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Why You Can’t Find a Nanny

Published on by clairebooherLeave a comment

Finding the right nanny for your family can be an overwhelming process. You may receive messages from candidates who suddenly stop responding with no discernable reason. Or, you receive zero responses and can’t figure out why no one is interested.

Here are some common mistakes many families make that can sometime limit the amount of nannies interested in working with them.

A Bad Schedule

The standard 9-5 jobs generally have no issues being filled. Many nannies are desperately looking for consistent full time schedules. However, it can be much more difficult to fill a part-time nanny position. Many families work from home these days and prefer schedules like Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. While that looks good on paper, it is a very inconvenient schedule for most nannies.

If nannies are looking for part-time work, it is typically because they have a second job or they are in school. It would be very rare to find a family just looking for a Monday/Friday nanny. If nannies are in school, taking three days out of the middle of the week when they may have classes is incredibly inconvenient.

If you are looking for a part-time nanny, it is best to consider having an alternating schedule. Have a nanny come Monday, Wednesday, and Friday so they can supplement with a Tuesday/Thursday job. Or have a nanny who comes in the mornings, so they can have their afternoons free for classes.

Not Enough Hours

At Wilco Nannies, we require part-time positions to start at 15 hours a week. One of the reasons we do that is because of how difficult it can be to find a nanny interested in less than 15 hours. Many families only see themselves needing a nanny for a single day of the week. For example, maybe they have a consistent meeting on Fridays and simply need a nanny for that time. With few exceptions, nannies are looking for a job as a form of income. So keep in mind, that it will be very difficult for a nanny to pay any bills on less than 15 hours a week. If you are finding you only need care for less than 15 hours, consider looking for a drop-in daycare instead.

Not Enough Pay, or Paying Weekly Rates

Inflation has hit nannies and babysitters too. If you have good hours but still aren’t receiving a lot of interest, consider raising the pay. Another option is to offer nannies extra perks like gas reimbursement or a year-end bonus.

Many family prefer to pay a weekly salary. Unfortunately, that is a giant red flag for a lot of nannies. Some families who pay salary instead of hourly use it as a reason to over work their nannies without fair compensation. Nannies can get stuck working 60 hours a week or spending their working hours cleaning, for little pay.

Also note that, generally, household employees in the state of Texas must be paid an hourly wage.

Wanting to Start Short Term and Then Extend

It can be nerve wracking as a first time parent allowing a stranger in your home to watch your child. Many parents think a simple solution is to post a job asking for a nanny for a few weeks or months. Then if that time period goes well, they want to extend the job for a year. The problem with this idea is that if you post a job for only a few weeks or months, many nannies will pass it because they are looking for long term employment.

It is a much better idea to post how long you intend to have the nanny in your service. Then schedule a trial week with a nanny to make sure it is a good fit. It does not take a few months to know if your nanny will work within your family. If it is a good fit, you will know immediately!

Too Little or Too Much Job Detail

When posting your job, it is important to post just the right amount of information to get the right people interested. The most important things to post are your general location (zip code or neighborhood), how many children, ages of the children, hours, and pay. Forgetting any of these items could cause nannies to express interest and then stop responding when they realize it isn’t enough pay or is too far of a commute.

Many families like to post as many details as possible. Unfortunately, to many nannies, this can be a red flag of a micro-managing family. Keep specifics for during the interview process. Those details are all important and appreciated by your nanny. But in a job post, keep it simple and include the most important details.

Looking for a nanny can be very overwhelming and time-consuming. Here at Wilco Nannies we want to take all the stress and pressure off of your shoulders. Let us weed through the candidates and find the best nannies for your family!

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What is the going rate?

Published on by clairebooherLeave a comment

The cost of living has affected everyone, including nannies and babysitter.  With prices rising every day, it can be hard to determine how much to pay a babysitter or nanny. 

At the end of the day, all families must look at their budget to identify what they can afford.  Keep in mind all household workers must be paid an hourly wage.  It is illegal in Texas, and many other states, to pay a household worker a salary. 

Here are some tips to help decide what rates work best for you.

Below $15/hr

This rate should be exclusively for babysitters under 16 years old.  If you have a neighbor who is looking to get into babysitting or a middle school student who wants to start babysitting for the first time, this is the range for you.  Keep in mind how many children are in the house.  If the babysitter is working with two children who will be in bed the majority of the job, the rate can be lower.  If the children are younger, there are more than two, or it is during a time when the children will be awake and active, the rate should be higher.

$15-$20/hr

This is the perfect pay starting for 16 years olds to young adults who are getting into babysitting and nannying for the first time.  This group will most likely have to drive to work which costs gas and car maintenance.  This is also a good pay range for college students who do not have a lot of previous experience working with children.  If someone was a neighborhood babysitter in high school, and now is looking to continue during college, they should be on the higher end of this pay range. They do have school expenses and other living costs to consider. 

$20-$25/hr

Here is the part of the pay range where it can get a little more complicated.  At the lower end of this pay range you will have people who might have some babysitting experience or other child care experience.  This experience includes jobs like church nursery worker, coaching, or camp counselor.  This kind of experience is great training to be a nanny or babysitter.  As we move up this pay range you begin to see people with solid childcare experience.  They have worked for a daycare for more than a year or they have at least one family they worked with long term.  You can also see many people coming from related fields like home health care, teaching, etc..

$25-$30/hr

These are nannies who have already developed great experience in childcare.  They are up to date on their certifications.  They have references they can easily pull from.  They know that working with children is their chosen path.  Determining where they should be within this range should be based on how many children, and the expected duties of the job.  This range is for people who consider being a nanny or a babysitter their job.  Not a side gig, not a hustle, this is their job.  If you are a nanny with at least five years’ experience, this is your starting pay range.

$30+

This pay range is where you start to find your “career nannies”.  Career Nannies are people who have decided that nannying will be their chosen profession.  They’ve worked for several families specifically as a nanny.  They are people with experience not only with children, but specifically with helping families as a nanny.  The range is not only determined by the expectations of the job, but by the experience the people have. 

Perks:

Gas Mileage:  In any nanny or babysitting position where driving is expected to be part of the job, reimbursement for gas should be included.  In the state of Texas, gas reimbursement is 67 cents per mile.

Money for activities:  Many families like for nannies to take their children out to activities or playdates.  Nannies and babysitters should always be reimbursed for these activities.  One option is to provide a nanny with a Visa gift card that you can load money on for your child’s activity expenses.

Bonus:  While not required, it is always a great sign of respect for your nanny to give a bonus at the end of the year.  Something that says “we appreciate you”.

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What Kind of Help do you Need?

Published on by clairebooherLeave a comment

When looking for help with the kids and the house, it can be hard to identify the right job title.  Many people look to hire a babysitter, but realize they need help in other places of their home.  It is always good to have clear job expectations for whoever is coming into your home.  A babysitter is great for a Friday night date night, but shouldn’t be expected to do the children’s laundry.  A nanny is great for making sure your children are completely cared for, but shouldn’t be expected to clean the house.  It can all get very confusing.  Here is your guide for what type of care you need.

Babysitter

A babysitter works for a family sporadically.  They may come for a date night on a Friday one week, and the following Thursday for a parent-teacher conference.  Their main expectation should be entertaining and keeping an eye on the children.  It can be normal for a babysitter to cook dinner or help with bedtime routine.  But you should want your sitter’s main focus to be playing.  Babysitters are not expected to perform any domestic tasks besides minor ones for the children.

Nanny: 

A nanny is hired by a family to work a consistent schedule.  Their main priority is to care for the children.  This can include things like the children’s laundry, meals, appointments, classes, homework help, and bedtime routines.  When it comes to household upkeep, the nanny’s main role should be keeping the children’s areas tidy and cleaning up after themselves in other parts of the house.  Nannies are not expected to perform any kind of household care or upkeep for the family unless explicitly asked and put into their contract.

Mother’s Helper: 

A mother’s helper mainly focuses on household help before focusing on children.  They are asked to do more domestic chores such as grocery shopping, laundry, pet care or anything related to the home.  While childcare is a part of their job description, it typically is not the main focus.  Mother’s helpers can be expected to do things like pick up the children from school and watch them for short periods of time, but typically children are not with the mother’s helper for the majority of their work day.  Mother’s helpers are great when you have older children but still need some full-time help.

Household Manager: 

A household manager is expected to do everything!  All children and household related items fall under their care.  Household managers not only will grocery shop, do laundry, and take care of all the children’s needs, they can also make appointments for maintenance and repairs in the home.  They keep the household running in every facet.  A household manager is comparable to a personal assistant.  However, their main focus is helping the entire family instead of just one person. 

Whichever role best fits your needs, it is important to make sure all job duties are clearly decided on before a caregiver is even hired.  It also important to note that while all of these jobs include some kind of tidying up, caregivers should never be expected to deep clean the home.  Anyone you bring into your home to fulfill the above roles is there to help support your family.

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How to Interview a Nanny

Published on by clairebooherLeave a comment

When finding someone to care for our children, we want everything to be just right!  The interview process is one of the most important parts of finding a nanny.  It is your opportunity to make sure the nanny has the experience you are looking for, and that you have a good rapport with them.

Your relationship with your nanny is an odd one.  You are not only their boss, but they are a part of your personal life.  Even if you find a nanny with amazing qualifications, it won’t mean anything if you can’t stand being around that person.

Interview Tips:

Have the interview face to face

With a busy schedule and the ease of technology, it can be very tempting to simply schedule a zoom interview with potential nannies.  But this is the type of relationship where seeing if you “click” with a nanny is extremely important.  It is also a good way to make sure you are speaking with someone who is able to make appointments on time.

Keep the interview childless

It may seem logical to include your kids in the interview process.  You want to see how the nanny interacts with the children.  While it is important, that should be done after the initial interview with the nanny.  Kids are kids and they can be very distracting during a meeting.  It’s better to focus on the nanny and her answers than kid chaos.

The personal and the professional

Think of this interview in two parts:  The professional questions and the personal questions.  It is important to know if the nanny has the qualifications you are want, and that you can have a good relationship with them.

Professional Questions

How long have you worked with children?

Are you available for all of the hours we need?

Are you comfortable with the length of the job?

Are you CPR certified and willing to get a background check?

What household responsibilities are you comfortable with?

Personal Questions

Tell me about where you are from?

How did you end up in childcare?

What is your favorite activity to do with kids?

What is your least favorite thing to do with kids?

When this job ends, what do you see yourself doing?

Many parents get overwhelmed with the interview process and worry that they may be missing a giant red flag. But trust your gut! If the nanny meets all of your requirements and you spent the last hour of the interview talking about your favorite reality TV show together, it is a good sign! But even if an interview goes well, ALWAYS have a trial week. With those two things, you will know very quickly whether you have found the right person.

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Nanny Job Red Flags

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With COVID shutting down schools and daycares, nannies have never been in more demand.  With such a high demand, there is an opportunity for nannies to have options when choosing a job.  The time of the $10 an hour nanny has long passed.  It is important for a good position to fit for your schedule and your budget, but also fit your desired work-life balance.  Here are some red flags to look out for when job searching!

They want you to start without an interview.

Desperate parents are nothing new.  School gets cancelled and parents with full-time jobs have to figure out what to do with their children.  New apps like Bambino have made it easier for families to get someone to come to their home quickly.  While occasionally sitting for a family without meeting them is normal, it should be a big red flag when someone is hiring a full-time nanny.  A parent who is ready to hire a nanny without interviewing them, asking for a resume, or wanting to call references is a bad sign.  If you ask them to do these things and they refuse, this should make you uncomfortable.  While you know you are a good, reliable person, for a family to assume that site unseen, raises serious questions as to what the position actually entails.

They want to pay you a salary.

In the state of Texas, household workers must be paid no less than minimum wage on an hourly rate basis.  Many families will offer paying you $400 a week or $50 a day.  In actuality, that is a huge red flag and against the law.  Many families may have a set schedule during the week, but life happens and nannies need to work late, parents go on date nights, etc.  Guaranteeing that you will be compensated for all the hours you work can only happen if you are paid an hourly fee.  Families not willing to consider paying someone hourly, most likely means they want to try and squeeze as much work out of you as possible, for as little pay as they can.

They only want to pay you under the table.

Many of us grew up babysitting and are used to being handed a wad of cash at the end of a Saturday night.  But working as a nanny, it is important to have a record of your payment.  There are great payroll services out there for parents to use.  Even if your employers decides not to use a payroll service, direct deposit and Venmo allow you to keep track of how much and how often you are being paid.  It is important to have a record of your pay for your taxes as well as filing for unemployment.  If a family only wants to pay you using cash, it may be a sign that they are trying to find ways not to pay you as much. 

They won’t sign a contract.

Wilco Nannies provides a Work Agreement for all families and nannies to fill out.  These agreements simply allow nannies and families to have their hours, pay, and job duties on record for all to see.   You can also easily find contract templates to use online.  A family unwilling to enter into a contract or work agreement with you, is a bad sign.  Contracts do not mean you are “stuck” in a position for a certain amount of time.  They help dictate the parameters of your work.  If families are unwilling to consider a contract, it is very easy for them to not to pay you on time, ask you to do household chores you did not agree to, or make you work longer hours than originally agreed.  Always, always, always have a contract!

They trash their old nanny.

Nannies and families decide to go different ways for many reasons.  While a nanny and employer can end on bad terms, how parents speak about their former nanny can be very enlightening on how they view the nanny position.  If they speak about the nanny with small complaints such as “they were on their phone all the time”, this can be read as they simply did not get along and it wasn’t a good fit.  If the complaints become more personal, “she was lazy” it can be looked at as not having respect for the person they employed.  If you ever hear of a nanny suddenly leaving a family with no call and no explanation, this could be a sign that something bad happened in the home and the nanny needed to leave immediately.

Above all else, as a nanny you have been hired to do a very important job.  Finding a family that you have a good rapport with, is just as important as having a family that respects you as a professional.

Nanny Approved Travel Tips

Published on by clairebooherLeave a comment

We want to wish everybody a happy and safe Labor Day Weekend! As many of us will be traveling, we’d like to help you prepare for long journeys with your little ones.

Road Trips

Travel during nap time or bed time: Let your child fall asleep in the car and enjoy some much needed peace on your journey. Even consider letting your child wear their pajamas and bring their favorite stuffed animal.

Have plenty of snacks and a lunch plan: Always make sure to have your children’s favorite snacks in the car. Let them pick out what they would like so they know what snacks are available. Planning ahead for lunch can avoid a lot of headaches when everyone is hungry and you are desperately looking for anywhere to stop. Even if you pack sandwiches and stop at a road-side stop, make sure your children know that is the plan.

Screens and car sickness: While it can be tempting (but effective) to give your child their tablet on a road trip, it can also cause motion sickness. If you are bringing any kind of device, make sure your child takes breaks to look up from their screen and avoid nausea. Or avoid screens all together and let your child listen to their favorite music or find a podcast. HERE are some great children’s podcasts to enjoy! (NOTE: Looking down to read can also cause serious motion sickness. Choosing an activity that allows your child to look out the window is always best.)

You’re going to stop more than you think: While we can all plan and prepare, little kids are unpredictable. They need to go to the bathroom more than us. If you are nursing, you will need to stop to safely feed your baby. If you are trying to reach a destination by a specific time, be sure to give your self lots and LOTS of room for stops.

Don’t forget about the road trip games: We all have our favorites whether it be the license plate game or the alphabet game! Pick up some Mad Libs from the store and enjoy the silliness. HERE is a great list of games to play in the car that can involve the whole family.

Air Travel

Set expectations: Airports are very overwhelming for adults let alone children. Make sure you explain to your little ones what they can expect. Let them know if you are taking a shuttle bus. That they will have to go through security and remove their shoes. Also explain to them the rules on the airplane. It is important they fully understand the pilot and flight attendants make the rules and everyone, even adults, must follow them.

Let them explore: There will be plenty of time to sit still when children are on the plane. While you are waiting for take off, walk around the airport. Let them stretch their legs and potential burn off some energy. Austin International Airport has expanded to include a Toy Joy store, a Lego vending machine, and other fun activities.

Bathroom Breaks: Using bathrooms in an airport terminal is always a must. Airplane bathrooms are tough. If you have children who are in the middle of potty training, the airplane is not the place to practice. Let your toddler ride in a diaper to avoid some extra stress. For older children, always be sure to go before getting on the plane, halfway through the flight, and once you land.

Airplanes can be scary: Airplanes are incredibly noisy and can be a shaky ride. For little ones it is a good idea to bring some noise cancelling headphones to help deal with the loud noises. It’s also a good idea to have your child bring something to comfort them if they get scared, like a favorite stuffed animal or blanket.

Airplane Activities: The most important things to remember about airplane activities is to avoid toys that cause a mess. If your child likes to color, bring coloring books and crayons, not makers. Use sticker books that have reusable stickers. There are also some great activity books for flying. And for your fidgety little ones, load up on fidget toys!

Traveling with littles ones is always stressful. But preparing ahead can help take some of the stress off of you and off of your children. We hope everyone has a very happy and safe Labor Day weekend!

Summer Schedule

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Summer vacation is upon us!  It can feel like ages until the next school year starts, especially when it comes to taking care of little ones.  One of the best ways to get through the summer is to have a set routine.  Kids thrive on routine! Giving your kids a routine will help them, and you, have a smooth summer. 

Morning Routine

Wake Up: Have a consistent wake-up time for your kids.  They certainly don’t need to be woken up as early as they do for school, but having the same wakeup time can help your little ones body maintain a predictable schedule. Keep your regular routine of getting dressed, brushing their teeth, etc… Summer is the perfect time to help your kids learn to do things independently. Without the rush of school, kids can have time to learn to pick out their own clothes, dress themselves, or make their bed in the morning.

Breakfast: Let the kids help make breakfast!  Even children as young as 18 months can learn to help in the kitchen.  Teach your little ones how to cut simple things like fruit.  Teach them how to crack eggs and pour milk or juice!  Let breakfast be a fun activity to start the day. HERE are some great products for your kids in the kitchen.

Morning Activity: Texas weather is unpredictable, except in the summer.  We can always count on one thing: HEAT.  Morning time in Texas is the best time to plan an outdoor activity.  This is the time of day to get your kids outside to play, take them to a local park or splash pad!

Afternoon Routine

Lunch: Help your kid learn to make their own lunches!  For those kiddos who take their lunch to school, use this summer to teach them how to pack their own lunch.  Focus on identifying fruits, vegetables and protein your child can easily prepare on their own. Working on independence over the summer can help during the school year.

Nap/Quiet Time: While many of our kiddos might have outgrown their naps, having a designated part of the day to wind down is always a good idea.  Take that time after lunch for your little kids to nap, and for the big kids to independently play.  Encourage them to read books from their reading list or play something on their own.  Boredom is a great thing for kids.  Give your kids time to think of something on their own while you get a break.

Afternoon Activity:  With the Texas heat, outdoors in the afternoon is good for swimming, and not much else.  If your kids would like to play outdoors, be sure to check the air quality report for that day, make sure they have sunscreen, and are well hydrated! This is a great time of day to plan playdates, go to indoor play areas, or work on a project together.

Evening Routine

Dinner: It can be hard for to sit down together and enjoy dinner as a family. In the summer, as our schedules naturally slow down, it is a great time to have family meals. Encourage your kids to get involved in the clean-up process! If they can reach the sink, they can wash a plate!

After dinner activity:  As it is summer, there is so much fun to be had together as a family!  After dinner as the sun is setting, it is another great time to go outside.  Throw the ball around, go on a walk, or stay in the house and have a summer movie marathon!

Bed-time Routine:  While bedtimes might get more lax in the summer time, it is always good to still have a routine and a designated bed time.  Stick to your normal bath-time and bed-time rituals.  Summer is fun but between the heat and activities, getting rest is super important for your little ones.

Work on Milestones! 

Summer is a great time for working on milestones for your little ones.  Work on potty training, getting rid of the pacifier, moving to a big kid bed, or tying their shoes.  For the older children work on learning to ride a bike, to swim, play chess, or building a bird house!

We all loved those summers filled with fun and freedom.  But having a plan will help ease those endless summer days.

What Should be in Your Nanny Bag

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When Mary Poppins placed her carpet bag on the table and pulled out a lamp, we knew she came prepared! While the average nanny and babysitter don’t need to pack an entire room in their bags, here are some great items to bring on your next job.

Things for you!

Your nanny bag should always have items you might need while you are in someone else’s house. Packing and extra set of clothes can be a lifesaver. We know kids are the best at getting messy! Many of us childcare workers have come to home to realize we have Cheerios in our shirt, or stickers on our pants. You never know when food, paint, glitter, water, or bodily fluids might get on your clothes and make for an uncomfortable drive home.

There are some items that are always good to have on hand when you are spending your day or evening at someone else’s house. Bring your phone charger so you will always be able to stay in touch with the family and call someone in case of an emergency. If you have any emergency medicines, such as an EpiPen, be sure to pack them. Do you wear contacts? Pack some extra contact solution or your backup pair of glasses.

For those of us working late nights or babysitting on Friday evenings, there can be a lot of down time. Consider packing some quiet activities to do while the children are asleep. While watching the TV is always the easiest option, we’ve all been in situations where we don’t know how to work someone else’s TV. And no one wants to be the person that breaks it! Bring a book, your own tablet, something to knit, or anything else you can sit and do quietly until the parents get home.

Things for the kids!

If you are a crafty nanny, have some ready to go crafts in your bag. Simple projects are always the best. Pack some string and beads to make necklaces. Try some stickers, paper, and crayons to make fun pictures. Try these print outs on how to make paper boats and airplanes! 

Sometimes a single item can lead to a night filled with fun. Bring a flashlight and do all kinds of activities! Make shadow puppets or trace shadows on paper. Grab some bubbles from the grocery store! Or make some homemade bubbles with the kids. 

If you are a baking nanny, bring some ingredients for simple recipes to make. Did you know you can make slime with just glue and baking soda? Or fill some sandwich baggies with ingredients for mug recipes! These are easy and quick for kids to make.

Not much of a crafter or baker, bring your favorite board game or childhood book. Kids love to see other things people are interested in. Pulling out an old game or book they may have never seen before can be very exciting! Be sure that all items are age appropriate.

What not to bring!

As excited as we can get to show our kiddos fun things to do, there are some items that are always good to keep at home.

Never bring anything sharp, such as scissors, or anything that could potentially stain, such as nail polish. If you are with children under four years old, stay away from items with tiny pieces that they could swallow.

Always check with the family to make sure there aren’t any items the children might be allergic to, or that are against house rules.

Never bring headphones to a job. It seems logical to put in headphones while the children are sleeping so you don’t wake them up. But it is always safer to be able to hear everything going on in the house in case of emergency.

A “Bad Weather” Plan

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While Texas weather is like spinning the prize wheel at a carnival, we typically don’t have the type of weather that causes cancellations.  However, since most of us are survivors of Snow-mageddon in 2021 and Tree-pocalypse of 2023, planning for potential bad weather has become a necessity.

While bad weather can stop families and nannies from going to work, it doesn’t stop bills from being owed.  It is important to discuss with your nanny a policy for days with snow, floods, or power outages.  Whatever you and your nanny decide, always get it written down in a contract.

Define “bad weather” with your nanny.

Sometimes small ice storms can wreak havoc on our Texas roads.  And sometimes a huge storm early in the morning is gone by the afternoon.  When defining what you consider bad weather to your nanny, the roads should be the primary concern.  If emergency services are asking people to stay off the main roads, your nanny should not be required to drive to work. 

A good rule of thumb is to check with your local school district about cancellations.  If your local school has cancelled classes for the day, your nanny may not be able to come to work safely.

Consider your nannies location and your location.

Very rarely do nannies live in the same neighborhood as their nanny families.  While your neighborhood may be dry as a bone, your nanny’s neighborhood may have been hit hard by a storm.  It should be noted in the nanny’s contract that if the schools in her area are closed, she may not be required to come into work.  If you have to have your nanny come in, consider they might have their own children who’s school has been cancelled.  Be sure to establish your rules on the nanny bringing their own child to work for these days.

Consider your own job expectations.

Many of us are lucky enough to work from home and are not expected to drive in bad weather.  But if you are a person working as a doctor, nurse, police officer, etc you will most likely be required to come into work.  Make sure that is expressed to your nanny upon hiring, as well as in writing.  If a nanny understands they are expected to come in, no matter what the weather, they can plan accordingly.

Letting the nanny spend the night.

Families know their job expectations better than anyone.  If you have very important meetings, or have a job that requires you to come into the office, seeing if the nanny is willing to spend the night can be the perfect solution.  It is very important to have good rules and expectations set for when a nanny spends the night.  Do you have an appropriate place for them to sleep like a guest bedroom or an office?  Will they have access to their own bathroom?  Should they bring their own food?  Also always consider if the nanny has their own family or pets who need their attention.

Is it guaranteed minimum hours or paid time off?

Guaranteed minimum hours refers to the minimum number of hours a nanny is paid during a given week.  These hours should be paid even if the family asks the nanny not to come in to work for any reason, such as the nanny family is going on vacation.  Paid time off refers to days the nanny asks to take off.  With these parameters in mind, bad weather days should always be included under guaranteed minimum hours.  Nannies are not asking for these bad weather days off.  They are being forced to have them off due to outside circumstances.

Above all, the safety of everyone should be at the forefront.  If you wouldn’t put yourself in any kind of danger, you should never expect your nanny to put themselves in danger.

A Trip to the Trail of Lights

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It seems like ages since we’ve been able to walk the famous Austin Trail of Lights. But it is finally back! After last night, I am trying to remember if it was always this fun, or if they added some new things. Regardless, check out all the tips and tricks we wish we knew before attending the Trail of Lights

Tickets

The Trail of Lights is a free event. You do not need to buy tickets. But to make life easier on yourself and your little ones, you might want to consider it. The Trail of Lights has Zip Passes that allow you to get into the park at 6pm before the public opening at 7pm. This is perfect for the under four crowd! You can avoid the rush, still see all the lights, and get home before the inevitable meltdown. There are lots of other VIP and platinum passes which get you into nice, private areas. But there is so much to do and see regardless, it feels unnecessary.

Parking

If it is in your budget, buy parking passes! Yes they are expensive, but it will make life so much easier, especially if you have little ones in strollers. Parking passes allow you to park in a gravel parking lot by the event, or at Austin High School. Austin High School parking is very easy to drive to, but it is still a bit of a walk to Zilker park from the school.

Traffic will always be crazy no matter what day or what time you will go. Give yourself at least 30 more minutes than you think you will need. If you decide to forgo the parking pass at the event, some of the local churches or businesses may let you park for cheap. Be wary of parking in the neighborhoods around Zilker. While some neighbors may be okay with it, no one wants to find out it wasn’t allowed and discover their car has been towed at the end of a long night. You can find more parking information HERE.

Food

This is Austin, so you can count on one thing at every event and that is AMAZING food. The first area you will come across is Candy Cane Lane which is the location of all the food trucks. This is not the only food stop, but it is the best one if you are eating dinner at the trail. If you have little ones who suffer from hanger (hungry +anger), this should be your first stop. The lines will be long no matter which food truck you pick. Have the kids pick out what food they want, let one parent stand in line, and go find a table with the kids. The tables are all picnic benches and it can be tough to snatch one up before another hungry family does.

Once you pass the food trucks, there a lots of snack stops to get kettle corn, hot chocolate and other treats. One new treat stop we found was the s’mores station. This was fantastic! Each s’mores package contains enough for two s’mores. If you have more than one child, it is more than enough to split between two. Don’t feel like each child needs their own smores kit. I promise you, it is too much food! We then traveled to some lovely firepits to roast our marshmallows and scarf them down in the traditional, savage manner.

The festival has also added several drink tents for adults. The drinks are really good and a nice reprieve from the chaos of event. But in true event form, the drinks are heinously overpriced. Personally I’d recommend putting my money toward the spiced apple cider in the Napa Valley Tent. Alcoholic beverages can not be taken out of the eating and drinking areas. If the kids need a small break to sit, this is the time to enjoy the adult beverage!

Things to do

Obviously the main attraction is the lights! There are amazing light displays through the entire park. There are so many fun tunnels to walk through with the kids. They even added bubble machines to certain areas! Be picky where to take that family photo. By the time we got to the last tunnel, there were a lot of exasperated kiddos who were done smiling for the camera. My personal recommendations are to get a picture at the grand entrance and a picture in the blue bat cave later in the walk!

As you move along you will come to the North Pole. This is the section of the trail where you can meet Santa, mail letters to Santa, and see his workshop. It is as adorable as you think it is! Once again, expect long lines. They seemed to be moving fairly quickly, though. This is another great spot to take pictures! It was very cute watching all the kids with Santa and Mrs. Claus.

Past the North Pole you have Zilker Square where the amazing ferris wheel and carousel are located. More lines to contend with, but again they have a system and are good at keeping the lines moving. The ferris wheel and carousel are fun to watch so it can be a nice distraction for a bit.

The last section you will pass is the Holiday Village. This is the point where all the kids are burnt out, which is a shame because this is where all the live music and movies are located. If they have the energy definitely stop by. But if you have gotten a few “How much longer” questions, you can skip it.

There is the final stop of the large Christmas Tree. It is a time honored tradition to head over the the tree, look straight up, and spin until you get dizzy. It is very easy to get to, but could be tough with strollers. While it is a fun tradition, it is not a priority. If the little ones aren’t interested, it will be there next year!

Tips!

This event is a lot of fun, but can also lead to a meltdown quickly if you haven’t planned ahead. If your kids are under five, bringing a stroller or a wagon is a must! It’s going to be a long night even if you skip some of the areas. No matter when you go, there will be crowds to contend with. Having your littlest ones in a singular spot where you can keep an eye on them is a big help. For the older kids, have a plan in case you get separated. We always say, if you get separated, head to the ferris wheel. It is the biggest and easiest location to find in the whole trail.

Make sure you check the weather! We arrived at the event with a lovely 60 degree breeze. We were wondering if we should’ve left all our jackets in the car. As the night went on the, the temperature slowly but surely began to drop all the way to a crisp 40 degrees. We were very happy to have our coats and very grateful to our friends who thought to bring hand warmers!

There are porta potties located throughout the trail and they are very easy to find. Shockingly it was one of the few areas that did not have lines! We did use them and they are what you’d expect. They did have hand washing stations, but of course they were out of soap and towels once we got to them. It would be very beneficial to bring some flushable wipes and hand sanitizer. We did not see any area that had a changing station. You will most likely to find a nice spot in the grass to change your little ones. Be sure to bring a changing pad with you!

We hope you and your family has an amazing time at the Trail of Lights. Happy Holidays from our family to yours!

Halloween Safety

Published on by clairebooherLeave a comment

There are a lot of myths surrounding Halloween and the dangers of trick o’ treating.  The story most of us are used to is the razor blades in the apples.  This year’s flavor is fentanyl in candy.  The reality is all of these stories come from urban legends or vaguely related news stories.  In fact, a study in 2000 found that since 1959, there have been 80 cases of Halloween candy tampering in the United States.  All but 10 of those were found to be hoaxes.  Of those 10, the children only had minor injuries.

While we don’t need to Xray our candy, precautions should be taken to ensure the safety of all the kids out and about on Halloween night.

Porch Light

An old-fashioned rule that still holds true!  When the porch light is out, they are out of candy.

Be Seen

Always bring a flashlight or glow sticks for your children to hold.  You can also make sure your kids are lit up with reflectors on their costumes or light up shoes.  The majority of us will be taking our kids out during the night time.  And it is far too easy for kids to be in dark costumes to not be seen by oncoming motorist.

Careful of Candles and Jack-o-lanterns

A lot of costumes may include wigs, tool, or other very flammable material.  We know there will be jack-o-lanterns out on Halloween night.  Make sure to have strict rules with your children so they know not to go near an open flame on someone’s front porch.

Stay Away from Homemade Treats

While a nice gesture, homemade treats can contain allergens or ingredients that your children may not be able to eat.  Always go for packaged items.  And no, it is not possible to inject drugs into candy with a needle without you noticing.

Remove Makeup and Adhesive Before Bed

Between the excitement and the candy, getting your kids to wind down at the end of the night can be a challenge.  But we know, once they crash, they will crash hard!  Make sure you use makeup remover to get rid of all makeup or body paint before they collapse in a heap on their beds.  Many costume adhesives can also cause rashes if left on for too long.

Stranger Danger

There is a hilarious bit of irony for telling your children not to take candy from strangers, but then have an entire holiday dedicated to doing just that!  While we encourage interacting with strangers on Halloween night, stranger danger is still very real. A good rule for Halloween night is “no entering a person’s home.”  If their home is set up as a haunted house, they must enter with a parent. 

Keep a Cell Phone for Older Kids

Kids reach that certain age and they want to go out and get candy with their friends.  If this is the year for your child, it is always a good idea to make sure they have a cell phone.  See if your phone has a location app on it so you can track where your children are in the neighborhood.

We hope everyone has a wonderful and safe Halloween!  Stay safe and enjoy the sugar high!