

UltimateMama and her family had a spectacular time in the Virgin Islands recently. One tip:  buy your snorkel gear ahead of time so you don’t have to rent – that goes for adults and childrens gear!  UltimateMama’s kids loved Head Pirate snorkeling gear (the 3 piece set includes a mask, snorkel, and fins).

Stay at Marriott’s Frenchman’s Cove in order to get a villa with full kitchen.  UltimateMama enjoyed her two bedroom unit in the Tortola building.  The pool with water slide is terrific for kids as is the hot tub for adults.  There are myriad activities on site for people of all ages (bingo, movies, karaoke night, crafts for kids, and more).  You can snorkel right off the beach.  Additionally, one can take advantage of the Marriott Hotel’s offerings next door.

You will want to rent a car in order to explore the island of St. Thomas and have the ability to go to the car ferry to St. John.  UltimateMama was happy with our Avis rental and used it right away to stock up on groceries for the week at Gourmet Gallery.

An absolute must is an all-day boat trip on the Breakaway II to the British Virgin Islands (bring your passports).  You will board the boat at Sapphire Marina then have a wonderful day exploring The Baths at Virgin Gorda, snorkeling at Diamond Reef, eating lunch at Pusser’s in Marina Cay, and jumping off the boat to hit the Soggy Dollar Bar on Jost Van Dyke.  Make sure your entire family has water shoes, sunglasses, UV protection shirts, bathing suits, towels, and plenty of sunscreen.  There is a short stop in St. John then you return back to St. Thomas in the late afternoon.

A trip to the U.S. Virgin Islands wouldn’t be complete without a trip to St. John to hit some great snorkeling beaches such at Trunk Bay.  Choose either a car ferry or a foot ferry to get over to St. John (car ferry obviously gives you more freedom once on the island) from St. Thomas.  UltimateMama advises you to get to Trunk Bay early as the parking lot fills quickly.  Trunk Bay has an amazing underwater snorkeling trail, a bathhouse, snack bar, and souvenir shop.  Cinnamon Bay is nearby too.

Back in St. Thomas, take your family on a drive to explore the beautiful beaches that the island offers.  Coki beach (on Coki Point) was a big hit with UltimateMama’s family due to the amazing fish seen when snorkeling in addition to not only a full rainbow sighting but also a double rainbow sighting.  UltimateMama arrived late in the day, parked and spent an amazing early evening snorkeling and taking pictures of various species of fish.  Apparently, the beach gets crowded when cruise ships are in port so be aware of those times in addition to making sure that you know where your belongings are at all times.  UltimateMama had a lovely time at Coki and it was not at all crowded.

UltimateMama’s family looks forward to their next meal so the following restaurants greatly appealed to all travelers (make all reservations in advance):

Havana Blue (on the Marriott’s campus):  Get a table overlooking the water and enjoy the blue lights

Grande Cru (located in Yacht Haven Grande): Upscale food in a tranquil setting

Banana Tree Grille (overlooking the Charlotte Amalie harbor):  Go on a night the piano player is playing and order the amazing Key Lime Pie

UltimateMama and her girls ventured to M&J Trimming last week in the quest to find goods to use to create our own barrettes and hair accessories!  And, were we ever successful (after about an hour of looking through all of the store’s amazing supplies).  First, we headed straight to the clearance section to find beautiful appliques of all kinds at spectacular prices ($1 to $3 each).  Next, we found bags of 4-5 hair clips (medium and large in size) in each pack. Finally, our eyes locked in on E6000 craft glue.  It only took us 30 minutes to glue on the appliques and create red carpet worthy hair barrettes that have become a big hit at school!

Easy, fun, cute, and useful!