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 Holiday Edition 2009
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| Message From Kathy
Happy Fall!
As we get farther into the fall, we are anticipating cooler days and all of the fun festivities that come with the onset of the holidays! At Mom's Best Friend, we want to support you and provide you with all the resources and tools you need to be successful!
As a professional nanny or private service professional, we want to elevate you in your vocation by coming alongside of you and encouraging you to kick it up a notch in some way this year. With only a few months left in 2009, be thinking about how you can grow your strengths and skills in 2010 and make yourself even more marketable. I just attended the inaugural conference of the International Association for Household Service Professionals in Dallas a few weeks ago and was very impressed with the attendees' dedication to the pursuit of excellence in their career.
Mom's Best Friend wants to help you in this endeavor. We see a select group who consistently attend various company sponsored events and workshops and hope to see that group expand and diversify in the future. When questions come up about reviews, raises, communication, behavioral challenges, etc., don't forget that we have 15 years of expertise and experience which encompasses just about every type situation you could think of and would love to help provide direction, as requested. We encourage you to take advantage of our various offerings to enhance your knowledge and marketable skills. Please let us know how we can best help you individually! We are always available to speak with you on the phone or in-person for one-on-one coaching or problem solving.
As always, we greatly appreciate your referrals and offer great bonuses for referring qualified caregiver friends and associates for placement!
Thanks for all you do,
Kathy Dupuy, Owner
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| Announcements & Special Events |
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Nannies of the Year AnnouncementMBF,in conjunction with the Association of Professional Nannies, celebrated National Nanny Recognition Week during the week of September 20-26, 2009. During the event which featured food, music, festivities,  and fun, MBF got to announce their exceptional caregivers who were nominated by their families. Two caregivers were announced nannies' of the year: full-time nanny Patricia Kinnie and part-time nanny Mandie Hull received these honors. MBF is extremely proud of all of our caregivers and appreciate all they do to dedicate themselves to nurturing the lives of the children they work with.
New Seatbelt Laws in Effect
The new Texas Booster Seat Law recently went into effect on September 1st. This law requires that all children younger than 8 years old, UNLESS taller than 4'9," be in a child passenger safety seat system, which includes traditional car seats with harnesses AND booster seats. Fines range from $25-$250.
Please Read if You Drive on the Job
Another tidbit of information that is not widely known is that personal car insurance does NOT cover transporting children in the caregivers car for WORK. You need to have a "professional policy" if you are using their own vehicle to transport children for work purposes. IF you are in a car accident that is your fault, without a professional policy, your insurance company will deny liability for the children's injuries and possibly the entire accident without the correct coverage. This would leave you personally responsible for all costs. Please talk to your insurance representative for clarification and to make sure you are properly covered. |
| Ask the Expert |
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Q: How do I make a good first impression when interviewing with potential families?
A: Making a good first impression during your interview is key for landing the position. First, be sure you are on time. Forgetting the interview time, getting lost, or being a no-show altogether will usually ruin your chances completely. If you aren't familiar with the area, try to do a test drive before the interview so you're sure to find it easily the day of the interview.
How you present yourself is also very important. Dress neatly and professionally -- think business casual. Aim for a fresh, clean, and practical look. Taking the time to look your best will not only boost your confidence, but will also show the family you are serious about getting the job.
Upon meeting the family, be polite, smile, make eye contact, shake their hands and speak clearly and confidently. If the children are present, get down on their level to interact with them. Prospective employers will want to see how you interact with the children; failing to make that connection can result in not being hired.
Think about questions you may be asked; questions about yourself, your childcare abilities, hypothetical situations, and past experiences. Prepare questions you'd like to ask the family as well. Duties and responsibilities differ from family to family so be sure to find out what is expected in the particular position. Spend time asking about the scope of the job, the family, the children, their schedules, etc.
 If you feel the position is a good fit for you, let them know why you would be a good fit for them. Your resume, references, reference letters, or any other documents should be passed along to them. Thank them for their time and the opportunity to interview with them.
After the interview, send a thank you note either through e-mail or the postal service, use this as an opportunity to reinforce your enthusiasm for the job and why you are the right person for the job.
Lastly, remember to not take anything personally, families usually have a pretty good idea of what they want in a nanny before they even start the interview process, and unfortunately you may not always be it. Don't be discouraged because the right family is out there waiting for you!
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| MBF in the News |
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Parents Get Help Finding Safe Sitters
KXAN Austin (NBC), September 25, 2009
The concept of screening sitters is not new to Austin. Kathy Dupuy, a mother of four, started Mom's Best Friend 15 years ago. The business has only grown more popular, and helped Austin parents like Juliet Tapia who does not have to think twice when she leaves home.
" I kiss them goodbye, shut the door and don't worry about it," said Tapia.
She has used the service in Austin for nine years. Moms Best Friend refers about 125 local sitters a week who are re-screened each month.
" Not only was it clear the first time, but it's clear on an on-going basis and that's super important," said Mom's Best Friend Owner Kathy Dupuy.
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| MBF Superstars |
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Featured Houston Long-term Nanny: Lea B.
 Lea is a wonderful nanny that loves working with children. She has a Bachelor Degree in Science with a minor in Child Psychology. Most of Lea's experience comes from a family she has been with for over 10 years. There, she was a full-time childcare provider and did many other tasks such as housekeeping, cooking, laundry, and maintaining personal and general errands. Lea likes to work with all ages and references have said she has a,"positive attitude, is always smiling!" I highly recommend Lea and believe her passion for children and building relationship with kids would be a great fit for any family!
Houston Temporary Nanny: Joyce M.
 Joyce has experience as a nanny manager and a part-time nanny with three different families. She has done childcare, consistently, for the past 5 years. She has worked with newborns, and in the last family has been with a school-aged child since she was a newborn. Joyce is comfortable with all childcare duties, including cooking and laundry. Joyce has been described as honest and that she always goes the extra mile to perform a task. She is a fun, outgoing person and loves dancing and teaching it to others! We believe Joyce would be a great addition to any family. |
| Holiday Craft Activities |
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Paper Cup Turkeys
What You Will Need:
- Paper or foam cup (8.5 oz)
- Acrylic paint in fall colors (brown, tan, orange, red, green, yellow, etc.)
- Large pom-pom for head (brown, yellow, red, orange, etc.)
- Small foam heart for gobbler (to contrast with color of head)
- Small foam triangle (orange or yellow)
- 2 small wiggle eyes
- 3" x 2" piece of orange construction paper
- 1 sheet of white construction paper
- White craft glue
- Scissors
Directions:
- Place cup upside down on work surface and paint brown
- To make the feathers, paint the white construction paper with several fall colors, crisscrossing the colors as you go. Let dry
- Cut feathers out in one large piece, should be shaped similar to a hand or crown. Cut the tips of each feather into a point
- Apply glue to the bottom portion of the feathers and press onto the bottom of the cup. Hold in place for a minute or so to let the glue grab.
- Place foam heart upside down so that the bumps are facing downward. Glue the foam triangle, point down, onto the upside down heart--the upper points of the triangle will be hanging over the edge. This is the beak and gobbler
- Glue the pom-pom to the top of the paper cup.
- Glue the wiggle eyes and the beak and gobbler to the head.
- Cut two feet from the orange construction paper and glue to the bottom of the cup.
Christmas Mouse Ornament 
What You Will Need:
- walnut shell half
- 2 small wiggle eyes
- 1 large round gray or white pom-pom, depending on what color you want your mouse to be (You can get these at thrift or craft stores. Also, the large pom-pom has to be small enough to fit in a walnut shell.)
- 2 small gray or white pom-poms for the ears
- 1 medium size pom-pom
- Any color ribbon about 5 inches long
- A miniature Santa hat, optional (You can get these at craft stores with the miniature doll things or ask a clerk to help you find them.)
- Hot glue gun
Directions:
- Make sure you have a piece of newspaper on a table or on the floor so you don't get any glue or scraps everywhere. That makes cleanup time quicker.
- Lay all your materials out on the newspaper. Heat the glue gun up and make sure you have an adult watching at all times when using the glue gun.
- Put a dot of glue in the walnut half and stick the large pom-pom inside it. Press down lightly and hold for about 10 seconds.
- Put a dot of glue on the medium size pom-pom where the head should go, and hold for about 20 seconds.
- Take the two small eyes and place them on the head with a dot of glue and gently hold for about 10 seconds each.
- Glue on the small pom-pom balls by placing them above the head, and hold for 10 seconds.
- Put a dab of glue in the middle of the ribbon and place it under the walnut. Tie the ribbon at the top so you can hang your mouse.
- Hang it on your tree for a nice little touch.
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| Fun Recipes |
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Candy Cane Sugar Cookies
Ingredients:
2 3/4 cups all purpose flour
¼ tsp salt
1 cup butter, softened to room temp
1 cup granulated sugar
1 egg
2 tsp peppermint extract
½ tsp vanilla
approximately ¼ tsp red food coloring
Directions:
1. Mix together flour and salt.
2. In a separate bowl, cream together butter and sugar. Add egg
and flavoring extracts. Gradually add in dry ingredients until well
combined.
3. Separate dough in half. Wrap one portion in plastic wrap and
refrigerate for 3-4 hours until dough becomes firm.
4. Add food coloring to remaining dough and mix until desired coloris achieved. Wrap newly dyed dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate.
5. To shape cookies, take spoonful of white and red dough each. Roll into 5" long ropes and coil together to create a candy-cane shape. Gently press down dough to flatten. Place on parchment paper and bake at 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) for 10-12 minutes *For this and similar recipes visit kids-cooking.suite101.com |
| Job Openings at MBF |
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Here are some positions we are currently seeking to fill. Remember that if you refer someone who fills one of these positions, you could receive $200!
Full-time Nanny Manager Needed in The Woodlands
This large, active family of 5 boys is looking for another nanny to join the team. Looking for a responsible, reliable nanny who can help implement the discipline/rules of the home and who has a good sense of humor and a passion for children! The nanny will be helping the mother pick the children up from school, take to and from after school activities, help with homework, play games, and tidying up after the children! On Tuesday and Thursday, they will also help with the twins in the morning hours before they go to a Mother's Day Out program and after! The Family has an 8-mo. old outdoor standard poodle and the nanny must be a swimmer as the family has a large, deep pool! Hours are: M, W, F 2:30-8:30p and Tu/Th 9a-7p
Full-time Nanny Needed in Pearland, TX
This Family is looking for an energetic, organized and fun caregiver to care for three children after school during the school year and to also transition into full days in the summer. Daily activities will include: picking up the children from school, driving to activities, helping with homework, and preparing snacks. There will be lots of driving, and cooking/prepping for dinner would be a plus! The nanny will also need to tidy up after the children and do their laundry. The family is flexible with the hours and parents will help drive kids to activities. The nanny must be comfortable with pets-family has one Basset hound who is very sweet! Hours are: M-F 2-8p during the school year; M-F 9a-6p during the summer. |
| Refer a Client and Recieve:
 $200 when long-term position is placed!
- $50 when membership is paid and a temp is used!
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| What Clients are Saying |
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"Mom's Best Friend is an incredible resource. They've always been able to satisfy our babysitting needs, even at the last minute! We have a special needs child, and the sitters have been wonderful with him and his sister. I highly recommend Mom's Best Friend!" -Dawn Neufeld, Sitter Client
"I would like to refer anyone with children to Mom's Best Friend for any sitter or nanny needs they may have. Many of the nannies who work for Mom's Best Friend are students either at the University of Texas or Texas State who are in, or have graduated from the Education program, and love to take care of children. Many nannies I have encountered have also been with the company for years, and never cease to amaze my family. In regards to the background checks, I encourage any clients to visit their website to view the News clip (see Press Room-In the News), where Mom's Best Friend was interviewed by FOX & KVUE, and includes information on the very extensive and accurate background check company they use. I STRONGLY recommend this agency for the trusted care of your children!" -Rebekah Maddux El-Hakam, Sitter Client
"The girls that you sent to us to work at the church yesterday were absolutely OUTSTANDING! I really appreciated all the hard work that they put into it and I thank you for continually having wonderful nannies at your agency. Thank you for your "lifesaving" agency..I know I always can depend on you!" -Kim Levell, Church Sitter Client |
| Serving the Community |
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 Over the years, The Settlement Home, a therapeutic home for abused and neglected girls in Austin, has found a special place in the hearts of the Mom's Best Friend Staff. In keeping with our annual tradition, we will be adopting a cottage of girls to buy gifts  that Santa will be bringing to them!
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