NannyCast 31: When One Family Becomes Two  In this episode, we explore the challenges that are yet to come when your two parent nanny family turns into two one-parent nanny families, and they ask you to continue to work through the transition and thereafter. Forewarned is forearmed. // download episode // subscribe to NannyCast // Additional Show Notes and Bibliography:Coping with Family Transitions: Winners, Losers, and Survivors Should we stay together for the sake of the children?How Parents Can Help Children Cope With Separation/Divorce Your Parenting Mojo / Episode 36Reprint request screen shot in the transcript. Transcript after the break. I’m Nanny Jen. Today we are going to be tackling the topic of nannying through a martial end. And what I mean by this is that you, the nanny, have been the family’s nanny while they were an intact family, but all of a sudden they are splitting up, and they’ve asked you to stay. This is different than being a nanny to a family which is already separated but maybe not legally divorced, different from being a nanny to a divorced family that is dating or possibly adding additional individuals via remarriage, and different from being a nanny of a high interparental conflict family that maybe ought to get divorced. In this case, we are talking about nannying right through that exact transition to intact to separated family. I firmly believe that to be the best nannies we possibly can be means to consider the challenges we are likely to face and ensure that we have the wherewithal to face those challenges. So today’s topic is really about what those challenges are likely to be. Forewarned is forearmed, after all. [Parenting Mojo clip] And to help us navigate this, so it isn’t just my dry voice speaking to you endlessly, we are bringing in audio from an excellent, data driven, research-based parenting podcast called Your Parenting Mojo. If you ever want to know what the scholarship is on a particular parenting topic and want it derived audio style so that you can keep your eyes on your charges, they’ve got you covered. [Parenting Mojo Intro] As they say in that podcast: [Parenting Mojo goal statement.] [Risk factor introduction.] The Parenting Mojo podcast doesn’t ever directly name and define each of these risk factors, but their amazing bibliography, linked in our show notes, does lead to the primary sources which do, all of which have the name of a particular Dr. Hetherington associated with them. So I went to her book on the topic for the most authoritative list. [Parenting Mojo explanation] Before I begin reading out the risk factors, I will tell you that a lot of these research references are hidden behind paywalls, and for good reason: good research, good editing, and good publishing requires funds. So if you are not a person associated with an academic institution like a university of your own, you will get access to, at most, the abstracts, and in some cases just the citations. BUT HAVE NO FEAR, there is a way around this! Within scholarly circles, there is such a thing as a gratis (that means free) “reprint request”. Let me repeat those two words for you, because they, in combination, unlock a free copy of the scholarship. Reprint request. You simply send those magical words in to the person identified in the citation as the corresponding author, who won’t just be named but will also be given an email or mailing address for you to send the magical words to. On the episode show notes at NannyCast.com you will be able to find a screen shot of one of the reprint requests I sent in. As soon as the reprint request is received, you’ll get a free and complete copy of the scholarly article or book chapter. Winning! [Parenting Mojo risk factor explanation] These risk factors are considered those which would make successful parenting and the development of competent children more difficult, but that doesn’t mean impossible. Again, forewarned is forearmed. They are as follows:  economic declin

nannycast: NannyCast 02: Difficult Conversations with Parents (when they are Mistaken or Wrong)  You know that you are supposed to be having a difficult conversation with your boss. You know that this is something you should be doing. But you haven’t the faintest clue how to actually do that. Well, you didn’t … until you listened to this episode, that is. In this episode, the Nannies give learn-it-use-it strategies to get you talking, despite the difficulty. Additional Show Notes: “Difficult Conversations” episode from Practically Perfect Podcast (download) It is time to revisit our second episode of our second season, on having difficult conversations with parents. This episode runs a little bit long compared to our other episodes, but that is because we give you actual concrete tips and strategies. Want to make sure you are present for any future recording calls? Make sure you like and follow our NannyCast Facebook Page. We announce recording calls as Facebook Events.

NannyCast 30: Nanny Burnout  In this episode, Nannies Jen and Laura explore the complex topic of nanny burnout: where it comes from, how to tell if you have it, and how to fix it. // download episode // subscribe to NannyCast // accompanying slide show // Voices for the Nanny Burnout Inventory come from the following generous voice actors:Seamus the Gentleman | [email protected] Micklasavage, Voice Actor | [email protected] & https://mariamicklasavagevoiceover.com/CreedCobaltBlueinfotroph FancyOctopus from the Buried Gems Podcast | The internet is a treasure trove of original fiction! At Buried Gems we comedically dig through and try and find the next big thing.  Additional Show Notes:International Nanny Association // Nanny Support Groups by LocalityVulnerability Hangover Audio from Over My Dead Body Ep 4Parasympathetic Nervous System Audio from Crash Course A&PSerenity Prayer Audio from The Anxiety Coaches PodcastGuided Meditation for Stress Relief Chronic Stress Audio from TED-Ed Why Mess Causes Stress from Psychology Today 2008 Monitor on Psychology from the American Psychological Association Fight, Flight, or Freeze? What is your Stress Style? Additional Bibliography:Stress and Hormone BasicsHacking Your Brain at Any AgeLetting Your Body Turn Down the Stress6 Ways to Clean Your Child’s Bedroom Once and For All Mommy Burnout (book)

NannyCast 28: How to Read Children’s Books THE BEST  In this episode, guest Krystal Black of the Chapel Hill Public Library joins us to teach us how to read books to children The Best, whether it be one charge or a handful of children. She also answers listener questions, discusses the word gap, gives tips for how to incorporate more books into your day, tells us how to introduce children to new literature when you’ve grown tired of their favorites, and (timecode 15 minutes) plays Stump the Librarian while teaching us how to read some particularly problematic types of books. (timecode 24 minutes) Listeners, you can win a copy of the BabyLit title Alice in Wonderland! All it takes is for you to point your computer or phone browser over to “Send a Soundbite” and send us a clip of your anonymous nanny confession. Additional Show Notes:Chapel Hill Public LibraryLexile Framework for ReadingWord Gap Podcast (Code Switch: Word Up)How to Read With Your Child via Parenting Mojo (download)

NannyCast 27: What is Your Boss Thinking? Part 2  This is part two of a two part series that explores what is going through your MomBoss or DadBoss’s head when they engage in behaviors that confuse us. This series is designed to give the nanny insight into their boss’s mind so that nanny can craft his or her reaction around the understanding of where the behavior is coming from. This podcast was mixed by [email protected]. (download) Additional Show Notes:Is It Hard to Think About Nannies? What Mary Poppins Knew.Why Aren’t We Curious about Nannies? // all versionsSusan Scheftel, Ph.D. // contact by email

NannyCast 26: Children’s Book Gripes  In this rebroadcast from the second ever episode of NannyCast from NannyCast’s first season, Nannies Jenni and Denny review their biggest gripes about children’s books. Have any to share? Let us know! If you have an old NannyCast 1.0 episode lying around, get in touch! We are offering rewards for lost episodes! (download)

NannyCast 25: What is Your Boss Thinking? Part 1  This is part one of a two part series that explores what is going through your MomBoss or DadBoss’s head when they engage in behaviors that confuse us. This series is designed to give the nanny insight into their boss’s mind so that nanny can craft his or her reaction around the understanding of where the behavior is coming from. (download) Additional Show Notes:Is It Hard to Think About Nannies? What Mary Poppins Knew.Why Aren’t We Curious about Nannies? // all versionsSusan Scheftel, Ph.D. // contact by email

NannyCast 24: Nannypalooza 2012  Thanks to our amazing listeners, audio from NannyCast 1.0 continues to surface! You’ll have heard in our previous rebroadcast episodes that we promised we were headed to the 2012 Nannypalooza to do a taping…and we did! Learn about who you can expect to meet at Nannypalooza, why you should consider going, what tips are to get your employers to pay, and more! If you have an old NannyCast 1.0 episode lying around, get in touch! We are offering rewards for lost episodes! (download) Additional Show Notes:Nannypalooza INA / International Nanny AssociationPractically Perfect Podcast

NannyCast 23: Play  Early Child Development Series. This episode covers everything you could possibly learn about children and their play. We cover the six types of play as taught in ECE classes, as well as the two types of play-with-adults as taught to psychotherapists. And we teach you why play is important, not just that play is important. And for the human resources connection? This is your professional development, free! (download) Additional Show Notes:Dr. Diane Philipp on Child Led PlayYou and Your Young ChildDanielle Shirley on PlayChild-Directed Play and Parent-Directed Play: Two Ways for Parents to Play with Their ChildrenDr. Jeffrey Trawick-Smith on The Importance of Play Transcript: Hello, and welcome to another informative episode of NannyCast. I’m Nanny Jen. In 2012, NannyCast launched its first season with an inaugural episode on play. Since then our initial podcast host went out of business, taking with it over 20 episodes of awesome, edifying information, and other nanny podcasts have sprung up in the field, which has caused us to refine our focus to JUST the employee or human resources part of nannying. However, a recording of our very first ever episode of NannyCast has surfaced and it is on the topic of play. We had lots of questions and not many answers, so we remixed the episode to be an early childhood development lesson on the six types of play and the importance of play. If you have an Early Childhood Education or Early Childhood Development degree, this may be redundant material, so we understand if you wish to skip to the next podcast on your playlist and we will see you next time, for the rest of you, let’s delve in! [first old episode clip] So, that first type of play that we described is called Child Led Play and is named in a mostly self-explanatory way. Here is Dr. Diane Philipp, a child psychologist, explaining Child Led Play. [philipp clip] Child led play is letting the child have full, and bossy, creative control over how an adult is going to play with them. It is sometimes also called child directed play or at times filial - which has its root word in the same word as family - therapy. Here is why this type of play is GREAT! [Dana Stanton interviews Danielle Massaglia] [OG NannyCast] That kind of play where the child takes an observational role is the second type of play with an adult. It is called, well, I’ll let Danielle Shirley take it from here. [D Shirley Clip] [OG NannyCast] This daydreaming is a kind of play too! Ms. Shirley, fill us in! [D Shirley] [OG NannyCast] The type of play being described behind my adult checks is the opposite of child directed play. It is called, unsurprisingly, adult directed play. And it is important too! Play shouldn’t just be child directed.  With  adult directed play, the adult will choose a specific type of activity for adult and child to engage with together.  Adult directed play tends to focus on dimensions of nurturance, structure, challenge, and engagement. [OG NannyCast] The unique special benefit of adult directed play is that it will help the child gain comfort and trust in following that adult’s directions. Clearly, I had failed at the “fun” part if my charges were checking out. [OG NannyCast] Ms. Shirley, what type of play is Nanny Denny describing? [D Shirley] [OG NannyCast] It sounds like I am describing reading during parallel play as well, doesn’t it? But I’m not! I’m describing [D Shirley] [OG NannyCast] Playdates are a type of play too! It can either be cooperative play [D Shirley] or associative play. [D Shirley] And that covers all the different types of play. All that is left is to cover why play is important. We saved it for last because you always save the best for last. You’ve heard the rather famous quote which is quote play is the work of the child end quote and has been attributed both to Maria Montessori of the Montessori method and Montessori schools, but also to Jean Piaget who is the developmental psychologist responsible fo

NannyCast 22: Employee (mis) Classification  Am I an independent contractor? My bosses think I should have a 1099, should I? What is a W2? Should I be afraid to fill out a W4? What is an I9? How about a W9? What happens if I get a 1099? And your mnemonic: Even numbers are your friend; Iiiiiiiiiiii’m not worried about it. (download) Additional Show Notes:Recourse for Employees Misclassified as Independent Contractors / Link to SS-8 Homework Solutions on Employee vs Independent ContractorMark Kohler on Employee vs Independent ContractorHawkins Ash CPAs on Employee vs Independent Contractor Transcript: Hello, and welcome to another exciting episode of NannyCast! I’m Nanny Jen. And this episode is unfortunately only useful to nannies based in the United States of America. We are going to talk about being a misclassified employee. [Nanny T] Thank you for that anonymous question Nanny T. The short answer is simply that something is illegal when it is against the law. [Homework Solutions] That audio you just heard came from Homework Solutions, a leader in nanny payroll and taxes and the payroll processor that I personally recommend to all of my employers when they are willing to pay for something automated. The law is absolutely crystal clear that a nanny is an employee. Spelled out. By name. Of course, that requires you to know what a nanny is, and for that, here is Mark J Kohler of C&E CPAs. [Mark quote] So in summary, if you work in the home of your employer, and earn at least $2000 a year, you are a nanny. And not only a nanny, you are a household employee. Are there any childcare workers who work in the home of their employer and earn over $2000 a year who are not nannies? Yes, says Mr. Kohler. [Mark quote] If you work in your own home and have your charges brought to you? Nope, not a nanny. We often debate and deliberate what a nanny is on the nanny support groups and while we like to add all sorts of extras about professional development and social and emotional well being, the truth is that in the United States of America, a nanny is different from a babysitter just by earned income alone: $2000 or more in a calendar year. So that covers what a nanny is and that, by law, a nanny is a household employee. Unambiguously. Because the law says so. Using the word nanny. No question. So then does a nanny, an employee, match with a 1099? Not so. A nanny deserves a W2. And more than that, there are three forms to be aware of. Audio on these topics are aimed at employers rather than employees, but here is Mr. Kohler explaining all of the forms. [Mark quote] The W4 leads to a W2 at year’s end. The W9 leads to a 1099 at year’s end. And the I9? That leads to you having a job. Just remember, if your W form at hiring has a 9 at the end, that’s bad. W9 and 1099 both end in 9 and they are related. W2 and W4 are both divisible by 2. Even numbers are your friend. As for I forms. I don’t care about it. So now that we have thoroughly thrashed the proverbial horse of a nanny being an employee and necessitating a W2 a year’s end, just out of curiosity, let’s find out what this 1099 Independent Contractor stuff is. Here are both Homework Solutions and Mr. Kohler on the topic. Both have slightly different answers because the IRS is a wee bit vague, but the similarities ought to be striking and why a nanny doesn’t qualify is crystal clear. [Homework Solutions] [Mark] So to summarize, a nanny isn’t an independent contractor because they cannot control their schedule, the cannot work for other clients, they are the same person who shows up to work every day or week rather than morphing into someone else, cannot tell their employer that they’ve gone over budget on their income and so the employer has to give them a raise just so, and they cannot single handedly decide to outsource parts of their job without an employer promptly firing them for cause. [S] That’s a good question, because we’ve been implying but not stating that **this is federal**. This m