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A Message From Kim
As we get farther into the season, 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 with all your holiday needs! We offer a wide range of support services outside of the scope of our standard sitting services.
As you begin to assemble that long list of to-do's, we can help knock it out with a temporary personal assistant for the day! When planning your holiday parties or special events, personal or work related, don't forget to book your caregiver(s) to help entertain kids while the adults enjoy socializing. You may want to book a Holiday Elf to help assist with shopping and wrapping presents, addressing holiday cards, delivering gifts, and setting up decorations. As life gets busy and calendars get denser, don't forget to block out that occasional date night to reconnect with your spouse, especially on special occasions like New Year's Eve!
Whatever the need, we would love to be part of the solution! We also really appreciate referrals and would like to reward you with a night out free of agency fees when you refer a new client family, so please make us aware of anyone you send our way, so we can arrange a special night out for you on us!
Best to you and your family,
Kim Winblood, Owner |
| Announcements & Special Events |
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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" to be in child passenger safety seat system, which includes traditional car seats with harnesses AND booster seats. Fines range from $25-$250.
Please Read if Your Nanny Drives on the Job
Another tidbit of information that is not widely known is that personal car insurance does NOT cover transporting children in the caregiver's car for WORK. They need to have a "professional policy" if they are using their own vehicle to transport children for work purposes. IF they are in a car accident that is their fault, without a professional policy, their insurance company will deny liability for the children's injuries and possibly the entire accident without the correct coverage. This would leave the caregiver personally responsible for all costs. Please discuss any necessary adjustments with your caregiver. |
| Client Corner |
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Happy Plop is unlike anything else available with thousands of cotton balls to snuggle each child and adjust to their sitting or  sleeping positions from newborn through toddler years. It never goes flat because it can simply be fluffed and adjusted for its next occupant.
... "I was introduced to Happy Plop helping with our church's children programs... I looked into the nursery to discover a precious infant snuggled up and sound asleep on the Happy Plop. It was one of those moments that made me an immediate supporter." Wendy Petersen, co-founder of Mom's Best Friend.
*Happy Plop would also like to give back to the MBF community by donating $25 to The Settlement Home for Children when coupon code MBF09 is used. |
| Tax Tips from Breedlove and Associates |
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 Q: Is it true that Congress is considering increasing the tax breaks for dependent care?
A: Yes, the tax breaks for working families with child and elder care expenses have not been updated in years. Meanwhile, the cost of quality child care and elder care has risen steadily, squeezing the budgets of working families across the country. Help may be on the way.
Through the International Nanny Association (INA), MBF Agency and Breedlove & Associates have supported a lobbying effort to increase the tax breaks. Currently, the Child or Dependent Care Tax Credit provides a credit of 20% on up to $3,000 of expenses per dependent per year (maximum of $6,000 per year per family). This yields tax savings of $600 per year for families with one dependent; $1,200 per year for families with two or more dependents.
Due to these lobbying efforts, there are now three bills in front of Congress that would raise the expense limit to $6,000 per dependent per year ($12,000 maximum per family). In addition, the bills would increase the credit percentage from 20% to 35-50%. These new bills - if passed - would yield tax savings of $2,100 - $3,000 per year for families with one dependent; $4,200 - $6,000 per year for families with 2 or more dependents. Obviously, that would be welcome relief for hard-working families.  In order to improve the odds of these bills becoming law, we encourage everyone to take a moment to send a note to your Senators and your Representative in the House. Most congressional leaders have an email contact form on their website, which can be found with a quick search online.
Make your voice heard for dependent care tax relief! Five minutes could save you thousands of dollars each year.
For more information or a free phone consultation compliments of MBF, call 1-888-273-3356 or visit www.breedlove-online.com. |
| Holiday Bonus: Save $100 on Your Placement! |
We want to give you a bonus as we approach the holiday season! If you pay your placement fee for a long-term nanny in the month of December, we will take $100 off as our gift to you! We appreciate your business and wish you and your family well as we enter this holiday season!
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| Offer good for long-term placement fees paid in December 2009. Mention coupon code HOHO19. |
| Ask the Expert |
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How can Mom's Best Friend help me as I need help caring for my children, while also taking on the responsibilities associated with caring for an aging parent?
Mom's Best Friend has provided quality childcare for the last 15 years, and is excited to announce the offering of our premium senior care services. We have so many client families who are in the sandwich generation and are the ultimate caregiver for both children and parents. In an effort to better support these loyal client families, we are now a one stop solution for both needs. We bring the same thorough screening, quality caregivers, and consistency of care to the senior population.
Kim Winblood, Owner |
| Organizing Tips From the Clutter Diet |
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Stop! 3 Ways to Prevent Clutter While You Still Can!
 Let's STOP and think this year before creating more clutter, both for ourselves and for people we care about. Here are 3 ways you can prevent clutter this holiday season.
1. Plan ahead. Think through what you are going to buy for other people and consider truthfully whether this is something they really need and will actually use. Don't just get them "something" for the sake of buying it.
* Did you know that "Black Friday" is NOT the biggest shopping day of the year in terms of sales revenues? That honor is usually given to the last Saturday before Christmas. Think about it-- last minute shoppers by the hordes are all going out compelled to buy something to put under the tree-- because they didn't plan ahead!
2. Ask for what you want. When people ask what you want for a present, be prepared! Tell them something practical that you really do want to have, so they will get you something you like and will use. Take 10 minutes to stop and think and write up a wish list for yourself. You might also want to ask for donations to a favorite charity.
3. Consider intangible gifts. If you can't think of some kind of thing to wrap up and give, think of something you can do for that person as a service. You can also give something to their favorite cause. You can buy a gift animal that will help end world hunger at http://www.heifer.org/, for example!
Whatever you do, GIVE MINDFULLY this season!
Lorie Marrero, owner and founder of clutterdiet.com and author of her new book The Clutter Diet, shares more holiday tips on her blog. |
| MBF Superstars |
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Featured Dallas Full-time: Kathryn M.
 Kathryn enjoys interacting with children and coming up with new and various ways to spend their time. She enjoys swimming, story-times, playing at the park, and is great with coming up with fun things to do with children of all different ages. Kathryn loves children and is looking for a great, happy family who needs someone to love there child as much as they do!
Dallas Part-time: Jodie W.
Jodie a person who is full of life! She lives a primarily organic and natural lifestyle while enjoying eating/cooking her own home-grown produce. Jodie has her Bachelors in Family, Child Development & Sociology as well as her masters in Early Childhood-4th Grade, English as a Second Language (ESL) and is fluent in Spanish. She loves being outdoors and being active with the children she cares for. One of the most important things to her is reading to children and surrounding them with a creative environment to flourish in!
Ft Worth Part-time: Erin W.
 Erin describes being with children as her passion in life! She has had experience working with children with special needs and has found this to be extremely rewarding. Erin received her Bachelor's in Child development and family studies. She is organized, efficient, and and always maintains a high energy level! Erin enjoys doing age appropriate activities and projects with children where they can create something together! |
| 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 | |
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