My Language Project Bogged Down

I really should stick to my day job. The language project that I have been fussing over for the last couple of weeks has completely bogged down again. Who was I to kid? Nannies are known to not have much intelligence to attempt something so advance. LOL. Many people think that Nannies are nothing but modern day slaves. Someone's hubby remarked that if an individual is smart, he/she will not choose such a low class job. I must be pretty dumb then. LOL. Why do people hire someone dumb like me to take care of their precious creations?

I am also not well. The first time for may be 10 months to a year. I went to the supermarket after work last night. While I was stuck in the checkout line waiting to be served, the guy behind me was coughing all over me. He had to cough my way because he can't cough at his wife, who was standing behind him. I actually wanted to move to another line but decided to risk it because I was next to be served. He, like many people, was one who coughs without covering the mouth. I, like every living person, had to continue to breathe in oxgen, including his germs. To my bad, bad luck, the couple ended up catching the same tram as me. As it was rather packed, he was standing next to me again. He coughed all the way. I wasn't the only one offended in the tram. Quite a few people made faces. LOL. I got off before him, thinking that I should be alright. I immediately took a shower, hoping to wash off all the germs. By midnight last night, I was beginning to wheeze. By bedtime, I was burning. This morning, I woke up with a croaky throat. I had the fever after lunch. Took Panadol again and went back to bed. I took Cordral this evening and my appetite is gone.

It looks like I will be spending this long weekend in bed. Its great too because I will have all the time to read the latest Harry Potter book. I hope to get well before Monday because I will be returning to my usual schedule next week. I will be calling the girls' parents tomorrow to notify them that I am not well. This will give them ample warning in case if they want to make other arrangements to prevent the girls from catching the bug too.

Stella the New Supergirl

I knew I can't stay away from this blog for long. I have been wanting to blog on Bree in the last few days but refrained from doing so because I am still spending time completing a language project. I heard from Stella's mum yesterday. They are back from Indonesia and yes they did go up to Mt Buller as planned. Stella seems to be adjusting to the weather change just fine! The government's advice to not travel to Indonesia didn't seem to matter at all. They did come back all intact and not blown to bits. They have (especially Stella) heaps to tell me when I see them next week. Can't wait to hear about her first charity project. Can 4 year olds really understand what giving is all about? With the recent cold snap this new supergirl must be having a ball, enjoying a bumper snow season.

I am still officially taking a break from this blog. I won't be back for another week or so. I need time to complete at least the first stage once and for all. I worked an extra day last week so I have today off. This long weekend is going to be a blast. I am going shopping today.

Taking a Break from Blogging

I am taking the next 10-15 days off blogging. I received a book I ordered a couple of weeks ago on Tuesday. I will be spending the next couple of weeks reading and designing this little language project that I started in May. I had to abandon it due to a lack of information. I had time to briefly look through this new book in the last few days. It looks like I should be able to complete my project this time. YIPPEEEE!

It is 1:34 am already! I need my beauty sleep. I will be off to the cinema tomorrow evening to watch the latest Harry Potter movie.

Come to think of it, I might struggle to stay away from this blog for long. I might blog a little but definitely not everyday.

Do Not Press the Next Blog Button!

This is awful awful awful! I really hate those nasty computer vandals who seem to have heaps of time in their hands to tweak the world wide web to spoil the fun for the average blogger. I was just exploring my blogsite, clicking on things to see what they do. I was hoping to read blogs similar to mine when I clicked on the Next Blog button. I thought by clicking that button, I will be taken to another blog similar to mine. Guess where it took me? It took me to a Porn Site!!! I am just so angry! What if someone reading my blog did the same thing. This is just not right. My blog is about looking after children. I do not want to be parked next to one of those filthy sites! This is exactly why children (between 6-12) shouldn't use the internet without parental supervision. I am not a child. I am a self respected nanny and I find it offensive to land on a website that I didn't choose to go to.

One Rule For Mums And Another Rule For The Nanny

It doesn’t take much for a cranky mum to have a go at the nanny just because the mum is the boss.

I am a nanny, not a weather expert. It is very difficult to forecast the weather in Winter. It is cloudy on most days in Melbourne and this makes it look like it is about to rain. We have had plenty of rain lately but unfortunately the clouds don’t always mean rain.

As a nanny, it is my job to take my charges out to play in the park. Some parents prefer their precious little ones to be taken out twice a day. They believe the outdoor play will wear the children down. This way they can have some peace and quiet if the children end up going to bed nice and early. Some parents make me feel like I am taking their dogs out for a walk instead of their kids. Some of them are also insistent so that they don’t have to do this ‘chore’ when I am not there. I don’t mind taking the children to the park at all. It is my job after all.

The task is made harder because I can’t forecast the weather. Sometimes I wait a little to see if it is really going to rain before going out but I also sometimes wait a little too long and the rain finally comes pouring down, ruining my opportunity to go out at all. Whose fault is that? The nanny is at fault, of course! New parents may wonder why I can’t go after the rain. Let me tell you, nannies have other things lined up to do during the day as well. Now, imagine wheeling a precious little Aussiemite to the playground and then getting caught in the rain whilst on the way home. Being a dutiful nanny, I should have remembered to put the plastic waterproof shield over the pram to prevent the poor child from getting soaked. Whose fault is it if the plastic waterproof shield is nowhere to be found and the child ended up getting wet? The nanny is at fault again, of course!

When I was looking after Mathilde when she was a young toddler, her cranky mum complained a few times if I didn’t take her out when it didn’t end up raining. The truth was that I sometimes waited too long for the rain to happen or to pass. When we were caught in the rain on the way home from the park on two occasions, I was asked why I took her to the park on such a rainy day. This cranky mum wanted Mathilde to go to the park daily but provided no waterproof shield for the pram to keep her little girl dry if it rained. She complained that the shield was too cumbersome to use and kept it in her SUV instead. Mary Poppins always carried an umbrella but if I carried one like hers it would still be difficult for me to shield the child while she was sitting in the pram, while I pushed her from behind.

On two occasions, I arrived for work on rainy days to see this cranky mum wheeling Mathilde home from the shops. The child was wet. The first time this happened the cranky mum said that the rain just came from out of nowhere. The second time this occurred the cranky mum had the audacity to explain that it was an unexpected, silly little mistake, but Mathilde enjoyed it. After probably judging my facial expression, she went on to tell me that this was an okay bit of fun for her, because she is the child’s mum, but she expected a little more from me because I am a nanny.

So, is a nanny neglecting her duties because her young charge got wet, while a mum is considered to just be having a little bit of fun with her young child if the same thing happened? Is there one rule for the nanny and another rule for the ‘ever so caring’ mother?

No Photography / Photographer at the Park

I took Stella to the museum earlier this year. It was a special treat. Her mum dropped us off and we were set for an adventure. Naturally Stella was intrigued by all of the exhibits. No one can know for sure how much a then 3 (soon to be 4) year old can learn from such a visit, but that wasn’t the point. Her mum and I were happy because she had a great day exploring. She was especially interested in the animal exhibits. She liked Phar Lap and sat down maturely to watch the video clips. She also liked the two long snakes in the big glass cabinet. It is funny how children are not fazed by such a sight as I found the snakes quite gross. Stella also visited the children’s museum and watched a puppet show. She wasn’t all that interested because she wanted to see the dinosaurs again. After that she wanted to leave because she was hungry.

With an hour to spare before her mum’s return to pick us up I thought that I would take her to the big playground behind the museum. That area used to be a children’s traffic school. It was quite hot. Before we left I reapplied sunscreen lotion on her as I didn’t want her to burn. We sat on a park bench to eat our packed lunch. As I munched away, I noticed a youngish couple with cameras under a tree. I thought they were just lazing around and didn’t think much of it. Stella became more energetic and talkative half way through lunch. As soon as she was finished, she decided to play on the equipment. She enjoyed exploring the different play areas and as usual, she tried to chat with other children who were mostly too shy to respond to her.

Stella loves the swing. At that time, she was still learning to pump on her own. She asked me to give her one mighty push and then let her pump by herself. I was still standing behind her when the young lady with the camera came over. The lady stood in front of Stella and said, “What a beautiful young lady you are.” She flashed a fake smile at me and asked Stella, “Did mum buy you that pretty dress?” (Funny how people think my charges are my kids.) Never afraid of strangers, Stella said, “Watch out, I might kick you with my foot.” The lady backed off a little and gave the Indian mum next to us a fake smile. She turned to Stella again and asked, “How old are you?” Stella answered her. With this, the lady crouched down in front of Stella and I saw that she was adjusting her camera. I stopped her and said, “No. Sorry. Please, no photographs.” The lady was clearly annoyed. She forced another fake smile and then walked to the Indian mum and began to take snaps of her toddler. The Indian mum didn’t seem to mind. After that, she came back to us and apologised for not asking first. The lady then walked over to the play area directly behind the museum. As I prepared Stella for the walk to meet her mum, a mother came over to me and asked if the lady wanted to take photos of my daughter. I replied yes. The mother was actually quite upset because her older son told her the lady took photos of the younger son. She asked if the lady explained why she was taking photos. I said no and I told her that I didn’t allow her to take photos of Stella and that the lady later apologised. Another couple of mothers (and their toddlers) came over to us asking the same thing about the lady with the camera. One was actually asking if there were any security guards on the ground. I excused myself because I had to go and meet Stella’s mum. As we were walking towards Nicholson St we saw the lady with the camera again. This time she was being told off by the man that was with her earlier.

I never found out why she was taking photos. She was probably taking them just for a course project. I didn’t allow her to take any photos of Stella because we didn’t know her. With permission from the parents I would allow my charges to talk to strangers if they talk to them first. I am always mindful though as sometimes people just want to greet a cute little Aussiemite sitting in a pram and nothing else. I explain to parents that I do not think it is healthy for children to be cut off from other people in their community. As adults we just have to be mindful of the situation because children have little experience gauging what is considered appropriate or inappropriate. It is wrong to always assume the worse of everyone on the street. I find it is better to allow children to practice greeting and have basic conversations with people in their community. This way, they will learn over time what is acceptable and feel what is comfortable to engage in. As for photographs, I simply do not allow anyone other than my charges’ parents to take pictures of the children when they are under my care. You just don’t know what these people are up to, especially if they don’t explain themselves first.

Keeping a Work Diary & the Hazard of Doing So!

I have always requested each family that I work for to supply me with a diary to jot down the child’s/children’s progress during the day. I see it as a way to communicate to the parents because at the end of the day, most parents are so tired from a full working day that I may not have the opportunity to tell them all of the interesting news. I must state that this form of communication does not take over the face to face conversation with the parents, which is essential. There are times when urgent issues have to be dealt with a quick conversation right away.

Some of the things that I write down are details of food and liquid intake, interesting developmental milestones, toileting progress, symptoms of any illness and in babies, I jot down their bowel movements (especially on sick days). I also write about any activities (e.g. art, outdoor play, etc) completed by the child and the child’s mood throughout the day. With siblings, I also write about their relationship with each other on the very day. Not everything I report is bad. Parents love to read about how well their children are getting along. However, I am always truthful and I do not try to hide certain facts just because parents may find it stressful.

Here comes a story… When I used to look after Alexandra and her siblings, their aunt sometimes arranged for her daughter, Bella to drop by for a few hours. Both mums seemed to think that Bella would benefit from playing with Alexandra. I have warned both mums that I may not be able to cope if Alexandra was going to have a ‘rough’ day. They didn’t seem to mind. This used to happened more so after the birth of Sharky (Bella’s sister). Alexandra, the tricky girl, was always up to some kind of mischief. She would attack Bella almost always when I had to tend to baby Millie (or later baby Olivia). I could never quite tell the other times when Alexandra would attack. She could be giving Bella cuddles one minute and then head butting her the next minute. I needed to write in the diary about these occasions because I had to report any bruises or cuts that came as the result of such attacks. Bella’s dad used to read certain details religiously. He used to get very upset reading about Bella being bullied. He didn’t blame me for anything that happened. Instead he began to casually embarrass Alexandra’s parents during family get togethers. I was instructed by Alexandra’s parents to stop writing about Bella when she was over at their place because she was only a guest. Bella’s dad soon caught on that I wasn’t reporting anything about Bella’s afternoon at Alexandra’s house. One day when I was looking after Bella and baby Sharky at their own home, he deliberately stayed home longer to find out what was happening. He asked me if I was asked not to write anything about Bella. I didn’t say anything but my body language must have given it away. He said he will ask his wife to take Bella and Sharky’s diary with her the next time she dropped Bella off at Alexandra’s home. I was requested to fill in the details in that diary. I thought that was that. A couple of weekends later, this large prominent family had a get together for someone’s birthday. Alexandra pushed Bella over and this led to Bella’s dad challenging Alexandra’s mum with a question: “How much extra are you paying the nanny to stop reporting such incidents?” Arrrgh! PARENTS! Needless to say I was questioned as to whether I had told him that I was paid extra to zip up.

The story above did not put me off requesting subsequent families to supply me with diaries. The current families that I work for are very happy about this. The diaries are giving them an insight of their daughters’ lives when they aren’t home. Stella’s dad has already decided to read parts of it on her 21st birthday. I have been told how children that I have previously looked after have dug out their diaries in order to read about their past as babies and toddlers. I wonder how many grammatical and spelling mistakes of mine that they found.

Bree’s Words

At 19 (nearly 20) months of age, Bree’s speech development is coming along quite well. She labels things all day. As she is still in the early stage of learning to use the toilet, she is still wearing nappies. When she needed a nappy change, she would say, “appy.” She used to say ‘mook’ for milk but lately she added the letter l, turning it into ‘moolk’. Her first word was ‘dog’. She applied that same word to all animals. A bird was a ‘dog’ and so was a cat. It was hilarious. She is now able to say ‘buh’ for bird and ‘cat’ for cat.

Bree also says some phrases that she often hears. I think she is treating each of them as a big long word. When her mum comes home from work, Bree will parrot, “Cup-a-tea” and proceed to the kitchen corner where the kettle and toaster are. Lately, she has begun to say the same thing in a questioning kind of way to sound more like an invitation to her mum.

Bree is also beginning to experiment with joining a couple of words together to make phrases. Whenever I take Bree out for a walk and play outdoors in the afternoon we sometimes see children walking home from school. She is always fascinated by the other children and would like to join them. She is particularly interested in this scooter ridden by a young boy on his way home from school. She learned to say ‘cooter’ for scooter and will call out as soon as she spotted it. One day, the boy (accompanied by his mum) came up to Bree and said, “My name is not Cooper. That is my cousin.” Bree pointed excitedly at the scooter and said, “cooter”. The boy’s mum explained to him that the baby (Bree) was trying to name his scooter. She continued to call out every time we see the boy on his scooter. One time, the boy called out, “Why can’t she get it? It is a scooter, not a cooter!” Last week, Bree who had been practising waving and saying bye-bye for a while now, managed to put a couple of words together when she saw the boy (with a raincoat) riding the scooter. She said, “Bye-bye ooter.” The boy didn’t hear her because she didn’t say it loud enough. I think she realised that she didn’t say it quite right. On our way home, she repeatedly said “Bye-bye ooter” until she managed to finally say “Bye-bye cooter” a few times.

I know she is still wrong but give the child a chance. I am pretty sure she will be speaking fluently soon. On average, most children experience an explosion in verbal language development around their second birthday. Some children may experience this a little earlier while others may do the same a little later.

Stella’s Hot Cold Holidays

I will only be looking after Bree in the next few weeks. Stella is enjoying an ‘extended’ school holiday. Right now, Stella and her parents are in Indonesia, visiting her mum’s best friend, who is currently based in Indonesia. Her father will return to Melbourne earlier, leaving her to spend the rest of the time there with her mum. After returning to Melbourne, Stella will be taken up to Mt. Buller. Her father can’t wait to see Stella skiing steadily. She first learned to ski last year but according to her dad, that was just ‘baby stuff’. It seems like he is expecting her to improve, but I just hope he won’t forget to allow her to have heaps of fun as well.

From warm and sticky Jakarta to cold and wet Buller, I wonder how Stella’s little body will cope with the different destinations. Personally, I think they should have visited Indonesia at the end of the year and spent these holidays entirely skiing on Mt. Buller, but they didn’t have much of a choice. Stella’s mum wanted to visit Indonesia again and she wanted to do it before her friend moved on to another posting in either China or Japan, later this year. Stella’s parents would like to expose her to as many world cultures as possible and this friend had planned a mini charity project for both Stella and her mum. They didn’t want to miss out on this. I will post about this mini project after they have returned from their holidays. In the meantime, Stella’s sports mad dad was also planning to spend a few days skiing with his girls. July or August is the best time to go. By chance, he was able to take a few days off in July. As a result, Stella is now enjoying the first of two oddly coordinated holidays.

MYER (CBD) becoming a Friendly Store?

Like the Target CBD store, I have tried to avoid shopping at MYER, preferring to go to David Jones instead. Never assume that David Jones is an expensive place. There have been times when I have bought items from David Jones that are a bit cheaper than other places.

I went to David Jones to buy a few Clinique products on the weekend. Unfortunately, the facial bar I needed was out of stock. I debated as to whether I should travel all the way to Highpoint or to pop into MYER (right next door to David Jones) to get it. By the way, there’s a friendly Clinique counter on the upper level at Highpoint, but I chose to go to MYER, since I also wanted to buy some thermals, which were on sale.

At the MYER Clinique counter I was served by a friendly lady. Whilst she was processing my purchase, three other ladies came to offer me assistance, because they weren’t sure if I was already being attended to. Their approach was warm and friendly. There was none of the frosty attitude that I used to receive. They didn’t make me feel as though I cannot afford to shop at MYER.

Later I went to see if they still had any long sleeved Holeproof Thermalite thermals at the lingerie department. There was a 20% (or was it 25 %?) discount on thermals. Unfortunately there weren’t any of the long sleeve ones left. Before I left the department I overheard a courteous employee thanking a shopper. I thought that was really nice. I think the quality of service is just as important as the availability of products and good pricing.

I also bought some toys from the toy department. Although I only spent around aud$79.00, the service I received was just as friendly. I thought that I must have been dreaming.

Is the MYER CBD store trying to score some brownie points like the Target CBD store? Are they trying to win back their customers? I am very happy with my shopping experience at MYER on the weekend. I will definitely shop there again. Hopefully my next experience will be just as happy as well.