• Stop Asking – Often, passive-aggressive people want to be seen as heroes that will do anything for their friends and family. As a result, your passive-aggressive in-law will offer to do favors that she really does not want to do. She will then become resentful of the commitment she made, which can result in pouting, martyrdom or even sabotage. An example would be a mother-in-law who offers to babysit but then shows up late, causing you to miss your reservations. Another instance is the sister-in-law who says she will attend your fundraiser and then pouts the entire time, making everyone uncomfortable. There is an easy way to avoid these antics. Simply stop asking your passive-aggressive in-law for help and politely decline their offers.
• Don’t Feel Guilty – One of the passive-aggressive person’s most powerful weapons is guilt. You might share your family’s vacation plans, only to have it answered by a long tirade of how lonely your father-in-law is and how he has nobody to vacation with. Or, your mother-in-law might tell you how upset your husband’s third cousins are because they are not invited to your child’s birthday party. Don’t fall for this kind of manipulation. Remember that you have a right to make your own decisions based on your own set of ethics. Most likely, no matter what you do, you will never live up to your in-law’s standards and he will up the ante next time. A passive-aggressive person wants to feel in control, and guilt is the method he often uses to obtain it. The best thing you can do is emotionally separate yourself and not allow anyone to make you feel guilty for your choices.
• Confront Them With “I” Statements – Confronting a passive-aggressive person is often the best defense. One reason people become passive-aggressive is fear of confrontation. If there is a chance of being confronted, she will likely stop the behavior, or at least stop it with you. However, confront her only using “I” statements such as, “I felt upset when you made that comment about my weight,” or “When you were late for the party, I thought you did not want to come.” This prevents her from feeling attacked and playing the victim. Using “I” statements can open the door for communication with your passive-aggressive in-law because it is non-threatening.
• Act As If – A passive-aggressive person will often sigh, sulk or look angry; yet when asked if something is wrong, he will usually respond that he is fine. This can send relatives into a tailspin of worry, fretting over whether there was some accidental offense or secret tragedy. Instead of agonizing, just take what is said at face value. If your relative says he feels great, then act as if he feels great. If he is not okay, he can seek you out and let you know. Until then, accept what he tells you as the truth. It is not your job to read his mind or analyze his body language.
• Don’t Take It Personally – Passive-aggressiveness is often the result of being punished as a child for expressing negative feelings, or it can be due to an extreme fear of confrontation and loss of control. As unpleasant as she makes life for those around her, the passive-aggressive is also suffering. Don’t take her actions personally. She most likely is unaware of what she is doing, as it is such an ingrained pattern.
• Model the Behavior You Want to See – When you are spending time with your passive-aggressive in-law, be mindful of your own actions. Act with him the way you want him to behave with you. This will help set a precedent for your future interactions.
• Figure Out What The Reward Is – Everything people do, they do for some kind of reward. If a behavior fails to bring the return, it will eventually desist. The passive-aggressive person is usually seeking to be gifted with making you feel badly. Therefore, keep smiling as if you are blissfully unaware of any ill will.
• Take the Ball Out of Your Court – One thing passive-aggressive people will not do is make decisions. Instead, a passive-aggressive in-law will try to manipulate you into making the decision he wants. This way, he bears no responsibility if things go wrong and he retains the option to complain about your choice. Force your in-law to make choices, such as where to eat or when to get together.
• Keep Your Temper – If you lose your temper with a passive-aggressive person, she will fall into the role of the victim. Because of her indirect way of communicating, she will be able to deny any responsibility for your behavior, making you the bad guy.
• Use Parenting Skills – When all else fails, use the same skills you use when dealing with children. Praise the behavior you want to see again, be consistent in never giving in to the passive-aggressive tactics and ignore any undesirable conduct.

• Tomatillo – Many people refer to tomatillos as “Mexican tomatoes.”  They are a fruit that is encased in a green husk with a lemon-like flavor.  They can be eaten in salads, used to make salsa, added to omelets, made into jam or even eaten raw.  If your finicky diner is still resistant, dipping them in chocolate is another option. They contain vitamin C, K niacin and fiber.
• Star Fruit – This celestial shaped fruit is often a big hit with kids. Not only is it pleasing to the eye, but it has a sweet and sour taste that many children love.  It is said to taste like a combination of a mango and lemon.  It contains antioxidants, B complex and C vitamins. It is also a very low calorie fruit, providing just 31 calories per 100 grams.
• Kiwi – This deep emerald green fruit has a unique taste that is both sweet and refreshing.  Kiwi has been studied extensively for its health benefits.  It has a protective quality, and has been shown to reduce respiratory problems in children, among many other benefits the fruit offers. It also contains antioxidants, vitamin C and has been shown to lower cholesterol.
• Persimmon – These have a delicate, sweet flavor and can be eaten raw or mixed into jams, puddings, yogurts and salads.  There are two types of persimmons: astringent and non-astringent. For kids, the non-astringent is crunchier and can be eaten raw, while the astringent variety must be ripened to a jelly-like consistency before consumed. It’s high in vitamins A and C, fiber and manganese.
• Pomegranate – Kids are often attracted to the bright color and sweet-tart taste of this popular “super fruit.”  The inside of a pomegranate is full of many juice filled sacs surrounding a seed, called arils. Kids can eat the seeds alone or add them to salads and yogurts.  Pomegranate is rich in vitamins C and E, antioxidants, iron and folate.
• Dragon Fruit – Also known as the pitaya, dragon fruit is a delight for a child’s imagination. It wears a deep magenta skin that is accented by dark green, curling petals. Inside you will find white pulp sprinkled with tiny black seeds. The taste is both sweet and sour. Dragon fruit contains vitamin C, antioxidants and healthy fats.
• Horned Melons – This is another fruit that kids love to look at. On the outside is a bright orange-yellow shell that is covered with spikes, while the inside looks much like a jellied cucumber. It’s also a fruit that is fun to eat. Cut the melon in half and then squeeze it to release the gel. The flavor is mild, so it will not offend even the pickiest eaters. The taste is similar to that of a cucumber combined with a kiwi’s sweetness.  It is rich in vitamin C and iron.
• Mammee Apple- Despite the name, the mammee apple is actually a giant berry that can grow to almost 8 inches in diameter. It has a thick skin, not unlike a melon, with a soft orange pulp on the inside that’s sweet and succulent. It yields vitamins A, C, B and iron.
• Cherimoya – Mark Twain called this fruit “the most delicious fruit known to man.”  Incredibly, it is said to taste like coconuts, pineapples, strawberries, bananas and mangoes all rolled into one. Slice it in half and eat the flesh with a spoon or add it to smoothies. It contains vitamin C, B complex, potassium and antioxidants.
• Papaya – Papaya has a subtle, sweet taste that’s great for kids with sensitive palates. It can be eaten plain or used as an ice cream topping. Another favorite way to consume papaya is by turning it into a refreshing sorbet. Papaya contains vitamins A, C, E, G, iron, calcium, folic acid and potassium. Its juice is said to aid in digestion.

If your picky eater is resistant to trying any of these new fruits, try incorporating them along with their old favorites in a flavorful fruit salad. Also, putting the fruit out in a common area and allowing children to “graze” is often more successful than serving it individually at mealtime. In addition, you can try serving it with their favorite dipping sauces to make the cuisine more inviting. Finally, sometimes inviting over another child who is more open to trying new things will do the trick. Once the child who is more particular witnesses a peer’s delight at the snack, he may be more apt to dig in himself!

• Convertbot – You can convert units in all the usual ways you would expect with Convertbot – length, currency, mass and time. However, it’s the feature that you’re not expecting that makes this clever app a must have. Convertbot allows you to convert mixed units, which means you don’t have to figure out the raw numbers on your own. There are also over 400 different unit types supported, making this $1.99 app well worth the money spent.
• Units – Free Unit Converter – As the name suggests, this is a free unit converting app. There are over 800 unit types to choose from, as well as a ruler for measuring on the go. Units has a built in currency converter, which automatically updates each day to reflect real-time exchange rates. The app also allows you to hide unit types that you don’t need, so that the interface is a quick and clean reference for conversions.
• Convert!!! – This app converts units in speed, volume, power, data and much more. Convert!!! is designed for real world applications, which is why the developers have included an intuitive tip calculator that works for both individuals and groups. The app uses a simple input-output interface, and is free to download from the App store.
• Convert Units for Free – #1 Unit Conversion App – As free apps go, Convert Units for Free has received some excellent reviews. You can create your own custom conversions, a feature that the developers boast is unique to this app. Convert Units for Free has been downloaded over 12 million times from the App store, which is perhaps a testament to the ease by which the user can convert angles, area, currency, data and much more.
• XE Currency – If it’s currency conversions you are looking for, you won’t go wrong with XE Currency. The app provides conversions for every world currency, including current rates for precious metals. What’s more, XE Currency will match rates for nearby stores, so that you can buy and sell at the best price. If you’re not convinced that you’re getting a good rate, you can also cross reference historical rates’ charts with this free app.
• Converter Plus – Using this unit converter, you can calculate anything from your mortgage rates to your fuel consumption. Converter Plus allows you, the user, to add your own calculators, making this one of the most versatile free conversion apps on the iTunes store. The app also supports compound units, such as pounds and ounces or feet and inches.
• GlobeConvert – Currency & Units Converter – With GlobeConvert you can you easily set up your favorite conversion types, which creates an easily accessible list of the tools that you most commonly use. The paid, ad-free version of the app is $0.99, however, there is also a free version that runs with ads. There are over 80 available units, sorted into familiar categories for quick reference.
• Convert Everything FREE – Although strictly speaking, words are not your typical measurable units, they can be converted. This free app converts over 80 units, more than 150 currencies – and also translates over 50 languages via Google Translate. The interface is skinnable, too, so you can customize the app to look exactly how you want.
• Cute Free Calculator – Tip, Tax, Convert Units – This simple and free app allows you to calculate tips, tax and convert standard units on one easy to use interface. The main appeal of Cute Free Calculator, however, is the beautiful design incorporated into each input screen. Some of the unit conversions included are currency, length, area and temperature.
• World Clock–Time Zones – If you are an international jet-setter or need to know the time in multiple time zones, your iPhone toolbox is not complete unless you have the World Clock–Time Zones app. This app is free from the App store, and has a number of features that are ideal for keeping track of time, where ever you are. Choose from analog, digital or text display, and organize your most used clocks to quickly find out the time across multiple time zones. The app automatically updates the time for all clocks by referencing up-to-date data from timeanddate.com.

Model Good Hygiene

More than anything else, making sure that you’re always modeling good hygiene in front of your kids will help them to gain the habits you’re hoping to instill. At such a young age, your kids are looking to the adults in their lives that they love and admire for an example. Your child will take her cues from the behavior she observes in you, so make sure that you make a point of washing your hands at the appropriate times, brushing your teeth where they can see you and maintaining proper bodily hygiene.

Establish a Routine

A strong and reliable routine of hand washing after trips to the restroom, before meals and other such events won’t help your child remember to wash her hands after an unscheduled messy event, but it can instill a strong habit of doing so when it matters most. If she knows that brushing her teeth is something that happens at the same time every day, she’s less likely to fight it than if the task is sprung on her when she’s otherwise occupied. Make sure that bath time, brushing teeth and hand washing after restroom breaks and before meals are all a part of your child’s ingrained routine.

Make it Fun

Invest in plaque-disclosing mouthwash that will turn your child’s teeth bright green or pink when there’s still plaque present. Pretend to examine her hands with a magnifying glass during a game of Germ Detective to encourage thorough and regular hand washing. Encourage her to choose her own toothbrush, soap dispenser or bubble bath to make the task more appealing. Kids learn best when they’re engaged and absorbed, so look for ways to make the process more entertaining. Remember the days of airplane sounds during feeding times, and draw from that experience for inspiration regarding the best ways of teaching new habits.

Make it Musical

Thorough hand washing requires at least 20 seconds of soap-and-scrubbing time for full effectiveness. That’s about as long as it takes a child to sing a single verse of the Alphabet song. Find music that your child can listen to while he brushes his teeth, with the understanding that he’s not finished until the song is over. Write your own songs about bath time and getting clean. During these years, your child is almost certainly fascinated by music. Why not use that fixation to your advantage and help her to form the basis of the hygienic habits that will follow her into adulthood by setting the whole thing to a fun soundtrack?

Hit the Bookstore

There are few milestones in your child’s life that won’t be covered by at least one specialty children’s book. From the first day of school to potty training and the importance of religious tolerance, there are scads of brightly-illustrated lessons on your local bookstore’s shelves. When the time comes to really work with kids on the importance of hygiene, look for some children’s books on the subject that strike her fancy. Bring her into the story and help her see that keeping clean is important for a variety of reasons. When she sees her new favorite characters going through these all-important motions, she may be tempted to emulate that heroine.

Lessons in good hygiene are an ongoing process, rather than a one-time experience. Your little one may need reminders about the best times to wash her hands and how to handle a toothbrush for quite some time, but laying the foundation from an early age will help her to embrace good hygiene as she gets older.

Start out as a mother’s helper. There are lots of stay-at-home moms who need help. Starting out in a position where you’re working under a mother, learning from her while finding your own footing as a caregiver, is a great way to gain experience. In a mother’s helper position, you’ll get experience with hands on childcare tasks like diapering, bathing, feeding and dressing. You’ll also learn about discipline, ages and stages and how to create a fun, well-rounded day for a child. You’ll probably be responsible for most of the child-related household duties too. You’ll learn how to juggle laundry, light housekeeping of kids’ areas and possibly even errands. This is the perfect starter position, and after just a year or so it can lead to a traditional nanny position. So where can you find a mother’s helper job? Some placement agencies will place caregivers in these positions, and there are many others available through online sites.

Work in a daycare or other group setting. Not every job requires previous nanny experience. If you have solid experience working in a group setting, that may meet the agency or parents requirements. Group care can provide you with a wealth of learning experiences. Often you’ll receive basic and ongoing training in all areas of child development and learning. You’ll also get valuable experience working with multiple age groups and with multiple children. That can be really helpful when you move into a nanny position because you’ll be ready to work with a variety of families. You’ll also learn tools for dealing with behavior and discipline challenges. The curriculum that you’re required to create for many group care programs can be a big help when planning a well-rounded day for kids in nanny care. So if you lack nanny experience, a few years in a group setting can get your foot in the door to your first nanny job.

Become a volunteer. Working with children as a volunteer is another great way to gain valuable experience. You can choose your volunteer job to fill in the gaps in your childcare experience. If you don’t have any infant experience, you can volunteer at a hospital nursery caring for preemies and infants who need a little extra attention. If you don’t have much toddler experience, you can volunteer at a parent education program in the toddler group, caring for the kids while their parents attend the training.  This is a great option because it not only benefits you, it also gives you the opportunity to give back to your community at the same time.

Register with an agency’s temp service. Most large agencies offer parents a temp nanny service. They provide caregivers for hotel stays, events, sick child care and other short term care situations. Working for a temp agency will give you a wide variety of experience with different ages, different circumstances and with many different types of parents. You’ll learn how to handle lots of challenges, connect with all kinds of kids and, quickly adapt to new situations. This variety will be very valuable when you begin your search for a full-time permanent job. A good temp nanny will often develop a relationship with a family and work for them on a regular basis. These relationships can be great opportunities to gain references that can be a big boost in your job search.

Work as a summer nanny. The experience requirements for working as a summer nanny aren’t as strict as for working in a traditional nanny position. However, what you do in a summer nanny position is very much like what you’d do in a traditional job, making it the perfect way to transition. Many caregivers work as summer nannies for two or three years during college, which gives them both the education and experience needed to step into a competitive nanny position right after graduation.

It’s hard to land a nanny job without a few years of nanny experience, but with a well thought out plan, caregivers can get on the fast track to their first nanny position.

Water Resistant

These water resistant bags are simple to wipe off in the event that something leaks or is spilled on the bag.  With concerns increasing about bacteria growth in reusable bags, it’s becoming more important than ever to make sure that your bags are clean and germ-free. You can do so by using a wipe to wipe down your grocery bags after each use.  These six blog entries will walk you through the steps to make your own bags in various styles.

• Molly’s Sketchbook: Echino Oilcloth Grocery Tote This easy to clean tote works well when carrying home frozen foods or other items that might be damp.
• Save a Slice of Summer: Make an Oilcloth Bag This sturdy bag is perfect for carrying a lot of groceries.
• Make a Bird Seed Bag Grocery Tote! Keep your eyes open for these woven plastic type bags that come filled with stuff and see if you can recycle it into a grocery bag.
• Tutorial: Recycled Grocery Totes  Check out this ingenious idea on fusing plastic grocery sacks together to make the “fabric” for this grocery bag.
• Perfect Reusable Bags This blogger made this bag to hold her daughter’s snow boots, but you can use it for a shopping bag as well.
• Nature Brights Kitchen: Insulated Shopping Tote These insulated bags are ideal to keep your hot foods hot and your cold foods cold and work much better than plastic bags.

Tote Style

These tote style grocery bags do not have the big square bottom panel and can just be tossed over your shoulder or grabbed on the run.  Some of these patterns boast unusual handles that make them simple to carry when loaded down.  Since these bags are made out of fabric, you can toss them into the washer from time to time to eliminate any growing bacteria.

• The Market Tote Tutorial Using quilt weight fabric or upholstery weight fabric allows you to make this tote in any design that pleases you.
• Make a Reusable Grocery Bag This bag is made with hand holds instead of big straps.
• Quick Carrier (Free Bag Pattern Download) If you hate making and attaching straps, this is the pattern for you.
• Reversible, Ruffled Reusable Grocery Bags These bags are for the girly girls out there who love their ruffles.
• Easy DIY Grocery Bag All you need for this heavy duty grocery bag is a half yard of upholstery weight fabric and some webbing for handles.
• Shopping Bags—For the Environment Take a look at this design for a shopping bag, which can be folded up into a size smaller than your purse, making it easier to keep with you.

Recycled Materials

You may be thinking that it’s counter intuitive to go out and spend money buying fabric when you could just buy a bag from the grocery store for a couple dollars. Instead of spending money, though, why not go totally green and make your shopping bag out of recycled T-shirts or other fabric you already have around the house?  These six blogs show you different ways to make these bags, some of which take as little as five minutes to complete.

• Make a Cool and Easy Grocery Bag from an Old Shirt This blog article will help you make a bag in just five short minutes.
• Tee Bags: a Tutorial to Recycle a Tee Shirt into a Shopping Bag This ingenious idea was concocted by a 10-year-old boy.
• Friday Crafternoon—Reusable Shopping Bags from an Old T-Shirt Wash and reuse these bags and enjoy how interesting they look with all the air holes.
• Good Thing—T-Shirt Bag Can’t fit into that old T-shirt anymore?  Why not make it into a one-of-a-kind shopping bag?
• How to Make Reusable Cloth Shopping Bags From Old T-Shirts This blogger also shows you how to make reusable bags from t-shirts, and explains why you shouldn’t use any shirts larger than a medium.
• 5 DIY Grocery Bags Learn how to use an old pillow case, a pair of jeans or a flour sack to make a grocery bag.

Time management. Nannies are in charge of a lot of different tasks throughout the day and week. From hands-on childcare tasks that require immediate attention to household tasks that have to be completed during the empty spaces here and there. Then there are all the things they didn’t plan on doing that were added to the to-do list last minute by outside forces like a teacher, coach or employer. Nannies must become expert time managers to consistently finish all of their responsibilities in a timely way without taking away from their primary task of providing great care.

Interpersonal communication. Nannies have to become expert communicators to set and keep boundaries with their employers, to advocate for themselves on the job and to handle sensitive or confidential situations with teachers, tutors, therapists, pediatricians and other professionals. They also have to learn to be assertive yet effective when dealing with other staff members, vendors, contractors and others who work in the home with them. Although a nanny isn’t part of the family, she often represents the family to the outside world and must learn how to communicate their needs and wishes.

Technology. Nannies often are introduced to different types of technologies on the job. A nanny may learn how to create and edit an Excel spread sheet because she’s in charge of her charge’s baseball team roster, which must be created in that format. She may learn how to use a Mac graphics program in order to help her charge with his science project. She may learn to quickly navigate a smart phone or tablet because that’s how she communicates with her employers. Staying up to date and efficient on new technology is part of many nanny jobs and is a valuable skill used in lots of other ways.

Organizing spaces and developing systems. What nanny isn’t faced with an overwhelming amount of stuff on the job? Or doesn’t see how a common process can be done quicker and more efficiently? When a nanny tackles the playroom chaos and creates an organized, user friendly space, she’s learning to be a master organizer. When she hits the store to stock up on bins and baskets then cleans up every closet in the house, she’s learning how to accurately assess the client’s needs and use space more efficiently. When she develops a step by step process for getting school communications to the parents, onto the bulletin board and onto the family calendar, she’s developing a streamlined solution to a common family problem. In pretty much every other job she might have, those organizational and problem solving process skills will come in handy.

Manage budgets and bookkeeping. Many nannies are in charge of small home project budgets, household shopping and child related shopping. All of those things require that the nanny learn how to create and stick to a budget, make smart purchases, pay vendors and businesses and track all of the money coming in and going out of the household account. These tasks are often the first time nannies are exposed to working with finances and can provide valuable experience.

Creative problem solving. A nanny job is filled with challenges that must be worked through, not only with child related behavior issues, but also scheduling, household tasks, employment relationship hiccups and so much more. Nannies are known for coming up with creative solutions to the problems they face. If the first idea doesn’t work, they move on to the next idea, then onto the next idea until they find an approach that does work. This kind of problem solving is a valuable mindset to have in any personal or professional pursuit.

Being a team player. To be successful in a nanny position, a caregiver must learn to be a team player with parents and other staff members. Advocating for herself and her position, while also being able to see the other person’s viewpoint, is key to finding a working compromise to problems. A willingness to help out when and where needed is a cornerstone of a successful nanny and also a key element of being a good team player. All of those skills are real world useful in every other job out there.

Being a nanny will teach you a lot about childcare. But it will also teach you a lot of other valuable and useful skills that you’ll have to take with you when you leave being a nanny.

Childhood Favorites

Remember back when you were a kid and you could eat anything you wanted without gaining an ounce?  Those days may be gone, but you can still enjoy some of your childhood favorites done in a healthier way.  Take a look at these five blog entries.

• Healthy Mac and Cheese: 11 Super-Tasty Recipes
• 6 Healthy Pizza Recipes—Eat Smart and Stay Healthy
• The Perfect Meatloaf Recipe (Shhhh It’s All Natural and Healthy)
• Healthy Lasagna Recipe
• Healthy Mashed Potatoes

Grown-up Goodness

The guys are coming over for the big game and the last thing you need is to blow your diet with a bunch of junk food.  Fear not, check out the recipe for a healthy diner-style chili and whip up a batch of healthy Buffalo wings to serve your friends.  If you don’t tell them, they probably won’t even know that they are eating something healthy.  For these recipes and more, check out these five blog articles.

• Recipe Makeover: Shepherd’s Pie
• Healthy Baked Beans Recipe
• A Pot Pie Makeover
• Healthy Sriracha Chicken “Buffalo” Wings
• Thick and Hearty Diner-Style Chili~ A Satisfying & Healthy Recipe Makeover

Vegetarian

You’ve decided to go vegetarian, but you still have the occasional craving for the comfort foods that you love.  It doesn’t have to be an all or nothing proposition.  These five blog posts will give you recipes for baked beans, mac and cheese and chili; you won’t even realize you’re eating vegetarian, and neither will your friends and family.

• Smoky Apple Baked Beans
• Vegan Tempeh Chili
• Comfort Food Redo: Vegan Mac & Cheese
• A Classic Turned Meatless
• Vegan Quinoa Meatloaf Recipe: My Mom has Nothin’ on This Dish

Gluten-Free

Enjoy some of your old favorite comfort foods, minus the gluten.  Just because you’ve gone gluten-free doesn’t mean you have to give up your favorites.  From meatloaf to rice pudding, you can still enjoy some comfort foods every now and then without worrying about gluten.  The next five blog entries feature tuna casserole, stuffed pasta and meatloaf.  How much more comforting can it get?  Give one of these recipes a try tonight.

• Balsamic Glazed Roasted Vegetable Meatloaf Recipe (gluten-free)
• Chicken Spoonbread ~ Gluten-Free Comfort Food
• Tuna Casserole: King of Comfort Food
• Gluten-Free Baked Stuffed Shells
• Pumpkin Rice Pudding from the Non-Dairy Queen

Desserts

A sweet finish to a meal is an indulgence for most people, but with these dessert makeovers you can indulge on the taste without the calories. The fruit pizza can even been eaten for breakfast it’s so healthy.  Enjoy dessert every night of the week with one of these five dessert makeovers.

• Ice Cream Cravings Making You Crazy?  Give this Healthier Dessert a Try
• Healthy Desserts Worthy of Seconds (or Thirds)
• Healthy Dessert Makeover: Mass Effect Ice Cream Cake
• Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe Makeover!
• Healthy Oat & Yogurt Fruit Pizza

1. “I’m Sick to My Stomach.” – There’s something about a stomach complaint that makes parents immediately opt for a sick day, especially if diarrhea or vomiting could potentially be involved. Older kids may even get creative with their sick-stomach excuse, looking for ways to replicate the signs in order to convince you of their illness.
2. “I Forgot to Do My Homework.” – Kids know that your number one priority is their academic performance, and they’re not above using it to their advantage. Of course, this is one excuse that could also be rooted in reality.
3. “My Throat Hurts.” – A sore throat is often the first sign of an impending cold or bout with the flu, but it can also subside as quickly as it came with no other symptoms to follow. The sore throat is a perfect excuse for missing school because you won’t want to send a potentially contagious child to school and he knows that.
4. “I Missed the Bus.” – When older children are tasked with getting themselves to the bus stop on time, they’re given a bit more independence and a sense of responsibility. While this is a necessary step along the road to adulthood, it can also give your child more room to get out of attending school if he feels so inclined.
5. “It’s My Time of the Month!” – Long before your daughter actually reaches adulthood, her body will begin expressing signs of the maturation process. When she learns that she might be able to get out of school by pleading cramps, it’s a good idea to keep track of how often that excuse pops up. If she’s claiming that she’s suffering from the symptoms of menstruation twice in a month, it’s a sure sign that she’s using those cramps as an excuse to miss school.
6. “I Have a Test I Didn’t Study For!” – Just like neglecting to do homework can actually score kids a day off from school, so can conveniently forgetting to study for a big test. If your child is claiming that he’s not prepared for a test, it’s best to make sure that he actually spends the day studying, not playing video games and watching television.
7. “I Have a Headache.” – Unlike stomach problems or the flu, headaches don’t generally present with telltale symptoms like a fever, runny nose or gastrointestinal problems. It’s not really possible to definitively tell if your child actually has the headache he’s claiming, and some kids have no qualms about exploiting that fact.
8. “I’m Too Tired!” – A child that’s not fully rested is likely to have such a problem concentrating that there’s really very little point in his attendance at all, save preserving a streak of perfect attendance.
9. “The Teacher Hates Me!” – Sometimes kids feel like a strict teacher is picking on them, but there are actually educators out there that can exhibit bullying behavior similar to that of unscrupulous kids. If your child frequently begs to stay home from school because of a mean teacher, it’s worth the time to investigate his claims.
10. “The Dog Ate My Homework.” – There’s something about a classic, and this oldie but goodie has certainly passed the test of time.

Most kids want to stay home from school so that they can spend a day watching television or being lazy away from the demands of classes, but there may also be a more serious reason behind your child’s attempts to get out of school. Being bullied and tormented by classmates is a very common reason for kids to start seeking out reasons to stay home, as are learning or processing problems that make them feel self-conscious about their ability to keep up with their peers on an intellectual level. Before you get angry with your child or assume that she’s just looking for a way to avoid school because she simply doesn’t feel like going, look for signs that she’s being bullied or is legitimately struggling to keep up with the rest of her class.

1. Continually come home late. When an employer regularly walks in the door late at the end of the day, it sends the message to the nanny that the employer doesn’t value the nanny’s time. Parents shouldn’t assume their nanny can work late. If they have to stay at the office or get stuck in traffic, a call or text is in order. If the parent is going to be more than just a few minutes late, the nanny should always be given the option of staying late.
2. Keep adding on responsibilities. It’s easy in a nanny employment relationship for job creep to set it. Parents ask nannies to do simple favors because they’re pressed for time or it just seems more convenient for the nanny to do. However favors aren’t part of a nanny’s job description. She’s there to do a specific job and it’s essential that employers stick to the agreed upon job description.
3. Don’t back up the nanny in discipline decisions. It’s hard for a nanny to have any real authority with the children around discipline issues if the parents don’t back her decisions up. When she sets a behavior limit or imposes a consequence it’s vital that the parents let the children know that they are fully on board with her choices. Otherwise the parents are setting up a power struggle between them and the nanny and the children will quickly learn to take advantage of that.
4. Are cheap. Parents who don’t pay a competitive rate, who won’t pay for arts and crafts supplies and who won’t even consider a raise or a bonus are very frustrating to work for.  Nannies work hard for their families and they expect and deserve to be paid fairly. Parents don’t have to be overly generous to be fair to their nanny.
5. Don’t trust the nanny to take the child out. Being a nanny can be an isolating job. Nannies can combat that and help their charges develop important social skills through play groups, field trips and informal get togethers with other nannies. However when parents don’t allow the nanny to leave the house with the child, it can be disheartening to the nanny and create a negative work environment.
6. Don’t appreciate the work the nanny does. Nannies work hard and put a lot of themselves into their jobs. While they don’t need for their employers to gush over them, they do need a “thank you” now and again. Feeling appreciated helps nannies continue to bring their best to their jobs.
7. Micromanage the nanny. Nannies want clear direction from their employers. However they also want their employers to trust them to do a good job. Parents that question every choice their nanny makes, that constantly tell the nanny how to do regular tasks, or that require a lot of check-ins throughout the day are micromanaging their nanny. This interference makes the nanny feel the parents don’t trust her to competently care for their child.
8. Are too permissive as a parent. There are a lot of different parenting styles and none of them are right or wrong. What works for a family is the right approach for them. However when a parent is overly permissive, when she fails to set boundaries, impose consequences or help her child learn important life skills, she makes it very difficult for her nanny to do any of those things on her time. It’s important for a nanny and her employers to approach discipline issues in a similar way.
9. Are bad communicators. Communication is key to a successful nanny employment relationship. Employers that refuse to hold regular nanny / family meetings, who don’t offer their nanny regular performance reviews, or talk about issues that come up are making effective communication hard if not impossible. It’s inevitable that the lack of communication will negatively impact the nanny’s job satisfaction.
10. Don’t have clear expectations. It’s hard for a nanny to do a great job when she doesn’t know what that looks like to her employers. Parents who keep changing their minds about what they want from their nanny are not giving their nanny a fair chance to do a great job.