Disney DOs and DON’Ts: The Princesses
Posted: February 19, 2013 Filed under: Miss Cheryl, Tales, Tips | Tags: Beauty and the Beast, Belle, Cinderella, daddy issues, Disney, father figures, Feminism, Jasmine, positive message, princesses, Snow White 7 Comments
As a product of the 80’s, I grew up loving Disney. Our family had the Disney channel, I’ve been to Disney World several times, and I LOVE Disney movies. I love Swiss Family Robinson, Pollyanna, The Parent Trap, but especially all of the Disney cartoons, conceived and created in the Disney drawing studio. I miss the good ole days of Cinderella, Snow White, Beauty and the Beast, and (my favorite) The Little Mermaid. I love these movies! They are like time machines; upon viewing one I’m reminded of the age and feeling when I first watched it. The music is always amazing and I usually cry happy tears at some point. What’s not to love? Read the rest of this entry »
Call out the Instigator
Posted: February 14, 2013 Filed under: Miss Cheryl, Tales, Tips | Tags: blame, Doc, instigate, nanny, quarrels, Rebel, sibling rivalry, Siblings, squabbles Leave a commentNannying for siblings, which is often the case, I run into a flood of familiar issues. Familiar because, as the middle child, I have experienced the clashes between both younger and older siblings. I know all too well the numerous nitpicky, negative nonsense that goes on with siblings due to proximity, personality clash, or just plain frustration. When you have siblings, you are with them day in and day out, and no matter how much you love them or how awesome they are, (none more awesome or loved than my own brother and sister, I might add) there are times when conflicts are inevitable. I see it all the time with my charges, especially with brothers —the older one is annoyed by the younger one, or the younger doesn’t want to play with the older one— the problems arrive from many different, but similar scenarios. Read the rest of this entry »
A Separate Peace
Posted: February 12, 2013 Filed under: Miss Cheryl, Tales, Tips, Tunes | Tags: Boss lady, engaging children, kiddos, nanny, parallel play, playtime, Sassafras, Sassy, separate 3 Comments
As a Supernanny, I try my best to always be engaging to the kiddos. I play with them, talk to them, always trying to keep them active and excited. However, I have learned from my charges, mostly those that are only children, that sometimes kiddos, like adults, need their personal space. Read the rest of this entry »
It’s the Little Things:)
Posted: January 31, 2013 Filed under: Miss Cheryl, Tales | Tags: anny's love, Boss lady, chores, Doc, Doc. sweet moments. Captain Awesome, juggle, juggling, little things, nanny's love, nanny/charge relationship, princess, Rebel, Sassafras, Sassy, special relationship, sweet moments, uggling 2 Comments
Many of my most memorable times nannying are less essayish and more episodic; tidbits of time that while seemingly insignificant, in the grand scheme of things, are monumental moments to me. Here are some of my favorites. I hope y’all enjoy!
While chillin’ with Captain Awesome one evening after many hours (I think he was my third house of the day) of nannying, I felt exhausted, probably looked even worse, and hadn’t seen the sunny side of a shower in more hours than I care to admit. But to my surprise he looked at his sister, Princess’s, Disney game, then back at me, then pointed to Cinderella on its cover and said, “Looks like you!” to which I responded with the most grateful “Thanks, dude. You are so awesome.” A smile fixed on my face for the rest of the week. Read the rest of this entry »
Befriend Everyone Part II
Posted: January 24, 2013 Filed under: Miss Cheryl, Tales, Tips | Tags: bully, friends, unlikely Leave a commentBullies Beware
Posted: January 22, 2013 Filed under: Miss Cheryl, Tales, Tips | Tags: anti-bullying, blue eyes, Bullies, bully at play, Bullying, chucky doll, jammer, lou ferrigno, nanny, playscape 2 Comments
Bullying is a social issue that unfortunately plagues almost everyone at one time or another. It’s a crime on a personal level that often goes unprosecuted because it operates in a grey area. An argument may be made on both sides: one person’s “bullying” may be another person’s “joke” or cliquish behavior. I, myself, got caught up in the mean girl mentality –both as victim and perpetrator– around middle school: excluding people, speculating, just needlessly not nice things. Though my intent was never to hurt anyone, it shames me now to have ever been involved in such trivial and ultimately harsh behaviors. At the time, as perpetrator I truly didn’t think anyone cared enough about my opinion to take me seriously, let alone get their feelings hurt. (I wasn’t putting much thought or energy into the mean girl behavior, how could I possibly hurt someone?) Once I realized my behavior was truly hurtful, after being a victim of it myself, and that bullying was the case, I set about apologizing, and nipping ostracizing and victimizing in the bullying bud, as did my pals. What goes around comes around was definitely the case with me, as I had a yearlong run-in with a bully of epic proportions when I went to high school. My younger thoughtlessness paled in comparison to this girl’s malicious intent. But everything is relative, and what I participated in and instigated during my younger years was no less hurtful to the recipient. Read the rest of this entry »
Feelin’ Good Again
Posted: January 15, 2013 Filed under: Miss Cheryl, Tales, Tips | Tags: Big Cat, captain awesome, childcare, children, fake it til you make it, feelin' good again, love being a nanny, Mr.Man, nanny, nannying, nannying as therapy, nannying cheers me up, nannying makes me happy, parents, Rebel, smile, sweet, sympathy 2 Comments
For all “boo-boo”s I have kissed and made better, for all the frowns I’ve turned upside-down, and for those cloudy days I’ve brought a bit of sunshine to, there are many moments in my life that have been made better by the kiddos. Nannying, at times, has been the only way a truly terrible day has been made better. Read the rest of this entry »
Sick!
Posted: January 8, 2013 Filed under: Miss Cheryl, Tales, Tips | Tags: barf, Big Cat, Boss lady, captain awesome, children throwing up, Doc, Mr.Man, princess, Rebel, sick children, sick with the nanny, sick! shel silverstein, vomit 5 Comments
A question I get very often when people hear that I’m a nanny is, “Do you do diapers(insert disgusted nose wrinkle)?” to which I amusedly reply that, yes, I do “do diapers”. Oh, if only they knew. I’ve changed the worst diapers imaginable, though at times in the life of a Supernanny, diapers are the least of my worries. I usually concentrate the majority of my time and energy on making sure the kiddos are having fun, cared for properly, learning, and behaving well. It takes a lot of energy to make sure all of these stars align, even in the best kiddos’ homes. However, when an ailment is afoot, then my skills, sanity, and stomach are often put to the test. Read the rest of this entry »
Kiddos and Kitties
Posted: January 3, 2013 Filed under: Miss Cheryl, Tales | Tags: blue eyes, Boss lady, cats, children, feline, kiddos, kittens, kitties, Rebel 2 Comments
I was nannying a few weeks ago, an evening of “babysitting” for an about bi-monthly, purely date night charge, Bruiser (one and a half year old little boy). It had been a few weeks since I had been to Bruiser’s house and with some sporadic charges there is a period of adjustment before they fully give over to my powers of play. Bruiser had a runny nose and no nap, and so I thought it best to give him some space. He had a Curious George on, and was polishing off his bottle so I took this as my cue to sit on the couch a few feet from where he was sitting on the rug. As the show unfolded I noticed that Bruiser had scooted over closer to me. After a few minutes he stood up and shuffled his way over closer. Then he glanced up at me before walking in front of me and leaning, resting his little back against my knees. (I’ve seen this slow progression happen a hundred times. Previously, it had been experienced with cats. Just as with new feline friends, it is best to approach kiddos slowly, getting nonverbal cues from them before attempting to pick them up.) I slid my hands gently under Bruiser’s armpits, smiling at him, and when he returned my smile I knew he would be ok with me lifting him onto my lap. After biding my time, he snuggled in for a nice show time cuddle and subsequent bath and bedtime both went very smoothly. Bruiser’s similarity to a certain stealthy cat got me thinking about the comparable habits of kiddos and kitties. Read the rest of this entry »
Oh the Places Y’all’ll Go: Park City, Utah
Posted: December 18, 2012 Filed under: Miss Cheryl, Oh the Places Y'all'll Go!, Tales, Tips | Tags: black, blue, enjoy, green, kiddos, nanny, Park City, Park City Utah, ski, skiers, skiing, slopes Leave a comment
A recent ski trip to Park City, Utah ended up being a few days filled with nannying wisdom! Snow skiing is a sport a gal from south Texas would not ordinarily be exposed to, except that in Miss Cheryl’s case my family went skiing several years during childhood, then in high school I took a few trips with my youth group, and in college took a couple of trips with friends and family. Still, by this year it had been at least six years since I last stepped on the slopes. I was pleasantly surprised at how quickly it all came back to me; just like riding a bike! Instead of relearning how to ski I was free to reflect on the many parallels between life and…well, paralleling on skis! Read the rest of this entry »
Y'all Behave! 