Cooking for kids

Miss T.'s mom and I have been taking the book Deceptively Delicious for a test drive. I have to say that so far we have been pleasantly surprised. The main idea is not rocket science, it mainly involves using vegetable purees to enhance the health quotient of some kiddie staples so as to avoid the fight to get them to eat their veges straight.

I have done similar by incorporating extra veges into sauces and such but this book had a few great ideas for other combinations I hadn't thought of yet. Who knew cauliflower was so versatile? I personally have done a little tweaking to the pancake recipe, kicking up the spices, and have been enjoying it at home with my hubby as Pumpkin "pie" pancakes. Yum!

The only tip I can really add to this idea is to make sure to take the time to get the purees extra smooth. I have been using the water from steaming the veges for this by adding a tablespoon at a time until they get to a very creamy consistency.

Mrs. Seinfeld's tip on making a couple purees at a time at the beginning of the week is helpful too. Personally I'd stock up on the canned pumpkin purees while they are on sale at this time of year. You'd be amazed what they can be added to that will get gobbled up with kids none the wiser.

My only exceptions to the recipes are the use of lowfat fake foods and margarine. I use the real thing and tweak slightly to compensate. Otherwise I think kids and adults alike could benefit from the addition of extra veg to our everyday food.

Ricotta Banana Pancakes (adapted from the Cottage cheese apple pancakes in the Moosewood Cookbook)

In a bowl, food processor, or blender mix together:

• 1 cup flour (unbleached all-purpose or 1/2 whole wheat or spelt)
  
• 1 tsp. aluminum free baking powder
• 1/2 tsp. sea salt
• 1 tbs. pure maple syrup or honey or other natural sweetener
• 2 eggs
  
• 1/2 cup ricotta cheese or small curd cottage cheese
  
• 2 bananas, ripe and well mashed (or frozen then defrosted for 10 minutes in a bowl of water, when you snip off one end you can easily slip the banana out of its peal right into your bowl and it will be very soft, almost liquidy, and ready to use)
  
• 1/4 tsp. nutmeg
  
• a dash of cinnamon
• 1/4 cup of milk (more or less- check as you mix or blend, it should be pourable but not too runny)

Cook until browned on a hot griddle coated with a small amount of butter or vegetable oil just like regular pancakes, except these are slightly more delicate. They are truly dreamy, melt in your mouth consistency. No need for butter on top and very little syrup on top will do. Perfect with my homemade turkey sausage patties (I will post this recipe sometime soon!) or a fruit cup. Serves 2 very hungry people who love to eat, or 3-4 normal people.

False Starts

I don't think Miss T. has a grasp yet on what this school stuff is supposed to be. Today was another day of refusing to even enter the classroom. We sat out in the hall a while. It was three of us: Miss T., her mommy, and I. Miss T. ran back and forth down the hall a while peering into the classroom but each time decided she'd rather stay in the hall. After about 20 minutes of this the Miss T. was given the choice to go into class or go home. She wanted to stay in the hall which eventually amounted to going home.

I have mixed feeling on the whole thing. I think she is too young, especially to have this kind of decision on her hands. She is independent at home within the safe watch of her parents or myself and loves doing many of the same things she would be doing at the school at this point. I personally plan to homeschool once I am blessed with little ones so my input here is pretty negligible. However, I think even if I was going to have my children trained by a school I would not send them so young that they have no way of comprehending what is going on. On the other hand many parents would believe my decision to homeschool to be overprotective and try to get their children in school and "socialized" as early as possible.

Her school directress told us that even if Miss T. goes in for as little as 15 minutes a day eventually her interest will grow and she will become more capable for classwork, gradually moving into it for the full schedule. We will see in the coming weeks if we can first work up to the fifteen minutes.

School Dazed

Miss T. started school for the first time on Monday. She is a bit young for it, not even 2 1/2 yet. The first day was only 1 hour long and went by fairly uneventfully, except for her being exhausted come nap time and really over sleeping. The second day she bumped her head on a door handle and cried inconsolably until she was brought back to her parents. There are still three more days to try this out this week but I honestly do not think she is ready for it. She has no enthusiasm for going, no clear idea of what is going on, and her attention span is lacking for the type of serious Montessori environment the school has set up. I have not actually been there yet but I have read up on the school quite a bit and Miss T.'s mom has already had indications from the staff there that they feel Miss T. may not be ready. The rigorous 5 day a week schedule is a bit much for Miss T., in my opinion.

This is really the first family of toddlers where I was not asked to assess the school or the child's readiness. It does not surprise me too much because in the area I am in there are quite a few "nannies" that really are not qualified to be called such. They are many babysitters/housekeepers. I find it disappointing but that's reality. We will see if Miss T. can manage even partial days for now, otherwise her parents will pull her now and restart later in the year or early next year. At this point I'm not sure which course I'd recommend.

Some potty training success

I was quite happy to return from my long weekend on Tuesday to hear that Miss T. continued to use the potty with her parents, even while away at her Nana's house! She actually asked them to use the potty!! During the day she is in underpants only (while with me) and at night her parents put her to bed in a diaper. I have reservations about the mixed messages this is sending, especially since they usually wait until I come in the next morning for me to make the switch back underpants for the day and by this time she is often both wet and soiled. Due to my schedule I do not know whether this happened in the morning and she is actually waking dry/clean or not. I suggested that they not order anymore diapers and use the lined underpants for the night after one last potty just before bed then potty again first thing in the morning. Time will tell whether they will actually do this.

This just demonstrates one thing. Being a nanny is not for the control freak. There are many times on most any day where things must be done as the parents want them done even if the nanny does not agree with them. Every effort must be made to show no opposition to those parental decisions to the child. That is as detrimental to a child as when parents contradict each other's decisions or undermine each other's authority. It's quite useless too because the parents are the only authority and caregiver who will be there for the child throughout their life. As much as we nannies try to blend into the family there are just and necessary boundaries.

When a real issue comes up in which a nanny feels that the parent's decision might be truly harmful (from a developmental standpoint) every effort must be made to meet with the parent separately from the child with concrete back-up as to why the nanny believes the decision is wrong. Even then, the final decision rests in the parents' hands. If physical harm/abuse were possible that is a whole other case. Contact whatever help appropriate and necessary and be prepared again to give concrete back-up.

The vast majority of the time however our differences stem from personal quirks and our own preferred modus operandi. We need to own up to that and move on so we can continue to enjoy the perks of a job that's rewarding emotionally and financially. Not every job gets bonuses paid in smiley, silly, smoochy hugs!

Italian Style Meatloaf (or Un-meatloaf for Vegetarians)

This is kind of a two in one recipe since they are both so similar. I have never had a kid not like either recipe and adults seem to have no problems polishing off the rest ;)

1 lb ground turkey, preferably a mix of light and dark OR 2 cans black beans, undrained
2 links mild Italian sausage, take off casings (skip for un-meatloaf and add 1/2 t. each oregano, basil, thyme, parsley and 1/4 t. ground coriander)
1/2-1 C. bread crumbs Italian style or add 1/2 t. each oregano, basil, thyme, and parsley to plain crumbs
1/2 medium onion minced
1 T extra virgin olive oil
1-2 eggs
1/4 C. Parmesan cheese
1/2 t. salt
black pepper
2 T. tomato paste

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
  
• Saute onion on medium heat for about 5 min. or until soft and clear but not browned. If you are using turkey breast or making the loaf with beans rather than regular ground turkey (which is mixed) add 2 T. olive oil after onion is cooked to help keep the (un)meatloaf from being too dry.
• In a bowl mix together the turkey, sausage, bread crumbs, cheese, and eggs. OR Mash the beans with a potato masher and mix with the bread crumbs, cheese, and eggs. If the veggie loaf seems to dry/crumbly add a few T. water or milk, if it is too wet add more bread crumbs it should be easily mold able and not soupy.
• Let onions cool a few minutes before adding to the mix and mix in thoroughly.
  
• Bake for 45 minutes to 1 hour. Juices should run clear for turkey and center should be firm for veggie loaf. Mix tomato paste with 3-4 T warm water to make easily spreadable and put over the top for the last 10 minutes.

Optional additions:

• Sprinkle dried basil and parley over the tomato paste or lay a few leaves of fresh basil over the top before putting the loaf back in the oven.
• Add 2 diced carrots and 1 diced celery stalk to the onions and saute all together. The extra veggies add flavor, moisture, vitamins, and texture.
  
• Add 1/2 cup coarsely chopped walnuts to the veggie loaf for the extra bite too often missing from meat substitutes.
• Marjoram can be substituted for oregano if preferred.
• Veggie recipe can also be made into patties and cooked in a lightly oiled pan on the stove top or on a baking sheet in the oven with oil brushed lightly over the top. Bake patties for about 15-20 minutes and flip after 10 minutes. Great as burgers with ketchup.
  

Toys

Hannah at Cultivating Home put up a great link to another post on toys not made in China. Great information and links for even more information.

I especially liked the tips on making toys. Kids I have worked with have enjoyed this so much and some things are actually much better homemade, such as play dough. The commercial stuff is often to stiff for little fingers and comes in too small an amount for working with multiple kids or making bigger things. I also like that homemade play dough is cheap enough that no one feels guilty if colors get mixed or it gets contaminated in some way and has to be thrown away. After an illness, for example, I throw away play dough if they have been playing with it while sick.

Here's the recipe I use:

Cooked Play-dough

I let children in my care who are old enough to sit in a high chair steadily start playing with this dough but use your best judgment. Kept in a plastic container or zipper bag it keeps for quite a while while retaining its smooth, soft texture but I like to replace it every few months or even more often if a child still puts their hands in their mouth a lot. It has no preservatives other than the high salt content so if it ever smells off toss it. I've never had this happen but you never know.

Combine in a medium saucepan: 1 cup flour, 1/4 cup salt, 1 tsp. cream of tartar

Add and whisk until smooth: 1 cup water, 1 Tbsp oil, Food coloring add just a little bit at a time until you get the desired color. Any type of food coloring can be used. Do not use paints though to keep the end product non-toxic. I have never cared for a kid who didn't at least taste test!

Cook over medium to medium-low heat until it clumps together and pulls away from the sides of the pan. Some people add fragrance (essential oils) or extracts but I never do to cut down any possibility of irritation.

Take it off the heat and turn over onto a cutting board (preferably plastic), wax paper, or an easily cleanable counter top and let it cool just enough to handle. This doesn't take very long, only a minute or two. Start kneading the very warm dough, the more you knead it the smoother and more elastic it will be. When you feel it is cool enough for little hands to handle pass along chunks of it to the littles to knead too.

The first few times kids play with it I usually make sure they play with it on an easily cleanable surface, such as a cheap plastic table cloth, to make sure the coloring doesn't stain anything. It never has but I don't take chances ;)

I Love Scunci "No Slip"

"Long Hair" by William Whitacker

What a corny title for a post, huh? But I do love those "no slip" clips and such by Scunci. While out with Miss T. today in search of the really little, soft pony tail holders for her hair I found a great headband from that same line. So far it has been on my head a whole hour without a headache yet, which is an accomplishment since I'm usually done with a headband in about 20 minutes. Usually the pressure right behind the ears gets to me or the ones that are flexible enough not to do that slip around and make a big mess of my hair instead of making it look nice and neat, which is kind of the point of a headband!

I also picked up a no-slip jaw clip made for thick hair. My hair is not particularly thick but is long enough that it needs to be folded a couple times before putting up in a jaw clip. The no slip part of these products is a rubbery coating or "teeth" on the inside. In the headband this soft rubber is also on the ends which I think is why it has been pain free so far. A downside to some may be that the inside of the headband won't really comb into position as hard plastic or metal teeth would so your hair has to be already as you want it before putting on the headband. I chose the double band style because it seemed that it would not to have as much tension on the curve as a wider band might

Miss T. "helped" pick out her pony holders first as I find it easiest to give littles the job of holding something in a store. One thing in each hand prevents wandering fingers ;) At the supermarket she usually makes sure we don't forget the fruit she is in charge of holding, but I have to first make sure its bagged and knotted shut to prevent her from sampling the merchandise! Her second favorite thing to hold is a cottage cheese or yogurt "drum." Even with just one kiddie with me right now I still find it best to make riding in the carriage a requirement until they are adept with following instructions and/or can be trusted to handle a "job" in the store, such as picking out a veggie.

Boy, I do go off on tangents! :P Anyway, if you need a basic headband or jaw clip those no slip Scunci things are a great way to go. Now, I wish they'd make them in kiddie sizes :) They so have the most slippery hair!

Nanny Contracts

The first things I can say about the nanny work contract is that they are invaluable. It is on my mind right now because mine is nearly up. This doesn't mean I am out the door but rather it is my opportunity to sit down and thoroughly go over how things are working and what is not working.

I use a very detailed contract. It states my pay rate, hours, sick and vacation time, of course, but it also goes over the duties I will fulfill for a family, what I will not do, my style of discipline, what to do in case of an emergency and various other things. Each year those details will change slightly in the way that a home management binder or curriculum changes year to year. I try to formulate new goals with a family. The goal might be to have a little one potty trained or to spend a minimum number of hours per week on preschool skills or physical activity.

When meeting a new family I bring a sample of my contract with me so they can see up front what I am about and I can also see their reactions to my style. I kind of look at my style as Mary Poppins-ish, firm but kind, caring but not a pushover. If you watch the movie (which I love!) she was rather strict with high expectations of both children and parents but soft when the children needed it. I prefer to start out firmer and relax as the situation permits rather than too soft and have an uncontrollable youngster on my hands that needs to be strongly redirected.

Contracts need to be tailored to each nanny and family but if anyone would like a sample please leave a comment and I can email you a copy in Word format. It is a starting point. Not every detail in these contracts may be legally binding and laws vary state to state, so if you are in doubt contact a lawyer!

Potty Training 101

I hope that soon Miss T. will be back on the potty training wagon. It is not my decision to forgo it for now as she is definitely capable and ready in many respects but we are making sure that the UTI issue and medication side effects are definitely resolved before proceeding. I believe also that a family meeting will have to happen first to be sure that everyone is one the same page concerning how to proceed. The first time around it became readily apparent that she was not being made to sit on the potty often enough and not being checked for accidents but rather being put back in diapers whenever it was more convenient to do so. This was creating confusion for Miss T. and leading her toward the bad habit of being comfortable in wet underclothes.

Anyway, by ready for training I refer to the following:

• She is aware of her goings and can communicate such
• She is dry for periods of time during the day
• She is mobile enough to get to the potty
• She is not in the middle of illness, especially diarrhea
  

Age is only a minor factor but usually around 2 to 2 1/2 many kids will be ready by these standards. For some children readiness will happen earlier, for some later. It's not a competition to try to get them trained when they are barely walking since that will only make it into a long, drawn out affair during which a parent or caregiver is more likely to become as tired and frustrated by it as the child. Once a child is ready it is often just a matter of 1 or 2 weeks for the main part of potty training to be complete. I generally only do daytime training at this age as many kids are still in cribs at this age and it would be impossible for them to readily get out when they need to go. In addition, waking up dry will usually happen on its own, provided they get into the habit of going one last time right before bed.

As for training there is not too much to it. First, if a child has been in disposable diapers they need to gain a realization of when they have gone. Disposables keep them so dry that there is usually not connection for them. For indoors, I recommend plastic lined underpants. I would not buy to many pairs because these are really an optional, temporary measure to protect carpeting and furniture a little better. If you don't mind a little extra cleaning or plan to be outdoors or in the kitchen most of the time feel free to go straight to the thicker cotton underpants.

Be ready for a few wet days before the connection is made between the feeling of anticipation and the point at which it is too late. It is normal, so don't discourage easily. Also, don't curb water intake. The more they drink the more practice they will get. Watch out for constipation during this time as well. Some kids will hold back due to anxiety and this may start a cycle of fear to go if they get so constipated it hurts to go. Fruits starting with the letter P help things move along: prunes, plums, peaches, (ripe) pears. Avoid too many apples, apple sauce, cheese, and bananas if they are not going as often as usual.

I usually switch right over by first talking with the little trainee about how exciting it is to be a big kids with no more diapers. I let the sit without any expectation to go before training officially starts. Once in training leftover diapers (if there are any) can be used up at night after the last seat on the toilet before bed. If once they used to regular underpants they no longer want to wear a diaper anymore, and they are waking up dry in the morning pretty often, try using those plastic lied underpants can be pulled on over training underpants until they are dry at night 99.9 percent of the time. It may cutback the number of other things getting wet at night.

The day before or the same day training starts set up a sticker chart in the bathroom and put aside "special" stickers, usually shiny stars but anything they like is fine, just for training. For the first few days I sit them on the toilet at least every two hours and definitely about 10-20 minutes after a meal and before a nap. They get a sticker for each time they sit. If they want they can read some books in there but for some kids it is too distracting. Let common sense be your guide.

I start out giving stickers for each time they sit. Once they have had some success with making "deposits" I cut the stickers back to each success. I maintain a cheerful, positive, "you can do it!" demeanor. I think it is important not to show anger or frustration over a lack of success. This is the easiest way to turn a developmental milestone into a power struggle.

It is also best to plan for a pretty low-key, at home week to start training. They should be as close as possible to home and the bathroom or potty chair. I can't make any potty chair recommendations because I have never used them. I prefer the toilet seat inserts. Some people do not even use these. I have heard that if you don't have one a child can sit backward on the regular seat for better stability. I have done this while traveling once or twice but usually had a travel potty seat. Just as a caution however, those travel seat are for very occasional use only. They are not as stable so a toddler needs some extra care and support getting on or off to prevent slipping. While I never personally had one of these pinch a kid I read online that this has happened. This might be prevented through using tissue at the seams. If I were really in doubt however I would bright their regular seat in a zippered tote bag. Whenever I was on an extended trip the regular seat was always brought along.

Preparedness and positive encouragement have been my keys to potty training.

Photo credit:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/86603835@N00/19650368/

Finicky eaters?

In the ten plus years I have been a nanny to 11 kids ages 3 months to 11 years not once have I come across a child that was so finicky they would starve themselves. Yet I have met many parents that claim their kids would do that if they didn't feed them a steady diet of boxed mac and cheese or peanut butter and fluff. I am not saying kids can't have any of these, I'm an "all things in moderation" type, but these things should not be the mainstays of their diet.

I have worked with kids who claimed not to like things. Two little vegetarians who said they didn't like vegetables come to mind. My solution was to mandate the a child try one bite of a food before saying they don't like it. Even if they have tried it before they were still required to try it. I put out the unfamiliar food before offering familiar fillers, like said mac and cheese, as side dishes. A little acting sometimes helps the process, such as putting on a most doubtful face, rolling your eyes and stating flat out "I just know you won't like this!" then "What?! You do?!" If is really something that they absolutely dislike to the point it gives them a case of the shudders we move right along to the other things and acknowledge that they did give it a try.

It often helps to try flavoring things differently. The little vegetarians did not like very many plain veges but did like many simmered in soups or baked into meatless "meat-loaves." Many kids like spinach blended into cream sauces on past or mixed in basil pesto or they may like it more as part of a well dressed salad. Peas simmered in seasoned vege or chicken broth or in rice pilaf. Some hate raw tomatoes but love fresh salsa, or marinara sauce. Sweetened, creamy bowls of wheat, oats, polenta, or rice flavored with cinnamon and vanilla are usually pretty big hits. If one grain is highly dislike it may be the texture is too gritty or too coarse, this particularly happens with "instant" varieties. Those do not cook long enough to fully tenderize the grain and bring out their creaminess. Real food tastes better and if kids are allowed to build up a healthy appetite they will show how much they appreciate it.

A big part of making meal times enjoyable with kids is to eat with them. As soon as they can handle finger food at a high chair they should be at the table with the grown-ups of the house for at least one meal a day. It doesn't have to be dinner it just has to happen. They so often take their eating cues from what they see us doing. Are we sipping our milk and eating our delicious veges? Or are we running around we our "healthy" protein bar that looks just like candy while trying to get "important" things done? If we are getting our meals on the run or nibbling scraps at the kitchen counter we can hardly expect them to do better. Sometimes parents lead such separate lives that I'm sure their little ones are curious if adults eat at all!

Here is the way to feed kids that works for me:

1. Have regularly scheduled mealtimes and no junk food in between. If their day is very active a they need a snack offer fruit or a low sugar item such as a small portion of cheerios, but offer water first. Even in adults thirst is often confused for hunger.
2. Don't feed them in front of a TV. It will become a false hunger trigger.
3. Juices and sweets should be part of a meal not to be eaten alone. A piece of chocolate at the end of dinner has a better chance of not setting off a sugar roller coaster than that same piece eaten alone. Kids who walk around with juice filled sippy cups all day are bathing their teeth in a continual sugar stream.
4. Let water be the between meal beverage. It satisfies thirst without reeking havoc on blood sugar, won't disrupt their meal time hunger, and doesn't make things sticky when spilled :)
   
5. Let fruit, fruit smoothies, and homemade fruit pops be the predominant desserts.
6. Eat as an example of how they should eat. Enjoy the freshness and taste of your own homemade creations. If you don't think you are a good cook buy a good cookbook. The Joy of Cooking and The Moosewood Cookbook (lacto-ovo vegetarian) are two of my favorites. The first has tons of basic recipes and the second definitely is not for vegetarians only, it just has tons of great recipes.
7. When cooking from scratch just can't be done have a stock of quality ready made foods either made by you in your freezer or by a reputable supplier that does not add chemicals to their soup. My and Miss T.'s favorites for ready made food are by Amy's. We are particularly liking the spinach-feta pockets that are made with organic whole wheat. Along with a bowl of tomato bisque it is one of Miss T.'s favorite meals.
8. Don't expect that littles are going to eat a lot at each meal. For a toddler a few tablespoons of an item is plenty. Let them eat as much of the good stuff as they need at meal times. If they stop do not want more do not try to entice them to eat more. They should be learning to listen to their natural hunger/satiety cues. If they are not hungry at all don't make a big deal of it. They will be hungrier at their next meal provided sweets and snacks are not offered in between.

Fruit and Yogurt Pops

• In a blender add 1 small to medium ripe banana, 1 cup full-fat yogurt (vanilla, maple, plain, or a flavor that coordinates with the fruit you have on hand). They give the pops a creamy texture kids and adults both love.
  
• Add one cup fruit or pure fruit juice. Berries, very ripe peaches or nectarines, more banana, fully ripe mangoes, or even stewed dried fruit such as apricots work very well.
• If dry fruit was added, add about 1 cup spring or purified water and blend. It should be a pour-able smoothie consistency add additional liquid if necessary.
  
• Taste. If the fruit was under ripe it may need a teaspoon of honey (for children over 1 year only) to pick it up or the same amount of frozen white grape juice concentrate if there is any honey allergy.
• Pour into pop molds or dixie cups. With the thicker smoothie consistency you can usually add the popsicle stick right away. If it is too soft freeze slightly (1/2 hour) then add the stick.
• Serve frozen for desert :)
  

Potty Training Update

I have decided to put the potty training on hold for now. It has become very apparent that Miss T.'s mom is not ready to be an active participant in the process which will only confuse Miss T. and make the whole thing way longer and way more frustrating than it needs to be. I don't take things like this personally because the are many reasons parents are not ready for potty training. None of them have anything to do with me, although I do sometimes get frustrated by a lack of directness in them simply not expressing their desire to wait a little longer before potty training. Personally, I have also found that waiting longer also may mean having to undo a more deeply ingrained habit.

I think the most common reason I have experienced is an apparent desire to keep their toddler as a baby. This especially happens to parents who work long hours and are not able to see their littles very much during the day. Some parents have a hard time imagining that their little one has already developed so much that they are capable such independence.

It is possible that Miss T. could get used to using the potty while I'm there and diapers when I'm not but this is usually more the case in daycares where there is more separation between what is done at home versus what is done at "school." Trying to do this in a home setting may just end up as too confusing for her. Unfortunately for Miss T. her mom would like her to start at a fancy preschool this fall that I am certain does not do diaper changes. I was hoping that by transitioning now this would not be an issue. Developmentally she is ready. She is very communicative, aware of her goings, and physically able to do it but the mixed messages she is receiving are making her less willing to use the potty. Plus her rewards for using the potty are being given out simply by her asking for them, or worse screaming for them. Not by me, of course, but they are fast losing their motivational potential. As with any type of training, whether it concerns social behaviors or the potty, consistency is key.

I am not usually one to stop something once it is started but at this time I do not see another choice that does not entail a confrontation with Miss T.'s mom. These are almost never helpful so unless it is a severe matter concerning the health and well-being of a child I forgo them and instead take a step back. Circumstances will arise when the transition will need to be made and mom and dad will have less leeway to go around it. Once they are taking the lead and fully on board it will happen.

The Bad News About Fast Food Never Ends

Dr. Mercola of Mercola.com usually has something of interest to me as I love to study ways to be as healthy as I can. This article,
Seagulls Fat and Infertile From Fast Food, struck me as funny mainly because it brought to mind reminders of my mom's references to white bread as "rat poison" and not fit for human consumption. While I personally do eat white flour products on occasion I know she was probably right and try to avoid them most of the time. If fast/processed food can cull the seagull population in New York maybe it would work on the rat population too. If that works what more proof would we need that we really should not be eating the stuff?

Learning to "Go Potty" - Days Three and Four

Yesterday was not a great day in the potty training department due to a nasty diaper rash Miss T. developed the previous evening. She had gone in her pull-ups while out and about with her parents and no one realized it. When it came to their attention it was too late. It is a terrible side effect of some medication she is on. It makes things odorless and as caustic as battery acid. Poor baby!

The effect of the diaper rash has been to make her very nervous about going. She stays dry fine until she is asleep then nature and unconsciousness take over. So yesterday was the day to apply creams and ointments to clear things up and today was the day to rebuild confidence. I've been discussing with her the benefits of going on the potty with a clear emphasis on "no more diaper rashes." She likes the sound of that. After a couple small tinklings she relaxed today as she realized it was no longer burning her. I am doing my best not to stress her on mastering this new skill and the encouragement of stickers and gold stars are working well with her :)

Learning to "Go Potty" - Day Two

Today has been an exciting one in the "going potty" world! Miss T. made the connection after a successful attempt and is now very happy about the whole thing. Of course, Dolly is now in on the action and getting stickers and praise from Miss T. too. The dog is not as happy because he never gets stickers from going outside. Apparently everyone and everything, except the fridge, is in training this week. I have earned a sticker myself and could not be more proud of it ;)

Sitting one per hour finally yielded a tinkle and after a big hug, stickers, and fuss she is totally into it. She was dry through the morning except for one spot when she started to go but caught herself so we went running to the toilet. We have not yet had a b.m. on the potty but hopefully that will come soon too.

She really wanted to nap in her lovely new under-pants so that is getting a tryout today too. We will see how it goes. I really love how accomplished little kids feel when they master this. It is written all over their happy little faces :D

Yay! Potty Training!

I am somewhat out of my blue funk but still a wee bit stressed about the possibility of leaving sometime soon. It is seeming more inevitable as Miss T. is on course to start at preschool in the fall. It would only be probably 3 days per week but I am not currently in a position to either cut my hours or work nights. As a married woman myself I have duties at home that precede working in the evenings. It is really too bad because Miss T. is turning into a lovely and loving child. I really love working with older toddlers and preschoolers. The shear cuteness is addicting!

In her latest habit she waits until I am seated with her at mealtimes and ask "So, how are you doing?" Her inflection absolutely imitates the way I talk to her and it cracks me up! I do think children need to eat with adults and learn to properly socialize at the dinner table at home just the same way you'd want them to at a restaurant. I start with the basics, "We do not throw our food," "We do not run around while others are eating," and progress to appropriate table talk.

Anyway, on to the potty training! Miss T. has been developmentally reading for a little while now but due to medications she had been on that had rather unpleasant side effects we had to postpone training. Training however I feel is a bit more heavy handed sounding than what I actually do. I go straight to underpants with the triple thickness (no pull-ups please!) and have her sit on the toilet fitted with a toddler sized seat once per hour. She gets a sticker at each sitting to put on a decorated piece of paper I put up in the bathroom. Once she is actually going on the toilet the stickers will get cut back to each successful toileting but for now "trying" counts.

She has not toileted yet but today is out first day so we will see what the rest of the week brings. She is excited about earning stickers though. We also have lined plastic underpants for indoor use when puddles would be more mess to deal with but as it is summer I am attempting to be outside a lot for the next few days. Since she has always worn disposable diapers my first order of business is to get her to connect being wet with the feeling before being wet.

Both disposable diapers and pull-ups generally keep kids so dry they are unable to detect they have gone and therefore are unlikely to make the connection. The only use I have found for pull-ups is in cases in which I am out and about with a little one in the learning phase to prevent unnecessary embarrassment in the likely event of an accident and at night. I generally let night time training happen on its own. I have them sit one last time before bed but wear either a diaper or pull-up at night until they are waking up dry for at least one week. I believe it happens on its own when they are developmentally ready. For many kids the comfort of soft, dry underpants is preferable to them and is its own motivator in the process.

When a good Nanny leaves

There is a big part of bringing a nanny into a child's life that most parents ignore. It is the fact that there chances are very, very good she will not be there until the child reaches adulthood. The days are long gone when a nanny gave up a life of her own to raise generations of children in a family. The truth is it is a mother's job to give her life for her children and you can't hire that devotion out to a stranger. Trying to do so sets a child up for a definite experience of deep loss in their young life. It never comes at a good time, because there is no good time for such a thing.

This all comes to mind because a cousin of mine, who is also a nanny, will be leaving her family to marry and start her own family soon. She is already seeing the anxiety in both the children and parents. She has been there long enough for a definite bond to form with the children and is definitely NOT looking forward to that last day when a child will likely have to be pulled, crying from her side. I've been there. It's heartbreaking.

We do our best to help raise happy, well-mannered, well-adjusted children but in the back of our minds is the day that will come when, either by our decision or the parent's, the relationship is cut short leaving a loving little one caught in the air not knowing who will catch them. We try to trust that the parents are there to do that but honestly loss is loss. Someone that child has come to love and trust and usually sees for more hours each day than anyone else is leaving them. It's the nanny who usually is there to make boo-boos better, feed them and knows all their favorite foods, songs, books, clothes.

Sorry to be such a downer but today the reality of it hit me harder than usual. Each day I see Miss T. become more loving, cheerful, funny, and attached the thought of that coming day haunts me.

Helping Little Ones Beat the Heat

Yesterday and today have been hot and humid! I tolerate heat pretty well up through the nineties then I had better cool down. Poor Miss T. loves to be outside but turns flushed, sticky, and not up to much quick. Since her parents haven't yet caught up with the quick change of temperature little Miss T. is still without a kiddie pool to chill out in.

My solution is to find some shade (either in the shadow of the house itself, under a tree, or even in the garage), a bucket of cool water, and anything child safe from which water can be poured. With these meager tools plus some drinking water for the two of us Miss T. has been cooled down and entertained for hours on end these past two days. I dress her in something that can get wet and let her splash and pour to her heart's content. She waters her own head as much as she waters the flowers with her little watering can filled and re-filled from her bucket. At the hottest part of the day I put the bucket at a step for her to sit down and dip and kick her feet in it.

With other families I've used the bathtub as a kiddie pool. I even let the kids put on their bathing suits to get in the tub with tepid water. With three or fewer kids these methods work great and use up a lot less water than running a sprinkler continuously.

A water-play bucket can even be used in conjunction with a sprinkler if there are older kids and younger kids playing in the same area. Children two and under are often afraid of a larger body of water and may not like the cold spray of a sprinkler. A bucket of water is also more easily adjusted in temperature. Most kids like it cool but not cold.

A few bath toys and plastic cups are plenty. Miss T. loves a mixing bowl and measuring cups to make "soup."

Just a few tips for safe water play:

• Never leave a child unattended with even a small amount of water.
• If you use your regular cleaning bucket make sure it is thoroughly rinsed free of any residue of cleaning products even if you use natural, non-toxic ones. It may be easier to simply get them their own bucket from the dollar store.
• Play water gets dirty fast so I discourage children from trying to drink it. Keep a sippy cup with drinking water handy and if it is still a problem give them slotted spoons and sieves rather than cups.
• I also discourage standing in the water bucket or running around with wet feet, both are fast ways to get a good boo-boo.
  
• Dress in something you don't mind getting wet too. You will get wet! If your weather is like mine here in VA you'll find a way to get wet!!

Have fun!

Photp by: http://flickr.com/photos/mydailycommute/40893069/

Grilled Cheese Two Ways

My honey, K., and I have very different ideas about some things. My mom raised me on whole wheat bread only. She actually told me white bread was rat poison! His mom is a classic New England Yankee with a strict preference for "good, white bread," such a Pepperidge Farms Country White. Our ideas about good food are sometimes different to say the least!

On Fridays K. works from home and I have a half-day. Its become a little tradition to have a simple grilled cheese lunch and then a really nice dinner. Of course, with our varied upbringings we can't have the same grilled cheese! So out comes the long griddle and breads from the freezer. I keep bread in the freezer unless it will be used the same day it's opened. I also keep a bag in the freezer for the ends to toast them up and blitz them in the blender for bread crumbs as needed.

His is a solid white (although don't tell him I've been sneaking in some of those whole grain whites made by Arnold's and Pepperidge Farms). Mine is a 100% whole grain, multi-grain bread. His gets buttered on one side each slice. Mine gets grilled dry. We both get American cheese. ;)

He likes his with bread and butter pickles on the side. I love mine with a mug of Cambell's tomato soup, sprinkled with freshly ground black peppers and, sometimes, slivers of fresh basil. In this way we share a lunch we both really enjoy!

Itchy Fingers

When I was in high school I was an avid Victoria magazine reader. I loved first going through it and savoring it page by page but then the next order of business was to pull out my trusty scissors to carefully snip away images for decoupage and decorating my journal! Now years later those same issues are collector's items going for good money on eBay.

Believe me, I know this for a fact because I very recently shelled out the cash to purchase a "good year."

Now that I have them in my hand I don't regret it one bit! They are just as lovely as I remember!! This time, however, I am using all my self discipline to resist the temptation of decoupage.

I won't completely despair. My sweet Victoria is coming back soon. This time I may have to order two subscriptions in case the unthinkable should happen again. I will be cutting up at least one set if they come out as full of lovely images again!

A Super Yummy Lunch

I had the crock-pot going yesterday with something Miss T. could have for lunch today. It came out so well I thought I may as well share it :)

Smothered Crock-pot Chicken

1 lb. boneless skinless chicken thighs
1/2 a small bag baby carrots or 3 regular carrots peeled and cut into 1 in. chunks
2 stalks celery diced small
1 med. onion cut into 1/2 moons
1 large, fresh tomato and its juice(or 1 small can diced tomatoes)
1 tsp. salt
black pepper
dried thyme, basil, marjoram, parsley
extra virgin olive oil

Rinse chicken thoroughly in water with a splash of vinegar (any kind of vinegar will do) and pick off any visible fat. Pour a light layer (approximately 1/2-1 T) of olive oil in the bottom or your crockpot and put the thighs down in a layer at the bottom.

Sprinkle in 1/2 the salt and season lightly with pepper and the other seasonings.

Layer in the veges and sprinkle the other half of the salt on top. Season top with pepper and the other seasonings also. The veges will provide plenty of liquid for this dish but it can be handy to have a 1/2 cup of chicken broth on hand if your crockpot does not seal well and retain its moist heat.

Cook in high for 6 hours or low for 8-10. The chicken and veges will be fall apart tender which is great for little kids.

Serve over egg noodles or mashed potatoes.

Christian Love

A really great post concerning Paris Hilton is here at A Gracious Home. I'm not a fan of Miss Hilton but neither am I a fan of the hatred I have seen spewed out at her via the internet. Sally of A Gracious Home has shown such a great example of an appropriate Christian response to the tragedy Miss Hilton is facing these days. I truly hope something positive comes out of her imprisonment for her. After all, God loves her as much as he does me and commands us all to love her as ourselves.

Heavenly Father,
I ask you to please bring home Your lost sheep. Humble our hearts to look beyond outward appearances and see ourselves in Your lost ones. Let us serve them for Your glory.

I pray for Miss Hilton, Lord. Please, be her Comforter in these dark hours she is facing. Let her come to know You and be a witness to Your grace in her life. may she find the joy and peace only You can provide.

In Jesus' name I ask these things, Amen

I'm Baaaaaack!

Not that I suspect anyone is reading, LOL. As a quick update, mom is doing well. She is so strong and is coping with all the changes that have come her way during her battle. It is scary whenever something comes up but so far each trial has been overcome. Thank God!

I am feeling that my work with Miss T. may be coming to a close. I am at odds with the parenting style of my employers. I am authoritative they are permissive. I don't criticize employers who have a style at odds with mine but this one in particular is difficult to deal with. This combination undermines my authority and makes working with them at home unpleasant. They are often at home which adds to the situation but it is irritating to have the lessons I work with Miss T. on during the day undone each night. Lessons such as not hitting, listening when spoken to, and being helpful I believe are very important at this tender age of two. Things become very unpleasant indeed when these are ignored.

There is also an issue of being directly undermined because Miss T. has learned to cry very loudly if at all corrected when Mom and Dad are home because this way she is sure to get whatever it was that was formerly forbidden or get away from whatever she was being encouraged to do, such as toy clean-up. This kind of giving in to crying is a sure formula for ensuring she will consistently cry for things and eventually tantrum for them. It always shocks me when parents virtually train their kids to be criers and whiners by not simply letting "yes" mean "yes" and "no" mean "no." When Miss T. and I are are alone together she is a joy. She knows whatever reward I tell her she will get she does but doing good things. She knows the limits even when she tests them she is easily redirected with a word or a nod. But the rest of the time there is no consistency, "yes" means "maybe" and "no" means "yes, if you cry hard enough."

But, leaving is such a hard thing for me. I get anxious as to how the children will cope with loss and change. Parents ofter develop sudden separation anxiety too. I give a month of notice for adequate time to find a replacement and a month can feel like a very LOOOONG time when there is tension.

I am very picky about the families I will work with but I think I am looking for a change in career. I have wanted to explore teaching on a formal level for a while so this is the direction I will try to go in. Until the day I have my own kiddies or until my love wants me to stay home full time I will find some decent work to do. We are saving for a home so it is pretty important for me to work right now.

God bless you, everyone!

Praying for Healing

These have been such trying days in my family. It sometimes comes to a point where it feels difficult to pray. I realize how little I understand what to ask for, what to hold on to, and what to hope for. I was reading a little this morning from Shadowlands, about C.S. Lewis's time of grief after he lost the love of his life, Joy. Every fear he ever had about giving his heart openly to someone only to feel the pain of loss came true with her passing. His doubts and anger ring so true but so does his ultimate understanding that Providence does not promise to give us all the answers but to be the answer.

When I am at a loss as to what to pray for I am perhaps most able to be still and rest in the shelter of God in silence. When it seems that there is nothing left that is secure to hold on to is when clinging to His unseen hand is most real. When all hope in is lost is perhaps when the true Hope will seem clearer. This I cannot truly say right now for my hope is still here, still flickering. It is sometimes dim and sometimes bright, but it is here. I believe while there is still life and breath in us there is still hope for healing.

Please come, our Comforter, and be our strength. Be the steady rock we can stand on and our shelter from the storm. Let not this storm of disease and disappointments wash away our faith, or hope, or love for You.

Amen

My, My! How Time Flies!

I have sorely neglected my blogging endeavor. Totally with reason, of course, but rather than go into it all I plan to just move forward from here.

I just came back last night from visiting Mom up north. My mom is doing fairly well. She faces a difficult time ahead and still needs plenty of prayer but thank God she is being treated by a doctor in whom she has confidence.

Little Miss T. has her second birthday this week and is getting more fun to work with day by day. I love twos and threes. I love to watch personalities being revealed day by day. As speech develops we get to glimpse bits of what their minds have been working on and pondering. Miss T. is definitely getting funnier. She has a bit of a bossy streak that needs curbing but she is so far very open to correction and is easily refocused to more positive behaviors.

At this age I reserve "No" for serious offenses and prefer to use positive direction. For example, when she goes after my cell phone (or the nice picture frames or remote controls or any of the myriad of forbidden objects) rather than just saying "No" I say "That is not a toy, let's find something to play with." Usually, this refocuses her toward finding something good with which to play. If she persists I physically remove her from the object she can't play with and get her going in the right direction, but at this point this rarely happens since she knows I am firm on what is and is not allowed.

I haven't yet run into any "terrible twos" with the kids that I've worked with but I have run into plenty of parents that don't let their yes mean yes and no mean no. This alone can make this time a trial. Twos, in general, are so eager to please and be seen as "big kids." They need a job to do or they will find ones that parents or caregivers don't necessarily want them doing. They like to work, as they can, by your side and they also need the time and respect to do things on their own undisturbed. I did not say "unsupervised" but undisturbed.

Adults sometimes expect little ones to come on command without considering what they might be engrossed in doing or learning. They are more than extensions of ourselves and need respect as future autonomous individuals. I express this respect by first observing what Miss T. is up to and giving a countdown warning for her to wrap things up when it is necessary to move on to something else. "We will be having lunch in five minutes," for example, precedes the final, "OK, it is time to eat." I also don't bring out activities without adequate time to do them without her feeling rushed. Painting ten minutes before lunch is not an option, but if she asks for it I give her an alternative time for the activity and stick to it. If I tell her we can do an activity after lunch then nap going back on my word is not an option either.

So, it is Happy Birthday to Miss T. this week :D I look forward to what the coming year will bring!

Just a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

It is an unbelievably gorgeous day here in suburbia and I intend to do what I can to enjoy it. Took my vitamins this morning for some pep in my step but I woke up too late to make a smoothie. Part of enjoying a day like today is keeping my insides happy so I have the energy to run around in the sunshine after Little Miss T. I made do with a semi-natural protein bar. I would love to find a good recipe for a homemade alternative.

I did make sure Miss T had a good breakfast, Cream of Wheat with wheat germ, milk and homemade chunky applesauce. It reminded me of my own childhood. If I think of my mother and my childhood in the same thought it invariably brings up the image of her at the stove stirring up cream-of-something for breakfast before school. She was a big believer in a hot breakfast before school. My sis and I were never allowed cold cereal before school. Cornflakes were actually a weekend treat in our house, and those colored loop cereals were a mysterious food other kids ate until I got to college. I tried them and realized I hadn't missed much. Eggs, pancakes, and such were the weekly big, Sunday breakfast fare. Monday through Friday it was cream-of-something - farina, rice, cornmeal, oatmeal, or (of course) wheat.

By ninth grade I grew a bit whiny about it and so was told I could fix my own breakfast, and boy did that teach me a lesson. It was then I realized what a time saver it had been to have mom making breakfast while I puttered around getting dressed in the morning. I also learned it took work to stand at the stove stirring up a pot and often ended up eating that awful microwaved stuff they say is oatmeal but is really nothing like the real thing. Sometime during college I finally learned how to make it like Mom and I have passed on this family tradition to the children I have nannied. Parents are usually amazed that I get their kids to eat such "health food." In reality our recipe is a little like eating veges in the French manner. They know it takes care, flavor, and a wee bit of fat to make something healthy into something delectable.

Cream of Something

Follow package instructions for proportions of liquid to cereal. For example, on the back of my box of Cream of Wheat for one person I would use 1 1/4 cup liquid to 3 T cereal.

Rather than using water use whole milk or for a richer flavor evaporated milk reconstituted with an equal amount of water.

To this add a pinch of salt and 1 to 1 1/2 t. sugar for each serving. I use sea salt in a salt grinder and add a few twists worth. Salt rounds out and enhances sweet flavors but a little goes a long way.

Also add a splash of real vanilla extract and a cinnamon stick to the pot, if you have it. Cinnamon sticks are available relatively inexpensively in the Hispanic foods section of many grocery stores. If your stick is longer than 2-3 inches break it in half and use half a stick for a pot of up to 4 servings.

Warm just until hot to the touch to meld and release the flavors, also taste test before adding the cereal. How your milk tastes will be a good indication of how your cereal will taste. It is easier to tweak and taste test before cereal is added because once the cereal is in you have to wait until it is fully cooked and by then it will be too late for it to absorb the full flavor of your enhancements.

Add cereal. One tablespoon wheat germ per serving may also be added. It adds vitamins, fiber, and even adds really nice flavor to the cereal. I love it!

It is best to stir constantly over medium to medium low heat for a creamy, smooth texture until it is thickened. For many cereals this is only about 5 minutes but for some, like oatmeal, it could be 10 to 15 minutes. Oatmeal benefits from cooking even longer over low heat until very creamy and thickened. While you stir you can think about how much you love who you are making it for, pray for them, and add the benefits of all those blessings.

Once thickened serve immediately onto a wide flat dish. It will spread out into a pretty circle over the dish and looks lovely with a sprinkling of cinnamon over the top. Besides looking nice, serving onto a plate also helps it to cool, whereas hot cereal can stay molten lava hot for a while in a bowl. Kids can also draw a picture in it while they eat :D

Fun Videos

Great retro videos have been springing up all over the net, notably at Homeliving Helper and Charming the Birds from the Trees. Its been a nice way to lighten up my mood and inspire me to feminine pursuits.

One of my favorite feminine pursuits is home cooking. I love to care for others through my cooking. I could never honestly claim to be the world's best cook but I can make a variety of homey things. Stews, roasts, potatoes with gravies, and such lightened up with succulent salads are my mainstays. I am a soup lover but my love, K., is not so soup has been relegated to a side dish or must be accompanied with something freshly baked. This week's days are rather long but tonight I think we will need a warm curry to ward off the chill!

I'm a Bit Down But Not Out

That is the great thing about having an awesome God to rely on. Circumstances can bring us down, but when God is on our side we are never out. While some Christians may view this differently I can't substantiate the belief that we a promised a trouble free ride through this world once we believe. We are promised that we are not abandoned in our troubles. We promised that we are never alone and we have with us One who has walked this road many times before. One who is able to give light to each step even when it appears the darkness is surrounding us. We have only to keep our eyes on the Light instead of trying to peer through the darkness.

I am down because a cancer that we thought my mom had beat returned in less than a year with a disturbing vigor. The first time around I have to admit it seemed pretty minor. Doctors said the success rate in treating her form of cancer was over 95%. She went through her treatments, never lost her hair but was "only" somewhat tired. As her usual habit, she seemed to handle everything so well. My mom is an amazingly strong woman. God only knows what she really went through and never complained about.

Things were not as they appeared to us or the doctors however. The return of a cancer within a year post treatment is considered a bad sign. It is a more aggressive cancer than it originally appeared. This is where we have to remember that life itself is not as it appears. To unbelieving eyes everything is a function of simple random chance, it is void of rhyme or reason. To unbelieving eyes this disease is just the ultimate "bad luck." I am so glad that as a family we have more than luck or chance to rely on. God is working in us to open us up to prayer and faith at new depths. He is reminding us of how dependent we are on Him to bring us through trial not with a focus on outward appearances but by leaning into His unseen arms. He is reminding us of the strength of weakness.

It is my prayer that the Lord will continue to guide all of us, most especially my mom and her doctors, in His wisdom and strength. Whether it is His will to heal her miraculously or through the medical treatment she may receive I pray that He will be glorified through this ordeal. May He strengthen our faith, let us never lose hope, and through it all may we learn to love Him and each other more and more.

"And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." (1 Cor. 13:13)

Blogging Hiatus

Although this little adventure is just started I will not be on regularly for a while. Important family matters have come up which have a much higher priority. I'd like to ask anyone reading this to say a prayer for my mom.

Thanks all and God bless.

Easy Pasta Florentine

I made this today as a quick lunch for Miss T. She loved it! Her little face was covered in spinach after two child size bowls. Now, little Miss T is not a fan of vegetables and particularly seems to dislike anything the color green so I was a little worried that lunch would be a bust but she shocked me!

When I am making something new I give kidlets I care for the "job" of being taste testers. I do this before serving while everything is still in the pot by making a small fanfare of pulling out a clean spoon cooling whatever it is appropriately and having them taste. I find that they are usually happy to "help" and it avoids making a big deal at the table of trying the new food with a big bowl of whatever sitting in front of them. Nine times out of ten it leads to them wanting the new stuff right away and waiting the few minutes to serve and cool the food, and sometimes do a pre-lunch toy clean-up, makes them a little more excited. I think it is less intimidating to them to taste test rather than just be faced with a plateful of new stuff.

Anyway, here's the recipe!

Pasta Florentine

Sauce:
2T butter (very young children should never be restricted from real, healthy fats- they are vital for brain development)
2T flour
1 cup milk (may be 1% or even skim for older children and adults but whole tastes best)
2 generous heaping T of Parmesan cheese
2 generous T of ricotta (optional)
dash pepper
1/2-1 t. dry basil (1-2 T fresh)
taste test before adding any salt to taste (with the Parm. cheese it might not be necessary)
8 oz. spinach or more for more sauce (fresh or frozen broken apart)
1/2 box cooked and drained pasta (great on whole wheat penne or rotini)

This sauce is quick so if pasta is not already cooked I start that first. Leftover pasta is fine too.
Melt butter in a medium sauce pan. Add flour and mix with a spoon til flour is fully blended. Cook for 1 minute or so, add milk all at once and give it a good stir. Don't worry at this point if it seems slightly lumpy, those will dissolve as this cooks. Add cheeses, pepper, and basil. Cook for 5 minutes stirring until you see the sauce thickening enough to coat the spoon. Taste test and added 1/4-1/2 t. salt if needed. Add spinach. Cook a few minutes more til hot again, stirring occasionally.

You can use this last cooking time to drain your pasta.

At home, for me this sauce would be done but if serving to kids who have the tendency to pick the veges out of their food, give it a blitz in the blender or food processor then add to the pasta and stir to coat.

My Excitement Overflows!

My dearest love K. is going to poke fun at me for sure because I am just soooo overjoyed at winning a lovely giveaway from Plainandsimple at Echo from the Green Hills. He will think its humorous because he will see my blogging as participation in another "knitting circle." I am already part of a long hair community, The Long Hair Loom, and while it is not literally a knitting circle it has that homey feel to it. It is filled with really sweet, lovely people which is the main reason I visit. That I have learned a lot about long hair care is more of a nice side effect.

I am a beginner knitter and don't yet belong to a real knitting circle but if I find one, he can keep snickering because I'll be in!

Restyling Jeans to Skirts

Yay! Its Frugal Friday over at one of my favorite sites Biblical Womanhood. I wanted to share a way I have saved money on clothing, in particular, skirts.

Last spring I decided I wanted to wear skirts at least 90% of the time. I have always considered myself to be a feminine girly girl but I realized I had let my work with kids become an excuse to live in jeans. I don't like to feel frumpy and I don't like to feel like "just a nanny" but I found myself falling into that mindset. Around the same time I was inspired by the posting some women did about wearing feminine dress throughout the week but I could not bring myself to throw away good clothing I already had. Plus, I was between work at the time and wanted to spend as little as possible on more clothing. I love buying second hand but even those expenditures can add up.

To my rescue came this quick project. While the picture shows a short skirt it is easily made below the knee or longer and gave me more ideas for restyling what I owned. A full length skirt can be made using an extra pair of jeans or a length of coordinating fabric for the inset. It was a new wardrobe of skirts for free! I already knew they fit too :) My jean skirts are great for an active day with kids, they are tough but can be trimmed various ways or made even more feminine with using various types fabric in the inset. I did this with some corderoy pants too for great winter skirts.

Now, I will tell you I am not a virtuoso at the sewing machine. I can sew a straight line but that's about it. As a matter of fact I passed this project on to my little sister who is ten and growing like a weed so all her jeans were just too short. She loved the idea of salvaging clothes she has and making it herself. She had the idea to make hers knee length and wear colorful long leggings underneath.

One day out at Old Navy (I love that store), I actually saw a skirt based on this look for $25. All I could think was "Woo-hoo! I got mine free!"

Media Meme

A media meme has been started by A Gracious Home. It looks like a lot of fun but I really had to think because I don't often give my full attention to the things I watch and when I do it is usually something old! Anyway, here goes:

Action – Favorite action movie?
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, I still squeal and cover my eyes at parts though!

Beautiful – Most beautiful performer?
The Indian actress who now advertises for Loreal cosmetics, Aishwarya Rai. I think she has the most unbelieveable eyes.

Comedy – Favorite comedy (TV or movie)?
As Time Goes By, I used to watch it on PBS but now it is on BBCA. I love the soothing, calm, dry humor of it. Next is Are You Being Served?

Drama – Favorite drama (TV or movie)?
An Iranian movie called Children of Heaven. It is so cute and sappy, I wish I could get my sweetheart to watch it but he will not "do" subtitles. A very close second was My Life with Michael Keaton, I bawl audibly during that one!

Event – Historic event that kept you riveted to the TV?
The live coverage on 9/11. I happened to be home sick that day laying on the couch and thinking I had to be in a feverish hallucination because it was not making sense to me.

Favorite – If you could only own and watch one DVD the rest of your life, what would it be?
None. I can't watch anything over and over. It ruins the experience for me. I like to mull over things and enjoy the memory even if I never see it again.

G – Favorite G rated movie?
I second Sound of Music. This is an exception to my rule about not watching movies over and over. I can watch this one every couple years :).

Head over heels – Which star were you in love with when you were younger?
Mel Gibson, I feel 15 writing that down.

Ice – Did you see the “Miracle on Ice” live (tape delayed) in 1980?
I don't think so. If I did I don't remember it.

Justice – Did you watch any of the famous O.J. Simpson chase down the freeway?
I watch it for about ten seconds then wondered how this slow motion escapade was even news.

King of the Thriller – Favorite Hitchcock movie?
I did not see them all so I really cannot say. I liked The Birds, but some others were just too creepy for me.

Laettner – Did you see Duke’s Christian Laettner make the winning shot against Kentucky?
Huh? This is in a language I have not yet decoded :)

MP3 Player – Do you own one?
No, I don't think I have any real use for one.

Never get enough – Which movie have you watched the most times and how many times have you seen it?
I think I have answered this one. I just don't repeat a lot of movies even, or especially, if I love them.

Opie – Opie or the Beaver?
I never liked either show!

Pride and Prejudice – Do you prefer A&E or 2005 release?
I didn't see the A&E one yet but I just saw the one with Ms. Knightly the other night. I really liked it.

Quality – Best TV show of all time?
I am going crazy over 24 these days so I won't answer this one yet. I think the best may be yet to come.

Remote control – Who is in charge in your house?
My sweetie, he has got that setup so complicated I am liable to set off something at NASA if I play with it.

Super Bowl – Game or commercials?
Game.

Television – How many in your house?
*hiding head* Four and there are only two of us in the house. We only watch one at a time though!

Ultimate – Who is your favorite movie star?
Grace Kelly, she always looked so gracious and elegant.

Victory – The best sporting event/game you’ve watched live on TV?
The Red Sox winning the World Series!

Walkman – Did you ever own a Sony Walkman?
Yes. But I hardly used it which is why I won't get an Mp3 player. It would likely suffer the same fate.

X – Movie you wish you had never watched?
Tons! My favorite cousin (3 years older than me) was a big horror movie fan growing up. I would watch with her all the time til they had no effect on me at all. Once I went away to college I stopped watching and now anything the least bit scary makes me twitch!

Yesterday – How many hours of media did you consume?
There is usually classical music playing in the background when I work. At home probably 1 1/2 hours of TV - commercials using the DVR.

ZZZ’s – Best music to fall asleep?
None, I will stay up listening if I play music. I can't tune it out.

Oh! The Many Blogs I Read

I have to admit the majority of the time I spend on the net is spent reading blogs. I love that there are so many godly women out there giving of themselves through their writings on various subjects while at the same time managing their homes and children. It is so inspirational!

Now if anyone should happen to read this fledgling blog o'mine, should a person ask permission before linking to another blog? As in putting another person's blog title in the list of blogs I read? Granted, doing so would mean I have to learn that whole linking procedure but I just wanted to make sure first it is allowable! I am on a mission to find a good manual and learn how spruce this place up too!

Ahhhh...Nap Time

As much fun as little miss T is I have to admit I look forward to nap time. I imagine that if I were home with little ones of my own my break during this time would be well shortened with other things that need doing. Even at work I think sometimes of the things I would love to be getting done at home. As it is nap time is my tea break, blog reading (now writing) time, meal prep for freezing or dinner, and T's laundry time. My duties at work only pertain to things for the child I am working with but meals I make for T are usually large enough for the parents to eat too. A bitty babe can only eat so much :).

I only had trouble putting T down for naps when I first started working with her when she was 16 months old. Her parents were in the habit of rocking her to sleep (which I do not do) and were very flexible as to when they were putting her down for naps, whereas I schedule meals and naps. The first day, she did not like the new system and let us know. The next day she fussed a little less. Day three she decided she liked it and her dad who is home days came out of his office in amazement because she was asleep after 15 minutes of cheerful chatting to herself.

She is very used to this now and I enjoy the pre-nap routine too. She picks out a few books to read together on the rocker. We sit read, chat, tickle then pop her into her crib at which time she waves me bye-bye. I listen to her babbling on the monitor while I have my tea and usually in 15-30 minutes she is asleep. When she is not I know there is a good reason, most often a diaper issue :P.

I know her parents still try to rock her to sleep both at nap and bed time. I usually hear the trials of this on Monday mornings. She falls asleep on their shoulder, they try to put her down and she wakes up very upset. If it is night time the result is that she will end up in their bed, waking several times throughout the night. I have explained to them my methods and the whys of doing it the way I do.

I always try to keep in mind when touching on subjects like this with parents that I have no control over whether the parents of a child I care for will take my advise. Some parents do listen and some don't. A nanny must be a careful diplomat and not take these things personally. Many parents get overwhelmed by crying children but years and experience change that.

Ah well...when the temptation comes to give in to childish manipulations I remember a saying I heard growing up that translated would mean "the monkey knows the tree it climbs." I will leave it at that.

My First Bloggy Murmurings

I have been thinking of doing this for a while as I love reading blogs and often have thoughts of what I would write about on a blog of my very own! I kept thinking I would start this once I had my "stuff" all together... whatever that meant. It still is not all together but I am slowly accepting that in this process called life it very likely never will be. So it is now or never!

I guess I will start this off with a little about me. I am a thirty-ish-ish-ish Nanny currently caring for one little one, little miss T. She is an adorable almost two year old, just heading into my favorite stages to work with. I love pre-schoolers! It is my second time ever working with a single child as I have usually worked with two or more. This is actually an adjustment. When working with an only child so much more care has to be taken not to over indulge. It is easy to become merely an entertainer of sorts, but this will only eventually wear me out and it does no good for the child either.

Her parents, contrary to what some might think about parents who hire nannies, are loving and involved with T. Her father works mostly from home, actually. Her mother works mostly out of the home but no more than most people do these days.

When hiring me they asked what my opinion was of the various forms of child care. I was honest. I let them know that it is my strong belief that the very best child care comes in the form of the mother staying home to care for her own little ones. No amount of money can replace the love, care, and permanency, of a child's own mother caring for them. Next in line is another member of the child's family, father, grandmother, aunt, etc. Again, I believe familial love and care is irreplaceable. Gone are the days when a nanny or governess spent a lifetime with one family. I, personally, would not choose to go back to that as it is my desire to have my own family someday. The consequence then is that the very necessary sense of stability and permanency is gone once someone is hired to take on the care of children. It will always be temporary. So, a nanny is a distant third choice in my opinion. Despite this talk I was hired, so I do my best to provide the best possible care and early education I can.

Well, I have lots of other interests besides my work but I will let all that unfold with time. Otherwise, this first post will soon become a book! ;)

Take care and many blessings to you and yours!