Keep it Sassy!
Posted: December 4, 2012 Filed under: Miss Cheryl, Tales | Tags: baby girl, Boss lady, nanny, princess, Sassafras, Sassy, sassy girls 2 Comments
In the six (coming up on seven) years I have spent being an Austin Supernanny, I seem to have accumulated mostly male charges. Little dudes seem to be my lot in life, and I love it! But whenever I have the opportunity to have a gal thrown into my kiddo corral, it is quite a treat! I cherish my “Girl Time” with Princess and my Boss Lady dance parties, because it is a chance to be around that girly energy that I rarely get the chance to enjoy. And so, my newest sporadic charge, Sassafras has risen in the ranks as a kiddo to watch! Read the rest of this entry »
Fussy vs. Psycho
Posted: November 29, 2012 Filed under: Miss Cheryl, Tales, Tips, Tunes | Tags: Attachment Parenting, crying, Ferber Method, fussy crying, nanny, out of control, parenting, psycho crying, serenity prayer Leave a comment
So much of nannying is getting to know the kiddos like the back of my hand; knowing their habits, understanding their personalities. This all comes with time spent with them, and of course, by speaking with their folks, who know them better than anyone. One of the most winning of wisdoms is when a caregiver can decipher the degrees of despair in a kiddo’s crying. Or, as I like to gauge it: Fuss Crying or Psycho Crying. Read the rest of this entry »
Fishing & Friendship
Posted: October 30, 2012 Filed under: Miss Cheryl, Tales, Tips | Tags: Big Cat, children making friends, fishing, friends, friendship, kiddos, making friends, Mr.Man, nanny Leave a commentHaving grown up on the coast, and having an avid fisherman as a father, I began fishing at an early age, (even succeeding at times, as you might recall). I found and still find fishing to be awesome. It’s a great way to take it easy, reflect, spend time with friends/family, relax, and get some sun. On one particularly memorable day of nannying I took Mr. Man and Big Cat fishing at Town Lake, picking up their grandpa on the way to add some family fun to our idyllic day. The boys were so excited, not catching anything, but just enjoying being out on the dock, lines in the lake, finding fishing to be fun!
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 »
Right Round
Posted: August 21, 2012 Filed under: Miss Cheryl, Tales | Tags: alice i wonderland, Big Cat, children, dizzy, Doc, glasses, intoxicated, Mr.Man, nanny, Rebel, spinning 2 Comments
As a Supernanny, I am privileged to be privy to many kiddos’ first brushes with intoxication. No, I don’t rub whiskey on their gums, I mean the intoxicating activity of spinning. I remember spinning, of any kind, being my activity of choice when I was a child. Whether I was on a tire swing, a merry-go-round at the park, or just holding hands with a friend/parent and whirling around, I loved the rush of adrenaline, the exhilaration of this seemingly simple activity. Read the rest of this entry »
Free Your Mind
Posted: August 11, 2012 Filed under: Miss Cheryl, Tales, Tips | Tags: Big Cat, children, concepts, creative, heaven, imagination, imagine, miss cheryl, nanny, question, religion, spirituality, unicorn 4 Comments
To be a true Supernanny, one must have an active imagination. Luckily for my charges, my creative and whimsical impulses have not faded since childhood, if anything my imagination has only become more vivid and lively. I remember the way I used to think about things as a child, mostly because I have never stopped thinking that way. Read the rest of this entry »
Lost In Translation
Posted: August 3, 2012 Filed under: Miss Cheryl, Tales, Tips | Tags: Big Cat, children profanity, curse, cuss, cussing, Doc, first words, learning to talk, Mr.Man, nanny, profanity, Rebel, speech, swear, swearing, talking, toddler, understand 2 Comments
As a Supernanny, I pride myself on my ability to understand my young charges, an unspoken bond existing between us. However, when it comes to toddlers, it is in the realm of the verbal that a vast divide in understanding may occur. Toddler Speak, also known as gibberish, poppycock, and “huh?” is both endearing and confounding at the same time. Hearing a child formulate his/her first words is so adorable, it’s the chance to hear his/her speaking voice, which in and of itself is heart-melting. That combined with his/ her earnest efforts to communicate? So awesome, though not a little bit puzzling. Read the rest of this entry »
Playing Dumb
Posted: July 24, 2012 Filed under: Miss Cheryl, Tales, Tips | Tags: Big Cat, Boss lady, children, Doc, empathy, intelligence, Mr.Man, nanny, needs, playing dumb, relationship 3 Comments
As a lifelong (and thus far natural) blonde, I have worked hard to dispel the stereotype that all blondes are dumb. And despite the rare (ok full disclosure, occasional) “Duh” moment, I believe that I do my part in elevating the perceived intelligence of my hair color. However, as a lady might with any job, I pick my moment to cash in my dumb card. How and when I choose to play dumb depends on the charge at hand. Read the rest of this entry »
Y'all Behave! 