The Official Blog of Morningside Nannies

A New Year, A New Website

Welcome to the newly launched corporate website of Morningside Nannies, created with you in mind.

At MorningsideNannies.com we’ve aimed to create a website that will provide a user-friendly experience and a wealth of helpful information to parents seeking nannies, nannies seeking employment and others interested in the in-home childcare industry.

For parents seeking a childcare provider and nannies looking for employment, we believe you’ll find our new website and online applications easy to navigate. While we always encourage site visitors to call our office and speak to a placement specialist directly anytime during business hours, with our newly integrated site, we’re better able to carefully monitor electronic queries and provide faster responses to those who wish to reach a placement specialist by email or electronic form submission.

When it comes to learning about nanny and employer expectations, responsibilities and relationships, our on staff industry experts have written fresh web content, employer and nanny quizzes and blog posts designed to empower you to make educated and informed decisions that are in your best interest. And if you don’t see information on a topic you’re looking for, contact us.  We’re here to answer your questions and to be inspired by you.

Whether you are considering relocating to the Houston area for a nanny position or are a young family already living here, we think you’ll find our detailed information on Houston area communities valuable. With statistics on public schools, information on houses of worship, area businesses and colleges and fun local activities to do with the kids, we’ve created a Houston area resource guide to help you learn more about the community we serve.

At Morningside Nannies we’ve been matching the best nannies with the best families in the Houston area for over 20 years.  We can help you too.  We invite you to browse our website, learn about our services and explore our resources.  We hope you are as pleased with our new site as we are.

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A New Season for Morningside Nannies

As we enter the new year we are entering a new season at Morningside Nannies.

In the early 1980s, Pat Cascio, a mother of four young daughters, experienced the lack of professionalism and top-quality screening practices that existed in what was then known as “domestic agencies.” As a result, Nannies and Such, Houston’s first agency specializing in making nanny referrals was born, opening for business in 1983.

As you may know, Pat played an active role in the evolution of the nanny industry, serving for a decade on the International Nanny Association’s board of directors and eight terms as the association’s president. In 2008, under Pat’s leadership, Morningside Nannies was awarded the highest industry honor bestowed to placement agencies, the Association of Premier Nanny Agencies Agency of the Year award.

On December 3, 2012, I purchased Morningside Nannies from Pat with the commitment to continue the Morningside Nannies tradition of matching the best nannies with the best families in the Houston area.

With my background in owning and operating companies dedicated to helping people find the right services for their families coupled with passion for ensuring that children cared for by nannies receive the highest quality of care, myself and my dedicated team of industry experts are committed to helping parents and nannies find their right employment match.

Morningside Nannies has been helping Houston-area parents and nannies connect for nearly 20 years. We plan to continue that tradition for at least 20 more.

Sincerely,
Ken Myers
President
Morningside Nannies

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Evaluating Your Wage Expectations

When it comes to determining how much you deserve to paid for your nanny services it can be tempting to base your wage expectations on what you feel your employer can afford to pay you or what you need to earn to cover your cost of living, however both of these methods of determining wage expectations are seriously flawed.

When it comes to wages, what a nanny needs to earn and what a nanny perceives the family can afford to pay her have no real bearing on a nanny’s true earning potential. While of course a nanny may need to earn a specific amount per month to cover her household expenses, her wage expectations have to be justified by more than that need.

So what can be used to justify wage expectations and ensure you’re being paid a competitive fee for your services?

Each year the International Nanny Association publishes the results of its annual nanny salary and benefits survey at www.nanny.org. Morningside Nannies encourages Houston area nannies to take this annual survey so we can accurately gauge nanny salary and benefits trends in the Houston nanny market.

If you are in the market for a new nanny position give one of our placement specialists a call at (713) 526-3989 to discuss your qualifications and to begin your nanny job search.

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7 Reasons Nannies Should Be Paid on the Books

When it comes to having taxes withheld from their paycheck, many nannies are under the impression that doing so is only a benefit to their employers. Why wouldn’t a nanny want to maximize her paycheck and bring home as much cash each pay period as possible? But there are several important reasons nannies should only consider positions that pay on the books.

These include:

1. To comply with the law.

Being paid legally is not optional.The IRS classifies nannies as employees of the families for whom they work, thus subjecting them to the employment laws that govern household employees. While some parents and nannies try to skirt the issue and claim their nanny is an independent contractor, the IRS has definitively ruled that nannies are household employees.

2. To prove employment history.

Since there are no human resources departments in most households, nannies share the burden of offering proof of employment. In instances where a written contract is no in force or a letter of reference is unable to be secured, paystubs and tax returns can serve as proof of employment from a particular family.

3. To show verifiable income.

When applying for credit, a mortgage or a car loan, applicants must provide proof of verifiable income. Nannies who are paid legally have proof of gross and net wages that can be used to help determine credit worthiness and the ability to pay back debts.

4. To gain access to Social Security and Medicare benefits.

When nannies are paid legally contributions are made to Social Security and Medicare which can be accessed upon retirement. Since many nanny employers don’t fund formal retirement plans for their employees, nannies count on accessing these benefits to help with retirement income.

5. To qualify for unemployment benefits.

The ultimate promotion for a nanny is to work with a family until her services are no longer needed. When a nanny is terminated for no fault of her own, having short-term income to help her through the job search process can mean a significant difference in her finances and her ability to wait for the right job.

6. To be eligible for workers’ compensation coverage.

Many employers opt to obtain workers’ compensation insurance coverage for their nannies. This coverage can assist with medical bills and income when a nanny is hurt on the job. To be eligible for coverage, nannies must be paid on the books.

7. To take advantage of the earned income tax credit.

For lower income nannies with dependents, having access to earned income tax credits may offer a much needed tax break or refund at the end of the year.

Being compliant with tax laws isn’t optional, yet many parents and nannies believe that they can decide whether or not to pay their nanny on the books. Even if both parties agree to evade taxes, doing so is still a crime and punishable by fines and penalties under the law.

Morningside Nannies encourages all parents and nannies to comply with tax laws. If  you have questions about nanny taxes, call one of our placement specialists at (713) 526-3989 who can refer you to a nanny tax expert for a free consultation.

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How Much Notice Should Nannies Give?

Whether it’s because you are getting married and relocating or the job is no longer a good fit, giving notice, whether it is on good terms or bad, is never easy.

For nannies, there’s more involved with leaving a job than not showing up for work. When nannies leave jobs, they leave close and deeply rooted relationships, often with children who don’t yet have the capacity to understand what it means to say goodbye or to transition to a different type of relationship.

For nannies who have been with the children from the time they were born, leaving a job can be especially difficult. For these children, they have never known life without their nanny and the thought of leaving the family, even for cause, can trigger feelings of guilt and anxiety in the caregiver.

When it comes time to leave a position, it should not be surprising that nannies can feel torn, even when leaving is the right thing to do. Many nannies struggle with how much notice they should give their work family, when they should give it and how they should give it. They also may set their concerns about the family above their own needs and concerns and contemplate staying on to accommodate the family, even if doing so is not the right decision for them.

With most nannies making the decision to leave is a process – and a hard one at that. Once a nanny has made a definite decision to leave a position, she will need to consider how much notice she wishes to give her employers. While there’s no steadfast rule regarding how much notice is required, nannies should always strive to fulfill the terms of their work agreement.

In general, nannies should give as much notice as they can comfortable give, with the minimum being two weeks, unless of course unusual circumstances require an immediate departure.

If the nanny is leaving a position on good terms, the needs of the family, the nanny and the relationship the nanny has with the family will likely influence the length of notice the nanny gives. If a nanny plans to get married and relocate, she may give the parents a few months to make new arrangements and offer to work with them to find a suitable replacement. If the nanny wants to move onto a new family, but there are no serious issues in the work environment, she may agree to stay on until the family makes their next transition, perhaps until the end of the school year or through the summer months.

Whenever a nanny gives notice, however, she should prepare for the possibility that the parents may prefer the nanny to leave sooner than she wishes. Some parents may become angry and opt to pay their nanny and have her leave immediately, rather than have her work out her notice. Others may agree to have the nanny work out her notice but then if they find a replacement, dismiss her sooner. Most however, will want to work with the nanny to ensure a smooth and healthy transition for all.

In the best situation, a nanny and family will work together to transition out of the working relationship and into a more casual one. When the parents and nanny work together, the transition will be more positive and less likely to negatively impact the children.

The staff at Morningside Nannies is here to support nannies and families through the duration of their placement. Our placement specialists can be contacted at (713) 526-3989 Monday through Friday.

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Nannies and Housekeeping

When it comes to parents and nannies, one of the most common issues that arise in the working relationship is centered on the understanding of the nanny’s housekeeping responsibilities.

Typical Housekeeping Duties

Nannies are typically responsible for what is often referred to as light housekeeping. Unfortunately, this term is vague and results in more confusion that clarity for both nannies and families. Light housekeeping is intended to include the undertaking of all household tasks that are included in providing childcare. These tasks include wiping kitchen counters down after meal preparation, doing the children’s laundry, cleaning up spills and messes made by the nanny and children, keeping the children’s rooms and play areas neat, clean and organized and otherwise ensuring the home is left in the same condition or better each day as when the nanny arrived. Nannies may also be in charge of organizing the children’s clothing and closets, stocking the nursery and doing the grocery shopping for the children.

Additional Housekeeping Duties

Tasks like mopping the floor, dusting the furniture and cleaning the bathrooms are not typically part of the nanny’s duties and responsibilities. However, if the parents wish their nanny to take on these additional housekeeping tasks, they should discuss them with the nanny during the interview process. Some nannies are willing to double as a nanny/housekeeper, depending on the children’s schedule and additional compensation.  If the nanny is required and agrees to take on additional tasks, these tasks and the frequency they must be completed should be included in the written work agreement. The nanny should be provided adequate time to accomplish these tasks and should receive additional compensation for doing them. The parents should also reinforce regularly that the children are the nanny’s main priority and housekeeping tasks comes second to the care of the children. As such, the parents should evaluate if the nanny can realistically provide care for the children and complete the additional tasks.

The Written Agreement

Having a detailed, written work agreement can prevent misunderstandings regarding housekeeping responsibilities. The written work agreement should have a detailed list of housekeeping tasks that are the nanny’s responsibility. A bulleted list of specific tasks will provide greater clarity then a general summary of responsibilities. Instead of writing keep the children’s playroom clean, the list should include tasks and frequency, like disinfect the children’s toys weekly, vacuum the playroom floor daily and put the children’s toys away at the end of each day.

Preventing Job Creep

If a nanny notices a housekeeping task that needs attention, perhaps the clean dishes from the weekend need to be unloaded from the dishwasher so she can load the dirty ones or the parent’s laundry needs to be moved along to the dryer so that she can complete the children’s laundry, she’ll most always address the need and complete the task as a courtesy to her employers. When acts of courtesy become expected, nannies can become resentful. For this reason, parents should be mindful of their work agreement and always discuss changes in housekeeping expectations with their nanny.

Morningside Nannies encourages parents and nannies to have a mutually agreed upon work agreement. Morningside Nannies provides our clients with a sample contract to use so that they can avoid common pitfalls in the nanny and employer relationship. If you have questions about housekeeping responsibilities, please contact one of our placement specialists at (713) 526-3989. Our experienced staff is prepared to answer all of your nanny related questions.

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The 3R’s to Getting Kids Back On Track

Whether it’s after the holidays or a school or family vacation, getting the kids back into their normal routine is easier said than done. But when everyone works together, with a little time and effort, everyone will be back into the groove in no time.

For parents who employ nannies, consistency and structure tend to be strongly present in their children’s days.  Each morning, nanny arrives at a certain time, mom or dad leaves upon nanny’s arrival, nanny enforces consistent meal and naptimes, mom or dad returns home at a certain time and nanny says goodbye and ends her day. Even if the times aren’t exact, the transitions of caregivers, meals and naps typically occur in the same order each day, establishing a clear pattern that governs the children’s routine.

When vacation, travel, visitors, school breaks, or other interruptions in the family’s normal routine occur, it’s no surprise the children’s routines and schedules become disrupted and as a result, behavior and sleep patterns can suffer.

Since routine and structure breed familiarity and security, getting the children back on track is essential to helping children effectively manage their emotions, behavior, sleeping and eating patterns.

To get the children back on track quickly, the parents and nanny can work together to:

When there are interruptions to the family’s normal routine, the children’s routine will also be interrupted. Keeping what you can consistent, like mealtimes and bedtimes, can minimize the impact changes to the routine have on the children. But even if things go awry, don’t worry. When all caregivers are on the same page, order will be restored in no time.

Morningside Nannies has a pool of qualified nannies to provide short-term, temporary childcare. If you’re looking for a nanny to accompany you on vacation or to provide care during school break, contact a placement specialist at (713) 526-3989 to begin your caregiver search.

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How to Become a Nanny

When individuals interested in becoming a nanny contact Morningside Nannies to inquire about securing a nanny position, they are often surprised to learn that we require previous nanny or formal childcare experience for consideration of representation.

For those who wish to become a nanny but do not have formal childcare experience, they often ask how an individual can become a nanny if reputable agencies won’t work with anyone without previous, verifiable childcare experience provided to non-family members.

To those who want to become a nanny but aren’t sure how to gain the necessary experience, we offer these 5 tips:

1. Volunteer to gain experience.

Church nurseries and community centers can be a great place to gain practical childcare experience under the supervision of others, especially if you are a member. Or perhaps there is a mother you know that needs an extra set of hands and would allow you to help out. Volunteer a few hours per week to gain experience. Keep a log of your volunteer activities and ask a supervisor to verify it and include a letter of reference.

2. Seek employment in a daycare, camp or preschool.

Many nannies gain their first childcare experience working in formal childcare settings. Working in a formal childcare setting will provide you with hands-on, credible experience and if you do your job well, you will walk away with an excellent reference. Hold onto your written reviews to include in your portfolio.

3. Begin babysitting.

Fill your evenings and weekend with babysitting positions. Build relationship with several families who you can provide regular care for. Keep a journal that tracks your childcare hours and ask the parents to provide a letter of recommendation.

4. Use other avenues to secure a nanny position.

There are lots of ways to secure a nanny position. Online nanny recruiting websites, word of mouth and social networking provide opportunities to advertise your services to parents seeking childcare. A solid reference from a past nanny employer is often key to opening the door to working with an agency.

5. Take continuing education courses.

As you begin to gain practical experience working with children, you’ll also want to expand your childcare knowledge. Be sure your CPR and first aid certification is up to date and enroll in a child development class to expand your knowledge of best practices in early childhood education and care.

Full-time nannies work unsupervised and must have practical hands on experience and basic childcare knowledge to do their jobs well. At Morningside Nannies, we represent only the most qualified candidates to Houston area families for employment.

To be represented by Morningside Nannies, all caregivers must:

• Have at least two years of recent childcare experience.
• Have verifiable, professional childcare references.
• Be able to legally accept employment in the United States.
• Be able to read, write and speak English fluently.
• Have a valid U.S. driver’s license with a good driving record.
• Have access to a vehicle.
• Be a non-smoker.
• Be a minimum of 19 years old.
• Have a high school diploma, GED or formal education in child related studies.
• Have current first aid and CPR certification.

If you meet these requirements we invite you to contact a Morningside Nannies placement specialist at (713) 526-3989 to begin your job search.

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What it Takes to Succeed as a Nanny

Childcare providers who work as nannies for any length of time are motivated by more than a paycheck. While qualified, experienced nannies can certainly earn excellent wages, those who work as nannies typically don’t do so for the money. To succeed as a nanny, a caregiver must be in it for more than a paycheck.

Unlike daycare workers or other types of childcare providers, nannies work in the family’s private home under the direct employ of the children’s parents. This sets the stage for an employment arrangement that is deeply rooted in close working relationships.  For nannies to succeed in their work they must be successful in developing and maintaining a solid relationship with both their employers and their charges. Nannies who succeed in their work typically have a pleasant disposition, are easy to get along with and to be around, are solid communicators and are respectful of their employers role as both boss and parent of their charges.

Since nannies work largely unsupervised for most of the day, successful nannies take pride in their work and are intrinsically motivated. Since there is no one there to pat them on the back for a job well done day in and day out, knowing that they’ve done their job well must be rewarding in and of itself. Nannies must also be self-starters and be willing to take initiative. For their charges well-being and safety, they must have good judgment, recognize when there is a need and be ready to meet that needs, without always being directed to do so.

Working in a private home provides little opportunity for adult interaction and socialization. For nannies who don’t seek opportunities to make friends with caregivers and parents of similar ages of the children in their care isolation can be a real problem. Successful nannies seek out opportunities to attend and host playdates, to attend mommy and me type classes and to visit the local library and parks to make connections and foster friendships that both they and their charges develop.

Unlike with daycares that close at a set time each day, a nanny’s day doesn’t end until the parents return home to relieve her. To be a successful nanny, a caregiver must be willing to be flexible. Parents may get caught up in a medical case or meeting, delaying their departure from work or may hit traffic or an accident on the road which will cause them to run late. While having a set schedule is important, successful nannies are willing to accommodate the parents work schedule, when necessary.

Nannies play an important role in the lives of the families for whom they work. They have a great opportunity to invest in their charges and make a real positive contribution to their lives. For many successful nannies, this is a huge motivating factor for working as a nanny. Nannies and children form an intimate and lasting bond which often extends far beyond the years of a nanny’s employment. Knowing that she’s made a difference in the life of a child is one of the most rewarding and motivating aspects of being a nanny and providing the best childcare possible.

Morningside Nannies only works with the most qualified and well referenced nannies in the Houston area. If you’re seeking a childcare professional, contact a placement specialist  at (713) 526-3989 to begin your nanny search.

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3 Reasons Nannies Stay Long-Term

At Morningside Nannies, the number one reason our nannies stay in their jobs far beyond their initial one-year commitment is a given. It’s because they truly love the kids they care for. But it takes more than love for the kids to make a long-term commitment to a family.

When a nanny dedicates several years of service to the same family, it’s because she’s getting something that she values in return. And that something is far more than a paycheck. Even the highest earning nanny will eventually leave a family if she’s not getting more than a paycheck in return for her work.

While in other types of jobs people may stay long-term because there’s an opportunity to advance within the company, they have great benefits or they like their co-workers, these things most often don’t apply to nannies. So what makes a nanny stay in her position long-term?  The three reasons are more intrinsic than materialistic in nature.

1. Nannies stay long-term when they feel appreciated.

For a nanny to stay with a family long-term she needs to feel like she is appreciated. Depending on the nanny’s style she may feel appreciated when her boss thanks her for doing a good job or does something thoughtful, like letting her out early or asking how a sick relative is doing. Nannies want to know that their employer’s value the worth they do and are appreciative when they go above and beyond.

2. Nannies stay long-term when they feel respected.

Nannies like to be held in high regard. They like to know that their boss values their views, insights and opinions. Nannies feel respected with their employers back their authority with the children, pay them fairly and legally, keep their word, and ask for feedback before making major changes to their duties or schedule.

3. Nannies stay long-term when they feel needed.

Nannies are in the business of helping families. They prefer to work with families who really benefit from their services. Even when the children outgrow the need for full-time, year-round nanny care and the nanny’s role transitions into one of a household manager, she’ll need to feel like she’s filling a real need for her to stay on.

To stay with a family long-term, a nanny needs to feel good about the work she does and about how she’s treated as she does it. Nanny employers should strive to show their nannies appreciation and respect and annually review their nanny’s work agreement to adjust her duties and responsibilities to meet the current needs of the family.

If you’re looking for a qualified nanny to join your parenting team, contact a Morningside Nannies placement specialist at (713) 526-3989 to start your search. Our pool of qualified nannies is eager to find families with whom they can make a long-term commitment.

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