Letter from the Editor

With Thanksgiving over and more festivities on the horizon, we sometimes forget to relax! Holiday shopping. Holiday baking. (Holiday stress!) But the most important part of the season is remembering to be thankful for families, friends, and all our good fortune.

Take time out to show those you love how much you care. Whether it’s sending a card or picking up the phone, the little things go a long way. And while you’re at it, try to take a little time for yourself!

Choosing the right caregiver for your family is not only a very emotional decision -- it can be time consuming and even a bit overwhelming. But there are ways to not only ease your stress, but increase your chances of finding the perfect nanny. To ensure a positive experience with your nanny, you must be 100% honest about your needs and requirements on the front end.

These may seem like simple questions. But by having well-defined answers in mind before you start your search, you’ll be in a much better position to find a nanny who fits your requirements.

Nannies are a Gift.
Be Sure to Remember Yours this Holiday Season.

Show your Super Nanny how much you appreciate her with a gift from the Nanny Gift Shop.

• T-shirts
• Totes
• Coffee mugs
• And more…

Humorous. Thoughtful. Perfect for today’s nanny. SHOP NOW!

Welcome Our New Expert: Britt Michaelian

As a young mother, Britt Michaelian often found herself giving advice to her friends about safety, discipline, parenting issues and family resources among other things, especially while she was working in the pediatric unit of California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco. It was after her second daughter was born that a business idea began to turn into reality. Britt wanted to help educate parents and caregivers, as well as children, and she figured out a way to do it!

With a background in art, a Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy and Art Therapy and as a mother of three, Britt amassed a great deal of knowledge about relationships, safety, health and responsibility. Over a two year period, she researched safety methods and practices and used her creative skills to write, direct and produce Care for Kids: The Essential Guide to Preparing Caregivers. This is a program designed to prepare caregivers in the event of a medical emergency while adding tips any mother would want a caregiver to know. With the help of emergency room physician Dr. Wayne Warrington, Britt developed a program that all parents will want anyone caring for their child to study.

It is through this program, that Britt is actively speaking about child safety and caregiver preparation at schools, community centers and on radio programs such as Mom Talk Radio about safety and caregiver preparation. On October 1, 2007 Britt launched the Responsible Family Company, a media company with a website designed to educate families regarding responsibility. This media will  allow caregivers to explore everything from tips provided by parents to resources for special needs children to environmental education and beyond. This is a valuable resource and community that fills a need for family members who are looking to make responsible decisions. For more information, visit http://responsiblefamily.com.

Britt is seen as an expert in the fields of parenting, safety, parent/child bonding and caregiver preparation. She is poised to be a leader in the area of parenting education and looks forward to developing future products while spending as much quality time as possible with her three daughters, husband, dog, cat and fish.

Ask the Experts Forum

Q: Where can I find a website that is specifically FOR nannies, and not one that will help find a job. I want somewhere that I can ask questions and find other nannies dealing with the same problems. Is there such a place?

A: There are several yahoogroups that are only for nannies. Just do a yahoogroups.com search. Worldwidenannies is one that has been going strong for 10 years. This would be a great place to get your questions answered.

There are also several professional organizations and local support groups you might want to get involved with.
You can find a list of those at www.nannyassociation.com.

Have a question for one of our experts?

Read past Q&A’s and ask yours at 4EverythingNanny.com.

Here's your chance to talk about the Nanny Experience

Survey 1: Nannies Speak Out:
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Survey 2: Families Speak Out
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My Nanny and I

is an adorable children's book written by Hilary Lockhart, Nanny Agency owner and mother of 2. Hilary hooked up with Illustrator Edison Goncalves for the book whose "Disneyesque" drawings appeal to all ages. This book makes a terrific gift for any child with a nanny. With its "Board Book" construction and surprise pop-out doors, My Nanny and I, encourages young children to interact with the book and their nanny or parent while reading. At the end of the book there is even a picture frame where you can insert a picture of Nanny and her charge. Brilliant. To view page samples or to order a copy of My Nanny and I, visit http://www.mynannyandi.com/page_samples.htm.