Did we, uh, just Onomatopoeia?!
Posted: March 19, 2013 Filed under: Miss Cheryl, Tales, Tips | Tags: burp, burping, children and their nanny, Doc, funny sounds, gas, hiccup, hiccuping, kids, miss cheryl, nanny, onomatopoeia, Rebel, scream, shriek, sneeze, toot, trip 4 CommentsI spend much of my day trying to make the kiddos laugh. Most times humor comes naturally to me, sometimes I’m hard-pressed to find the humor in a situation. Then there are days when divine intervention drops an amazing, and serially situational set of funnies my way. Read the rest of this entry »
LOL! and a LOT!
Posted: March 5, 2013 Filed under: Miss Cheryl, Tales | Tags: children and their nanny, Doc, funny nanny, kiddos, laughing with nanny, laughter, laughter is best medicine 2 CommentsDuring my time as a certified kiddo tamer I have been, and am, privy to laughter ranging from baby’s first giggle to (almost) full-grown, full-on guffaws from the “big kids”. Though not always delivered in the most mannerly of ways, their laughter is a delight!
A Rhyme Works Every Time!
Posted: February 26, 2013 Filed under: Miss Cheryl, Tales, Tips | Tags: behaving, booty, Doc, Dr. Seuss, fun with rhyming, learning lessons, nanny, Rebel, rhyme 2 Comments
When trying to teach the kiddos something, or snap them out of an attitude that needs adjusting, I often take a cue from Dr. Seuss (and poets everywhere) and rhyme out to avoid the need for a time out. 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 »
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 »
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 »
Catch-A-Phrase Reloaded
Posted: December 13, 2012 Filed under: Miss Cheryl, Tales | Tags: Big Cat, catchy phrase, catchy phrases, Doc, funny phrases, Mr.Man, nanny, phrase, phrases, Rebel, Slow your roll, you're ok 2 CommentsIn addition to the aforementioned phrases caught by kiddos, here are a few more Miss Cheryl-isms:
“Hey look who I found in the crib! He/she says his/her name is ______, can we keep him/her?” I use this one almost daily with Doc and Rebel. Doc and I have quality time (reading, talking, playing) until Rebel wakes up from his nap. When he does, Doc watches on the monitor as I get Rebel out of his crib and bring him downstairs into the land of the wakeful. When we get to the bottom of the stairs, or round the corner into the living room where Doc awaits, I say in a voice filled with wonder and surprise, “Doc, look who I found in the crib upstairs! Look how cute! He says his name is Rebel, can we keep him?” to which Doc, eyebrows raised, smile on face says, “Sure!…Hiiii Re-bel!” Doc loves a good inside joke, while Rebel (the classic second child) is always happy for extra attention. Read the rest of this entry »
The Threshold Phenomenon
Posted: December 6, 2012 Filed under: Miss Cheryl, Tales, Tips, Tunes | Tags: attitude, Doc, El Fuego, kiddos, outdoors, Rebel, Sassafras 2 Comments
There are some naturally occurring wonders that cannot be explained, only defined by their universally effective nature. Children being happier outside is one of them. I call it the Threshold Phenomenon, so named after the marked change between a restless rugrat’s immediately cheerful change to happy-go-lucky youngster when alfresco. Most “rough” days with the kiddos happen when, because of weather- the heat most often, and the cold sometimes (in Austin there’s not much of an in-between)-they are unable to go outside. Read the rest of this entry »
You Can Count On Me!
Posted: November 15, 2012 Filed under: Miss Cheryl, Tales | Tags: attendance, big, Boss lady, capable, cat, commitment, dependable, Doc, Mr.Man, on time, punctual, Rebel, value 2 CommentsIf memory serves, my first several years of nannying, or babysitting rather, between the age of 11 and 18, were filled with mistakes. Not having yet developed the valuable skill of time management I was tardy at times(most times), irresponsible simply by inexperience and immaturity (driving kiddos without parental permission. AHHH!!!!!!), and generally clueless, finding my way as a caregiver. When you’re a teenager you have little to no common sense and are still learning to take care of yourself, let alone others. However, I have always had the best intentions, and tried very hard to be helpful and fun. I eventually hit my stride, able to take four kiddos (ranging in age from infant to school age) to and from the pool, and out running errands during the day for one week (Y’all may recall M1,M2,& M3,and M4.)! This achievement was actually my foot in the Austin nannying door; upon hearing I was capable of wrangling four kiddos, for five days, the Austin mamas knew I was the real McCoy! Read the rest of this entry »
Y'all Behave! 