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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. You need to have a "professional policy" if you are using your 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 Superstars |
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Long-term Nanny: 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!
Temporary Nanny: 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! |
| Craft Activity |
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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:
- Mix together flour and salt.
- In a separate bowl, cream together butter and sugar. Add egg and flavoring extracts. Gradually add in dry ingredients until well combined.
- Separate dough in half. Wrap one portion in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 3-4 hours until dough becomes firm.
- Add food coloring to remaining dough and mix until desired coloris achieved. Wrap newly dyed dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate.
- 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 long-term positions we are currently seeking to fill. Remember that if you refer someone who fills one of these positions, you could recieve $200 (for full-time, $100 for part-time)!
Family 35374
Plano family is looking for a mature, experienced nanny for her their two boys. Ideal candidate will be someone who has their own grown children, who can provide appropriate discipline when needed, is loving, nurturing and able to assist with light housekeeping. Nanny will need to transport children on occasion. Again, maturity and experience are of the upmost importance for this family. Looking to hire as soon as possible. M-F 8:45a-5:30p, $12-$15/hour.
Family 35730
Ft. Worth family is seeking a dedicated, career nanny to care for their your son for long hours. They prefer a candidate that does have some experience or a child-related certification program but this is not an absolute requirement. Nanny must be flexible with hours as they are occasionally required to work late hours. Job would include all baby care and baby's laundry. They are looking for someone loving, gentle, patient, hard-working and enthusiastic about their job. Bilingual candidate is a plus! If you were to live-in they would only want you to reside in the home during the week and then have you return home on the weekends. They are open to live-out as well. M-F 7a-6p, $500-$600/week.
Family 35751
Dallas family is looking for a new nanny for their three young children. Nanny must be a team player, enjoy engaging the children in educational activities and be a self starter and organized planner. Ideal candidate will be a seasoned, mature career nanny who is looking for a long term family to work with. Higher education is important to this family but they are seeking a candidate that is not enrolled in school in order to devote time and energy into their job. Nanny must also be willing to transport children to various activities and must be a swimmer. Housekeeping associated with the children is involved. M-F 8:30a-5:30p, $12-$18/hour. |
| Refer a Client and Receive:
 $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 | |
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