A Matter of Manners
Posted: October 4, 2012 Filed under: Miss Cheryl, Tales, Tips, Uncategorized | Tags: considerate, gentleman, gentleman time, gentlemen, kiddos, manners, please, polite, Rebel, respect, thank you 4 Comments
Having grown up in a household where manners were next to godliness, I am constantly trying ingratiate manners into the habits and behaviors of my young charges. Manners, when introduced and reinforced become second nature, a reflex. It’s important to get those pleases and thank yous started early. It’s not about impressing people, it’s about raising conscientious children who will be considerate friends and partners to people in the future. First impressions are lasting ones. No one ever complained about a child being too polite. Read the rest of this entry »
Let’s Dance!
Posted: October 2, 2012 Filed under: Miss Cheryl, Tales, Tips, Tunes, Uncategorized | Tags: Big Cat, captain awesome, children dancing, dance, dancing, dancing nanny, Doc, kids dancing, princess, Rebel 3 Comments
Hand in hand with singing, as part of my nannying repertoire, is dancing. I love to dance, always have, always will. It is a great outlet for energy and a wonderful way to bond with the kiddos. In some ways nannying is a lot like dancing. Supernannies leave stage fright at the door, as do dancers; people who are inexperienced with children have the same pained facial expressions and awkwardness as someone who doesn’t know how to dance. Supernannies just go with the music, and no matter the moves, feel natural. Confidence is king in nannying, just like on the dance floor. Read the rest of this entry »
Supernanny Icon: Fräulein Maria
Posted: September 28, 2012 Filed under: Miss Cheryl, Supernanny Icons, Tales, Tunes, Uncategorized | Tags: bond, captain von trapp, fraulein maria, love, maria von trapp, singing, super nanny, the sound of music, von trap family, von trapp children Leave a comment
There are so many inspiring things about my job. For me, nannying is more of a calling, which brings to mind the story of a certain Supernanny, Fräulein Maria, who also found her true calling to be with a family who -until she entered their lives- had been estranged from one another. Maria’s effect on the children and their father, Captain Von Trapp is a bonding one, her sweetness and song uniting them together; the emotional climax of the film happening when the Captain hears his children singing and, overcome with his long repressed love for them, and surmounting his fears about being a father, joins them in song. Read the rest of this entry »
The Sound of Music
Posted: September 25, 2012 Filed under: Miss Cheryl, Tales, Tips, Tunes | Tags: austin, Big Cat, deer, do-re-mi, doe-ray-me, favorite things, julia andrews, Mr.Man, singing, sound of music, the sound of music Leave a comment
The Sound of Music is a wonderful film about family, love, integrity, joy, and, of course, music. It includes life lessons about finding who you are, being true to what is right, following your heart, family comes first, and many others. Besides being my favorite Rodgers and Hammerstein’s musical, not to mention one of my favorite movies of all time, The Sound of Music has provided inspiration for some of my most memorable nannying moments. Read the rest of this entry »
STOP! Bellybutton Time.
Posted: September 14, 2012 Filed under: Miss Cheryl, Tales | Tags: bellybutton, bellybutton time, bellybuttons, Doc, funny, game, midriff, Rebel Leave a comment
It’s amazing how in a matter of minutes something hilarious and heartwarming can happen- many times out of the oddest situations. Perfect example: “Bellybutton Time” with Doc and Rebel. On a typical (though no day with these two is ever “typical”) day with Doc and Rebel, the three of us were hanging out post “rest time” and nap, when all of a sudden Rebel lifts up his little shirt and says, “Bellybutton!” Doc follows suit and lifts his little shirt and says, “Bellybutton!” Then they both look at me expectantly, eyes wide, facial expressions reading, “Ok, Miss Cheryl it’s your turn.” I balked. Read the rest of this entry »
Keep it Simple
Posted: September 11, 2012 Filed under: Miss Cheryl, Tales, Tips, Tunes | Tags: bare necessities, Big Cat, bubble wrap, children, Doc, gift buying, Mr.Man, nanny, play, shaving cream, simple, simple fun, simple toys, toys. cardboard box 2 Comments
Being a Supernanny, I am well-versed in the toys of now. In addition to shopping for the children myself, I often do gift recon as a favor to parents when their child’s birthday is coming up, and for past nannying gigs I’ve even done the gift buying (for the kiddos and their friends) for the parent. With tons of choices, different versions, “newest” this, “better” that, bells and whistles, navigating the toy aisle in Target becomes a trip into the modern wizardry of toys. When it comes to the kiddos I nanny, as birthdays/holidays come around I opt for books, educational toys, etc. and in my day-to-day nannying duties, I know all too well, that if it’s free, it’s for me! Many times, fun and fancy blossom from very simple items. The brilliance is in the simplicity! Read the rest of this entry »
Ease-y Rider
Posted: September 7, 2012 Filed under: Miss Cheryl, Tales, Tips | Tags: activity, captain awesome, Doc, ease transitions, first child, location, nanny, period of adjustment, schedule, second child, super nanny, thought 3 Comments
As a Supernanny, I run a tight ship schedule-wise. I’m always on time, or early, due in large part to the fact that I often over budget for time, because I know that when timeliness is dependent upon kiddo cooperation, there may be delays. One of the reasons I include these babe time buffers is because I know that the vast majority of children need a period of adjustment between one activity/location, and the next. It’s important to ease the transition from mealtime, to playtime, to chore time, to drive time, to bedtime. Kiddos are much more cooperative when they are not being pushed and pulled hurriedly in any direction. It’s not that there are averse to change, they just need to know it’s coming. Read the rest of this entry »
Get Your Role On!
Posted: September 4, 2012 Filed under: Miss Cheryl, Tales, Tips | Tags: babies, caregiver, co-parenting, discipline, help, helper, infants, mother's helper, role, schedule, school age, secondary caregiver, toddlers 2 CommentsNow in my sixth year of nanny life, I’m on a regimented rotation with several families, however in the whole of my nannying thus far, I have had commitments spanning from exclusivity with a single family, to juggling up to five on a regular schedule. Each family has a different dynamic -different number of children, range of ages, spectrum of childcare needs- and so I adapt my Miss Cheryl persona per house accordingly. I walk in the door, ready and in character! Lines memorized, no second takes. Read the rest of this entry »
The Barf Bag Test
Posted: August 31, 2012 Filed under: Miss Cheryl, Tales, Tips | Tags: airplane, artwork, barf, barf bag, care, compassion, conscientious, empathy, golden rule, motion sickness, planes, sympathy, throw up, travel, treat others how you want to be treated 4 Comments
When my family would go on vacation, we three children were always given a few travel gifts to see us through. Travel games, books to read, and coloring books topped the list. For our first few family vacations we mostly drove to our destinations, but as we got older, we started flying as a family. I preferred driving only because it gave me more time to read and our car’s seats were more comfortable than those on the airplane, but eventually I became accustomed to Read the rest of this entry »
Y'all Behave! 