THE NANNY BOOK     The Smart Parent's Guide     to Hiring,  Firing, and     Every Sticky Situation in     Between    By Susan Carlton and                             Coco Myers Order the Book HOW'S IT GOING? Presumably, as with any relationship, you know when things are going well, when you need to work on a few areas, or when the whole thing's simply over. Or at least you think you know. In any case, it doesn't hurt to do a reality - or happiness - check, corny as that sounds. A strong indication that everything's on the right track: You can't imagine how you'd get along without your nanny for one week, let alone the next year. Other clues: You wax rapturous about her to your friends, start every sentence about her with "we're so lucky," and - the real test - you wouldn't think twice about leaving your kid in her care if you were to go away for any length of time. If, on the other hand, you often find yourself fantasizing about the "perfect" nanny, or begin coveting your friends' sitters or reminiscing about your ex, it may be time to sit back, assess, and think about a change. What if you don't feel one way or the other? There's nothing wrong with the sitter or the situation, but you're lukewarm  about it all. Sometimes just okay is perfectly fine, and it's a matter of getting your priorities straight. Let's say the child is happy and well taken care of, but you don't feel you're getting enough pampering and perks. If that's the case, pause before switching sitters - it may be more important for the child to have the continuity of the same caregiver. But at the point where you feel your kid isn't getting enough - enough attention, enough social or intellectual stimulation, enough basic loving, it's time to start looking. Order the Book Copyright 1999 by Susan Carlton and Coco Myers From THE NANNY BOOK: The Smart Parent's Guide to Hiring, Firing, and Every Sticky Situation in Between By Susan Carlton and Coco Myers Reprinted by permission of St. Martin's Press, LLC

: