Pic Post: Stuck on Me!
Posted: November 12, 2013 Filed under: Miss Cheryl, Tales | Tags: Doc, kiddos, nanny, Rebel, reward stickers Leave a comment
While spending the day with Doc and Rebel, Rebel felt I was doing such a good job that he rewarded me with, not one, not two, not even three, but FOUR reward stickers! This is the kind of sincere praise that makes happy my nannying days!
Catch-A-Phrase Redux
Posted: July 30, 2013 Filed under: Miss Cheryl, Tales, Tips | Tags: children, chill out, funny nanny, funny nanny with kiddos, kiddos, kids, nanny, phrases Leave a commentY’all have your favorites, (Catch-A-Phrase, Catch-A-Phrase Reloaded) but you haven’t heard ‘em all!
“If I go up there(/in there) and find it, I am not going to be thrilled…” This phrase is used when the kiddos are losin’ their belongings, and I, in turn, feel like I’m losin’ my mind! I deliver it very matter-of-factly, but the kiddos can tell by my tone they had better retrace their steps just one more time. Read the rest of this entry »
The Pretenders
Posted: July 9, 2013 Filed under: Miss Cheryl, Tales, Tips | Tags: Boss lady, Doc, helping children develop imagination, helping kids be creative, imagination, kiddos, Rebel 2 CommentsOne of the best things about being a nanny is the opportunity it affords me to act like a kiddo again. Anyone who knows me, knows that I have a bit of the whimsical about me, and am prone to flights of fancy. I love playing make-believe with my charges, always encouraging them, when it comes to imagination, to Go Big or Go Home. Read the rest of this entry »
Nanny in Kiddoland
Posted: April 30, 2013 Filed under: Miss Cheryl, Tales, Tips | Tags: 1985 alice in wonderland movie, alice in wonderland, behavior, cheshire cats, Doc, kiddoland, kiddos, lewis carroll, nanny, nanny in kiddoland, reason, Rebel, riddles, Tweedle Dee, Tweedle Dum, understanding children 4 Comments
I recently watched Alice in Wonderland for the millionth time, both the Disney animated version and the 1985 movie (featuring an all-star cast including Ringo Starr, Sammy Davis Jr., Shirley Winters, and Lloyd Bridges). This prompted me to break out the Lewis Carroll tome and delve deep into this most whimsical and wonder-filled tale. It occurred to me while watching both films, and subsequently reading the text, that Alice’s experiences in the strange land of Wonderland/Through the Looking Glass are not so unlike those of a nanny entering the world of kiddos. Read the rest of this entry »
50/50
Posted: April 9, 2013 Filed under: Miss Cheryl, Tales, Tips | Tags: 50/50, baby doesn't mind diaper changes, baby hates bath, baby hates car, baby hates diaper change, baby loves bath, baby loves car, different kiddos, kiddos, odds, statistics 2 CommentsWhen it comes to math, Miss Cheryl is about as duped as a kiddo first trying to tie his/her shoes. However, there is one area of math in which I excelled: statistics. I made a good grade in my high school statistics class(due in large part, if not completely to my teacher, Dr. B), and went on to do well in my Psychology major Statistics class at Texas State. I think when math is the means to a cause an effect relationship end—something other than numbers—it’s easier for me to wrap my head around it. 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 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 »
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 »
Don’t Speak!
Posted: December 11, 2012 Filed under: Miss Cheryl, Tales, Tips, Tunes | Tags: Big Cat, Boss lady, El Fuego, kiddos, kids, nanny, quiet, Rebel, Sassafras, shhh, silence is golden Leave a comment
Besides being the definitive breakup song of my middle school years, Don’t Speak is also a great dollop of nannying advice. Like Gwyn Stefani, I use my voice a lot at work. I spend my days reading to the kiddos, baby-talking to the infants, singing little ones to sleep, conversing, answering questions, giving directions; nannying is a vivacious variety of verbalization. And though the kiddos crave my words, my songs, my vocal attentions, I’ve learned that sometimes they just need me to shut up. Read the rest of this entry »
Y'all Behave! 