Starting a Child Daycare

Starting a child care was one of the most challenging things I had ever done. I was really overwhelmed with all the things to consider. One of the mistakes I made was spending too much money on advertising.

I wish that I would have had a kit like this when I was starting up. I think it would have saved me a lot of time and energy.

For those readers who are home daycare providers I recommend this book.

If you are starting up a daycare or are already running one, you know that there are so many issues to consider, from insurance to age appropriate toys. You will find all the answers to your questions in this book.

When I was considering writing my own book I came across this one doing research and I found that all the questions were already answered in this kit.

Click Here! to read more information on this great book.

p.s. This book is written for daycare providers in the United States. If you live in Canada, some of the legal issues presented will be different of course.

I'm loving Word Press

Okay, is it a good idea to be writing about how much I love Word Press on my Googe Blogger blog? Probably not, but that's okay, because I still have my blogger account up and running, don't I? So it's not that blogger isn't great -- it's just that Word Press is awesome!

The best thing about Word Press is that it let's you add as many pages as you want to your blog. That's awesome!

I've got pages for Family, for Internet Marketing, for religion, for freelancing, and I'm sure there will be more to come.

I'm learning so much about the blogging world lately and am having so much fun with it. So my posting for today is in celebration of "THE BLOG."

If you are new to blogging or haven't yet created your own, I have to ask, what is stopping you?

To read more about what a blog is and how to create your own, check out my Word Press blog at www.rachelperrypellegrini.com.

See you there!

I'm finally getting a good night's sleep!

Hi fellow self-improver,

I've battled insomnia for more than 15 years. Just recently I came across some CDs that have given me the best night's sleep that I ever remember having. If you are having sleep problems to, I am confident they will help you fall asleep and sleep well all night.

If you're like most people with sleep problems, yourmind is simply overloaded with tension and strain by the time your head hits the pillow.
You lie there trying to relax, yet you play the day'sevents over and over in your mind. You dwell on moneyproblems. Kid problems. Marriage and relationshipproblems. You can't shut off your brain and get tosleep, no matter how hard you try ... and the frustration mounts up.
But imagine if you could release the weight of theworld at bedtime. Automatically, too, so you don't evengive it a thought. And without taking a single pill,either.
Well, that day is finally here...
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Today, my friend Mike Brescia of Think Right NowInternational has gathered together over 105 leading authors and experts to show you breathtaking new waysto ease your stress, calm your mind, enjoy greatersuccess - including the one, best way to get theblissful night's sleep you deserve, night after night.
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By the way, "Tranquil Sleep Now" is NOT hypnosis orone of those "sounds of nature" tapes. Instead, itcombines two proven mental conditioning techniques in aunique audio format that has a remarkable track recordfor success.
It breaks the chains of troubled sleep naturally bytargeting and transforming the self-defeating thoughts,feelings, and beliefs that loom in your mind when yougo to bed.
So if you're sick and tired of waking up feeling likeyou've been through an ultimate fighting match,"Tranquil Sleep Now" guarantees a full night's sleepevery night.
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This program is like an audio knockout pill that trains your mind to shut down on command so that you can fall asleep anytime you want anywhere you want without anystrain or effort.
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To the best night's sleep of your life every night!





You deserve it!

Facing the Fear of the Unknown

What can I do to overcome this fear I have of the unknown?

There's a saying, "Feel the fear and do it anyway!" and I think that's how I got from point A to point B for a very long time.

There was a time when I felt this wide-spread fear. It was a generalized feeling of fear, combined with doubt, uncertainity and worry. The first thing I had to do to overcome this fear was identifying what was it that I was so afraid of.

The best way that I know how to work out these types of self-reflection questions are to write about it, talk about it, and meditate about it.

When I wrote about my fears, I came to realize that there were a lot of "known" things that I was afraid of. I had feelings of fear that many people have -- afraid of success, afraid of failure, afraid of winning, afraid of losing...I was afraid to be myself; I was afraid to live. Being afraid to live leaves a person feeling drained and weakened by the passing events of life. I didn't really feel like I was being myself, and didn't feel like my self was being fulfilled.

So I started taking steps in a direction towards what I thought would bring me happiness.

I went back to school. I got a diploma in journalism. I was so afraid, but I did it anyway, and it wasn't so bad. Now years later, I can look back and say, "I did it!" And I'm not afraid of succeeding anymore.

Is there something in your life that is making you feel fearful and worried?

Start to face the fear by journaling about it. See what comes up. You may realize that the very act of writing about it releases its hold on you.

What you resist persists...

What can you do today to stop resisting that which you fear the most?

no nobler deed than education of children

no nobler deed than education of children
O ye loving mothers, know ye that in God's sight, the best of all ways to worship Him is to educate the children and train them in all the perfections of humankind; and no nobler deed than this can be imagined.(Abdu'l-Baha, Selections from the Writings of Abdu'l-Baha, p. 138)
Today I am filled with gratitude at my fortune of being a mother. This above quote brings me a sense of inspiration and purpose that even though being a loving and educative mother is not easy, striving to train my daughter in the perfections of humankind fulfills me in a way no other job could.
This quote mentions God. My belief is that God is the Higher Power, the Creator, the Divine Maker of the Universe. God is Unknowable to us little humans, the same way that a painting cannot know its painter. God is Love. There is only One God. All religions come from One God. All people are created by One God.
Worshipping God, I believe, is not only for Sundays in the church pews. When we use our talents, skills and capacities to help others, when we work in a spirit of service, this too is worshipping God.
As mothers, whatever our belief system is, whatever our belief in God is, we still have a noble purpose of raising our children to be the best that they can be. When we dedicate ourselves to training our children in the perfections of humankind we are contributing to the betterment of the world.
Today, I wish to acknowledge all you other mothers out there, sacrificing your time and energy to your kids. And I say "Cheers!" to you all. :)

Consolation of the Heart

In my search to find comfort and understanding today, I came across this passage in the Baha'i Writings and it brough my heart to ease.

"Be not disappointed by the calamity which hath befallen thee and be not grieved that the consolation of thine eye (thy child) hath left the world of dust and hath ascended to the expanse of the Kingdom, that he hath abandoned the abode of the lowest world and hath sought refuge in the presence of the greatest mercy, where the Lord hath placed him in a comfortable abode."
(Abdu'l-Baha, Tablets of Abdu'l-Baha v2, p. 331)

Today I am more peaceful than I was yesterday and perhaps tomorrow will be even easier than today.

A Poem After Two Miscarriages

My heart is heavy again,
I say to a friend,
One day I was happily pregnant,
then that little baby did ascend.

Like the autumn trees around me,
sheding the leaves that fall,
My body released that baby,
But I wasn't prepared at all.

Now my tears fall unstopping,
the hurt is too big to contain,
My tears fall unstopping,
Like a warm autumn rain.

Two babies now wait for me,
In that divine next world,
I miss them though I never held them,
My little boy and girl.

In June I lost Elijah,
and my heart broke in two.
On Nov. 5th, I lost Mary,
Two children I never knew.

How did this story become mine?
Two babies I'll never hold.
The meaning, they say is divine,
There's a reason I am told.

The night has fallen around me,
but my weeping heart won't rest.
How can I chose to sleep,
With this weight upon my chest?

The Tree of Grace is high and wide,
Our family's love is strong.
God's gift is in the moment,
In the hope of my heart's song.

This dark night embraces me,
But soon the sun will dawn,
Bringing hope of brighter tomorrows,
In the hope of my heart's song.

In honour of Barack Obama

At this historic moment in time I want to take the opportunity to acknowledge the president elect Barak Obama!

It seems to me that this event is a symbol of the maturity of the citizens of the U.S. We are all living in a time when we must lay aside our differences and arise together to serve for the betterment of the world.

I came across a statement today by Abdu'l-Baha, the son of Baha'u'llah who is the Founder of the Baha'i Faith. It is fitting for today. Abdu'l-Baha said that "We must now highly resolve to arise and lay hold of all those instrumentalities that promote the peace and well-being and happiness, the knowledge, culture and industry, the dignity, value and station, of the entire human race.
(Abdu'l-Baha, The Secret of Divine Civilization, p. 3)

Obama's victory is a reminder of the ideals that we must strive for -- equality, unity, peace.

It is not an issue of black and white. It is an issue of our humanness.

I am so happy to be here to witness this turning point in history and my prayers are with Obama and his family today for their well-being and success.

The Butterfly Effect

Self-Advocacy is a term originally with people with special needs in mind but the philosophies of self-advocacy apply to anyone who wants to make changes in their life, who wantes to stand up for what they believe in, or stand up for who they believe in.

I have been a self-advocate for years. Along the way I had many obstacles to overcome and did so with ingenuity and hard work.

When I was student teaching in a classroom I was always aware of the students that struggled with literacy or listening skills. I designed little codes that they could use with me so that I would know when they needed me to repeat a phrase or help them understand a question. We did this so as to not draw attention from the other students that this student needed extra attention.

That was my way of advocating for a student in my class.

Now I'm working from home and my passion is now to adovate for myself and for children.

Overall, I'm advocating for education, for mothers, for families.

I'm moving forward conscious of the "Butterfly Effect"...the philosophy that we are all connected and that our positive actions can have a ripple effect on others. The idea is that a butterfly in the East flapping its wings can cause a windstorm in the West.

On days when I feel discouraged or feel small in such a big world this idea helps keep me focused.

Every little step we take has great effect, even though we cannot see it.

Name My Business Contest

Name My Business Contest!
The new business that I'm running offers support and coaching to stay at home moms. Some services and products I will be providing are listed below. My goal is to earn enough income to be able to stay at home while raising my daughter. I will have a website (with the company name on it) and will continue to use a blog to support my business. The focus of the business is to offer inspiration to moms and to provide encouragement and goal setting for their own businesses. This will primarily be an online business so most of the products will be offered in e-format and coaching will be done by phone and emails.
Post your suggestions on my blog, or on facebook at the Daystar Daycare Network, or email me at www.wayfarer1977@gmail.com. I'm also on Twitter so you can post there as well.
Deadline for submissions will be Mon. Nov. 17th. I will announce the winner by Nov. 21st.
The services I provide or the products I will offer will include:
-coaching for stay-at-home moms
-virtues training workshops for moms
-e-courses on parenting topics
-e-books on the materials I write
-articles on the subjects
-daily tips, humour articles, etc
-networking services
-support and resources
Deadline for name submission is Nov. 17th.
Winner will be announced on this blog and on facebook.
Winner will receive (aside from having their suggestion become my business name)...$200 credit towards materials and services provided by my business.
Posted by Wayfarer at 10:53 AM 0 comments
Saturday, October 4, 2008

Parenting Halloween Tips: 5 Virtues Candy Teaches

Halloween is so much fun for kids and adults alike. As excited as the children are to have so much candy at their disposal, Halloween in your house does not have to be a time of sugar-induced hyper activity. In fact, there are several easy ways to keep children’s glucose levels down and teach them about their virtues at the same time. Instead of letting Halloween become an opportunity for disaster, parents can use Halloween as a teachable moment to help children practice five important virtues of character.
Virtue #1 - Generosity
“The gift which is given without thought of recompense, in the belief that it ought to be made, in a fit place, at an opportune time, and to a deserving person-such a gift is pure” – Bhagavad-Gita 17:20
On the day after Halloween talk to your child about how fortunate they are to have so much candy now. Tell them that not everyone has this much candy and that it would be very kind and generous to share some. Suggest giving five pieces to grandma, grandpa, or a person of your child’s choice. Then have them choose the pieces and put them into a little bag with a ribbon. When you deliver the present acknowledge your child’s action with a statement such as, “Sarah, I saw your generosity today when you gave some of your candy to grandma.”
Virtue #2 - Moderation
“One who lives without looking for pleasure, his senses well controlled, moderate in his food, faithful and strong,…the temper will certainly not overthrow, any more than the wind throws down a rock mountain.” –Dhammapada 8
Teach your child moderation by offering candy to them after their regular meals or along side a healthy snack. Offer them their bowl of candy and allow them to choose one. Then give them a plate with crackers and cheese or apple slices and yogurt. As they enjoy their snacks remind them that you see they practicing moderation by enjoying some candy and some food that is good for their bodies. Even children as young as three will understand the concept of balance. Use statements such as “See, we can have a little bit of candy and a little bit of crackers. We are being moderate.”
Virtue # 4 -Thankfulness and Gratitude
“What is to come is better for you than what has gone before: For your Lord will certainly give you, and you will be content…Keep recounting the favours of your Lord.” – Al-Qur’an 93
Halloween is a great opportunity to teach children the virtue of gratitude. Before going trick-or-treating remind them to say thank you to all the adults that are sharing their candy. Help the child to see that this is a gift and to be grateful for the generosity of their neighbours.

Virtue #4 – Patience
“How can a society that exists on instant mashed potatoes, packaged cake mixes, frozen dinners, and instant cameras teach patience to its young? ~Paul Sweeney
Use candy to teach patience by following the boundary you set with your child regarding how many pieces of candy they can have daily and when they can have it. Tell them in the morning, “Today, Chris, you can have three pieces of candy. One with you snack, and one after dinner and lunch.” If they protest, remind them that too much candy is not good for their teeth or their tummies. If they ask for candy throughout the day remind of the boundary you set and ask them to use their patience as they wait for the right time. After their lunch when it is time to have the candy, acknowledge your child by saying, “Jordan, I noticed you were patient all morning waiting for the right time for your candy. Thank you.”
Virtue #5 - Self-Discipline
“Discipline, to be sure, is never pleasant; at times it seems painful, but afterward those who have been trained by it reap the harvest of a peaceful and upright life.” – Hebrews 12:11
Before dinner, acknowledge your child’s self-discipline in waiting for the right time to have their candy that day. You can let the child pick a candy of their choice and then either let them hold on to it or keep it in their reach until they have finished their meal. Use affirming statements such as, “Susan, I saw you practice self-discipline today when you waited until after dinner to have your candy.” You’ll be surprised at how well a child can do with this exercise. (Tip: Make sure you give the child the treat at the time you said you would.)
Once a year we tell children it is okay to talk to and take candy from strangers. By practicing these five virtues --Generosity, Gratitude, Moderation, Patience and Self-Discipline – at Halloween it shows children that they can be mindful at any occasion. The added perk of using these tips is that it means there will be more candy left over for Mom and Dad to enjoy. And that is not a bad thing, is it?

My New Blog

Today I created a new blog called "Rachel Perry Pellegrini" because I'm loving writing so much one blog just wasn't enough. :)

The thing is, now that I've been able to define what my new writing business will be all about and I know where my life path will be going I know that what I really need is a site with my name on it where I can write for the love of writing...instead of for the love of blogging.

So, for now I have two blogs: The one you are on and the new one at http://www.rachelperrypellegrini.blogspot.com/.

Please make click on that link to bring you easily to that new site and continue to follow me over there.

See you there!

I'm published on e-zine.com!!

I received great news today! My first batch of articles were accepted at ezine! And that means I get to write more! Hooray!!!

I'm so excited about this break through. Especially since this morning my application was declined from suite 101.

So it just goes to show that persistence pays off.

Here is the article that will be posted later today on the e-zine site:

Home Daycare Policy Tips – 4 Ways to Improve Communication With Parents

There are three stages of communication. The speaker says something “the message” and then the receiver hears “the message” and then the receiver “interprets the message.” Daycare providers have the responsibility of communicating with the parents of their children regarding their child’s well-being. That means that the childcare provider must have practices skills at receiving and interpreting the message from the parent.

There are five things a child care provider can do to better communicate with parents.
1) Listen to the Parent
To be able to ask a question clearly is two-thirds of the way to getting it answered. ~John Ruskin
Hearing what the parent has to say about their child’s diet, sleeping patterns, and behavior will teach you a lot about their child. Listen carefully to what the parent has to say. Ask questions when you need more detail and confirm that you understood with phrases such as “So what you’re saying is….” “Did I understand you correctly that…..”

2) Registration Interview
The first time a child care provider has to truly meet the family is at the registration interview. Create a welcoming atmosphere by offering coffee and cookies. Tell them about you and your program then actively listen to them as they tell you about themselves, their children and their needs.
Discuss every aspect of your care – where the child will sleep, what they will eat, what activities they will provide. Put everything on paper and have them sign. Provide a contract that outlines the hours of care and rate per day.

3) Monthly newsletter
Create a sense of belonging for the parents with a monthly newsletter that welcomes new children to your care and says good bye to old ones. Tell parents what the children did that month. Post little reminders to parents and have a little inspirational quote. A newsletter can be emailed to them or given in hard copy. Parents love newsletters!

4) Weekly or daily reports
These are used in larger daycare centers and can be a great way to let parents know about their children’s strengths and what activities they enjoyed daily. This will also allow you the chance to indicate if there is a problem. Be careful what you write though and always be sure to use your words gently when there has been a problem with their child that day.

5) Website
A domain name and website can be bought online for $10. Try service providers such as http://www.godaddy.com/ or http://www.mustangmarketingdomains.com/ You can update your website regularly with photos, quotes and stories about your children in the care (make sure you have signed documents stating it is okay to take their pictures and post them)
Always keep the lines of communication open with the parents to avoid unnecessary misunderstandings.

Behaviour Management Tips from the Virtues Project

Behavior Management Tips: Using The Virtues Project™ to Bring out the Best in Your Children

Founded by Linda Kavelin Popov in 1997, The Virtues Project™ has caught the attention of daycare providers, teachers, organizations and workplaces around the world. Popov was a guest on Oprah, who said that this book could be the parenting guide that parents have been looking for. The Virtues Project™ has been embraced by countless parents who aim to bring out the best in themselves and their children.

Virtues are different from values. A value is something held in high regard and can vary from family to family, country to country. A virtue is a universal quality of character that exists in all human beings. To illustrate the difference consider this story: For North American and Japanese soldiers service is highly valued. When a North American soldier has been prisoner of war, he holds in high regard the value of enduring his imprisonment and shows great courage in withstanding the treatment from his captors. For Japanese soldiers, on the other hand, when a soldier is taken as a prisoner of war, he holds in high regard the values of his country which express that it is better to be dead than to be held captive by an enemy. Therefore, a Japanese soldier will exercise his courage to take his own life rather than remain imprisoned. The values are different but the underlying virtue of courage is the same. This is the way virtues are universal and why they are different from values.
The following list names the five strategies in The Virtues Project that parents can use to see the virtues their child easily demonstrates and to encourage those the child struggles with to be more developed.
Recognize Teachable Moments
A Tlingit elder said, “Life is for learning our lessons.” Recognizing teachable moments is a way to notice the opportunities for growing and learning that are found in our experiences everyday. In regards to raising children, Popov writes that “a teachable moment is one which calls for a virtue.” When an opportunity occurs in which a parent can acknowledge a virtue the child is practicing or exhibiting.
Speak the Language of the Virtues
Language has a power to empower or discourage. Instead of using labels for children such as a “good kid” or a “problem child” the daycare provider can use the language of the virtues to remind the child about the virtue that they have forgotten. In this way a child will come to view themselves in light of the qualities of character they poses. From Popov’s book the example is given that a child in this environment may be found saying something such as, “Today I had trouble with patience, but I was helpful when I set the table.”
Set Clear Boundaries
Many parents struggle with the question “How do I raise my children with authority without damaging their self-esteem?” In fear of doing it wrong but not sure how to do it right, many parents have become ambivalent. Setting clear boundaries is a way to become an educative parent rather than permissive, dominant or wavering between the two. An educative parenting style is based on the idea that the authority of a parent is in the service of a child’s learning. Popov writes that “The goal of effective parental authority is to enable children to develop their own inner authority, a sense of personal responsibility, and an ability to make conscious moral choices.”

Honour the Spirit
A parent honors their children’s spirit when they give their children the freedom to explore their talents and abilities. Letting a child stand beside you on a stool is a great way to guide them to develop their own skills. Acknowledging their efforts by saying, “Ann, I noticed your determination today when you were learning to crack an egg. It wasn’t easy at first, but you didn’t give up and you succeeded.” Other ways to honour the spirit can include honoring family members daily when sharing and listening to each other’s stories of the day. Some families include prayer or meditation in their day as a way to express their thanksgiving and the blessings in their lives.
Offer the Art of Spiritual Companioning
“Counseling is a big part of a parent’s job description,” writes Popov, “the best way to serve as a child’s spiritual companion is to be present to the child, especially when strong feelings come.” She says it best in her own words. Whatever the child is feeling, “it always helps to have a parent there as a respectful, loving genuinely present witness… True comfort comes with simple acknowledgment statements such as “Ooh, that really hurt,” “That was a nasty fall,” or “Your knee really got banged,” instead of deflections or rescues such as “We’ll put ice on it and then it will be all better, or minimizing “Don’t cry. It’s just a little scrape.” Get the ice, but as you do so, you can honour the truth of their experience.”
Which strategy is the most appealing for you at this moment?
What steps can you take today to put this strategy into place?
What can you do today to acknowledge a virtue you see in your child?

Why do we need a google account to leave a comment?

Many people are not familiar with blogspot.com, nor was I a month ago.

But when friend created her site I became excited for her and became a follower.

When I went to leave a post on her site I discovered that I needed an account with google. Fortunately, I already had a google email account so I didn't think anything of it.

But now I have my own website and perhaps there are those of you who would like to leave a comment but do not have a google account.

Google is the sponsor of blogspot.com and allows thousands, maybe hundreds of thousands of us, to create sites for free and post our blogs to all our friends and families and visitors. In return for this service, it appears they want people viewing the sites to register with them.

I assure you that if you create an account with google you do not ever have to use an email account through them, you do not receive spam mail, they will not sell your information and you do not have to use the name you registered when you post a blog, as there is an option to do so anonymously.

So I encourage all my visitors to please feel comfortable registering and know that I would not ask you to do something that I have not already done myself.

Thanks

Encouragement for Stay at home Moms: Why staying at home with your chidren is so important

“The task of bringing up a…child…is the chief responsibility of the mother, whose unique privilege is indeed to create in her home such conditions as would be most conducive to both his material and spiritual welfare and advancement. The training which the child first receives through his mother constitutes the strongest foundation for his future development.” (From the Baha’i Writings)

Mothers often feel torn between their desire to be at home to raise their children and their desire to be in the work force. The career options available to women in this generation far exceed the options of women in previous generations tempting many women into exciting careers. For some women and families this is a suitable path. But for other women and their families, the mother has sacrificed her career path temporarily while raising her children.

Could it be that a mother’s “unique privilege” is to create a loving and nurturing home environment for her children is so that the child will have the surest foundation for success in his or her future? The sacrifice to stay at home is great for a woman. She may sacrifice income and career prestige or advancement. It is not an easy decision to make. However, when the rewards or achievements are considered in light of these sacrifices it is clear there is much to gain from working in the home as well.

The family is the nucleus of a community. If a family is happy, healthy and strong, the members will go out into the community and provide services, make improvements, and bring enlightenment to the community. When a community is strong it will have a positive effect on a region, a region affects a province, a province affects a country etc. At the heart of a healthy and vibrant society is a collective of healthy and vibrant families.

A family is so important to the well-being of society. It is the mother alone who has the “unique privilege” of creating in her home the conditions that the family dwells in. It makes sense then, that every act that a mother makes with the intention of the wellness of her family in mind is a monumental act that is bringing about a better world one little act at a time.

Laundry, dishes, meals, dusting, vacuuming, all that…is mundane, but it is a part of the sacrifice a mother makes. An intelligent and powerful woman can do these mundane tasks and then spend time with her children and share the wealth of her knowledge and wisdom. She can guide them, speak with them, explore with them. In those first precious few years of a child’s life, the child whose mother is available to them every day receives a great and precious gift. The bounties received by this child will help to shape him or her into a noble being. The hope is that they will become an adult who is selfless, kind, and devoted to a life of service for the betterment of humanity. What greater reward is there for a mother?

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More can be found about the Baha'i Faith at www.bahai.org

Daycare Services and Products I Provide

My current project involves establishing and promoting a new business.

This business is expanding from my daycare. Daystar Daycare services will now include training to other mothers who would like to open or have already opened their own home daycare.

These services and products include (but are not limited to):

- an e-course on using the 5 strategies of The Virtues Project to bring out the best in your children

- an e-course on Opening a Profitable Daycare

- Daycare Coaching, by email or by phone

- Daycare Start-Up booklet

If you are in the daycare business or know of anyone that is and you would like more information please email me at www.rachel.pellegrini@gmail.com.

Also, please check out my website at http://www.daystardaycare.com/

No More Panic Attacks

Sometimes I become so exhausted from the work involved with taking care of a home and tending to all the children's needs that I find myself easily triggered into panic attacks. I didn't know what was happening at first. My breathing would become short, my heart would race and I could feel my blood pressure increase. Sometimes I even felt dizzy and faint.

Once I identified that it was anxiety and panic that I was feeling I started to try several things to help relieve the anxiety.

Three things that work for me are:

1) Becoming familiar with my local health food store: I take multi-vitamins regularly and have found other calming blends. I also taking St. John's Wort and use a few drops of Homeopathic Rescue Remedy when I feel a panic attacking coming on.

2) Reduce stress immediately: When I feel anxiety, I find a quiet spot to sit down away from all distractions and count down from 10-1. Often times I say a prayer or an affirmation afterwards.

3) Talking to a qualified life coach and/or therapist: Finding a good support system can help you with anxiety issues and help you make decisions to bring more happiness to your life.

4) There are many programs out there to help people with anxiety. Click Here! for more information.

If you also battle with feelings of anxiety what is one thing you can do before you lay your head on your pillow tonight to help relieve your anxiety?

What is something you can do by the end of the week?

What obstacles to you expect might get in your way of reducing your anxiety?

What plan can you have in place to overcome these obstacles when and if they appear?

A Simple Step to "Green"

David Suzuki was on the late night show "The Hour" yesterday. He and George, the host, were talking about "One Million Acts of Green"...a project campaigned by The Hour that encourages everyone to do some act of green every day.



So I checked out the website today and it is really cool. It has graphic buttons listed along the bottom of the page for the categories for all the types of acts of green someone might feel inclined to participate in. At the office, at home, in the car, in the yard, etc.



There's a little button that you click on to record the act of green you did today or will soon do.



I clicked on "washed my laundry in cold water"...it said that "If you wash four out of every five loads of laundry in cold water each month, you’ll save about 35 kilograms of CO2 emissions from entering the atmosphere. If you wash 80 per cent of your laundry on the cold/cold cycle every year, you’ll save up to $100 or more on your energy bill...." Very cool, don't you think?



What is one act of green that you can do today?



Please leave a comment about your act of green.

The Secret to Sucess With Your Home Daycare

The Secret to Success for your Home Daycare

When I opened my home daycare there was not a lot of support out there. If you are considering opening your home daycare there are some things you should know.
Has anyone ever told you it is better to open privately? Following that advice could cost you to loose $8,400 or more annually. Is it worth it?

The reality is that you will make more money and have less stress if you go with the region. Here’s why.

1) You Will Make More Money Per Child

When you have a contract through the region they will pay you $36.75 per child. If you have 4 children in your care you will earn $147 daily. That’s $2940 monthly.

When you operate privately parents will pay you directly. Double Income families are likely not willing to pay more than about $28 a day. That’s $112 daily and $2240 monthly.

The difference between these two numbers is $8,400 annually. For a stay-at-home Mom this makes a big difference.

2) Your Regional Support Worker Will Refer Parents to You

The key to your daycare’s success is being able to have enough income to cover your operating expenses and have a surplus at the end of the month. Your goal is to to have the legal limit of four children under your care at all times. But this is harder said than done.

When you are contracted through the region they will refer parents to you. This is invaluable since having a constant flow of new parents will grow your waiting list and prevent you from having openings.

When you operate privately you must do all the advertising and marketing yourself. This will lead to openings and decreased income.

3) You Will be Provided With a Package

The region provides a binder that includes many forms and documents for the parents to sign. These are useful to ensure the children’s safety and to create a binding contract between you and the parents. Not only does this save the caregiver time and money, this is a helpful way to open communication with the parents about their children and to come to mutal agreements about the terms of their care.

Without this package, private care givers must design their own registration package. Not only might they forget important pieces of information there might be issues that come up later that could have been avoided if a more thorough registration had been done.

4) Your Daycare will be safer

The regional support worker for your community will visit you once a month. During these visits s/he will look through your home to ensure that all the child safety percousions are in place. She will ask about the children and offer any suggestions she can to any questions you may have. This regular check in keeps caregivers accountable and ensures the environment is safer for children. Many accidents are avoided by keeping the area clean and child friendly.

When you operate privately you will do your best to keep your home and daycare clean and safe, but without an extra set of eyes there are bound to be mistakes. Accidents that could have been easily prevented may happen that may cause harm to a child in your care and affect your reputation in the community.

5) Educational Workshops are Provided

The region hosts a number of free workshops for caregivers on topics such as nutrition, crafts, and behaviour management. These workshops will enhance your knowledge and understanding of the children in your care and will provide you with the opportunity to meet other parents who are also operating home daycares. This group can become a support network for you. This on-going professional development and training will make you a better caregiver and will increase your chances of keeping your daycare full.

When you operate privately you are not privy to the workshops hosted through the region and must seek out your own training opportunities. This can be more time consuming and be quite costly.

Overall, the benefits of running a daycare through the region will save you time and money and give you a more enjoyable and stress-free experience.

A Poem for Mothers

At the library yesterday, my daughter and I found this poem in a children's book called

"About Face."

Face to face
eye to eye
heart to heart
as the days go by.

You see me,
I see you---
that's how we learn
just what to do:
to love and to listen
day after day,
just you and me
in our own special way.

Hear to heart,
eye to eye,
face to face,
as the years go by.

This simple poems stirs up such a strong emotion of gratitude that I feel for being a mother. Reading it yesterday reminded me of how fast time goes by and how important it is to make the most of it every day. I sat with my daughter on my lap the library and read with her for about 15 mintues. She snuggled right in to me and I saw it was just what she and I needed to show in our own special way our appreciation for each other.

What special moments have you had with your children that you would like to share?

Please post a comment and share a story.

The S.I.M.P.L.E. Self-Improvement Project

I'm so excited about The SIMPLE Project that I am embarking on today.

Here's my project:

As a stay at home Mom I am seeking out ways to make money writing articles and other e-text items, so that I can do what I love doing and get paid for it. I will keep you all updated regularly on what has worked for me and hasn't worked for me and we'll see where it leads to. My goal is to leave my day job in 6 months time.

Today I'm thinking about Perseverence...and peanuts come to mind...I'll tell you why.

One morning, when I was about 6, my mom showed me this little jam-sized jar with a handle on the top that you could push down. Inside there was a long prong attached to a cookie-cutter type thing that had 4 pronges. My mom told me that peanut butter came from peanuts and you could use this little hand-operated grinder to smush the peanuts. Well, what my mom didn't tell me is that you also need oil and a lot of peanuts (and a number of other things too). So I collected that little grinder and about 10 peanuts and with my perseverance I set about to make peanut butter. I crushed those little peanuts determinedly all morning, probably a good 3 hours, only to find that they were not turning into peanut butter.

I got them as small as they would go (I now know we call what I made "chopped peanuts" and they go very nicely on sundaes) and then kept chopping and chopping for another hour. I couldn't have been more persistent. Alas those little peanuts became chopped peanuts and they would not become peanut butter. I stared down at that little jar in my hands and the stubborn little nuts in there and I accepted that they would not ever become peanut butter. And I knew that I gave it everything I had in me trying.

What I learned from that little incident is that we can only do so much with what we have. I didn't have the ingredients or tools to make peanut butter and I accepted that. I wanted these little legumes to smoosh and change form and they wouldn't. Sometimes there are people or situations in our life that we would like to change but at some point must accept that they will not. If we practice perseverance and believe in ourselves we will be able to get through any situation and come out the other side with more knowledge and with more skills. Later in life, I learned all about how to make peanut butter and I could put my curious mind to ease. (Curious about how to make it yourself? Check out http://www.mahalo.com/How_to_Make_Peanut_Butter -- you'll notice they use a BLENDER instead of a jar with 4 metal cutters)

I think Ghandi said it best when he said, "You must be the change you wish to see in the world."