“Working parents know how hard it can be to manage the all-important relationship with the person who serves as their substitute from 9 to 5. Lucy Kaylin, the executive editor of Marie Claire magazine, recently wrote a book on the topic called “The Perfect Stranger: The Truth About Mothers and Nannies” (Bloomsbury USA: $23.95). As the review from “Publishers Weekly” puts it, the book addresses “the ambivalent relationship between mother and nanny, fraught with vacillating emotions of fear, mistrust, love, dependence and subtle struggles for power that rival those in any workplace.” Kaylin, a mother of two and a Manhattan resident, spoke to me about the parent-nanny relationship.

Q: What prompted you to write this book?

A: As a journalist, you’re always looking at where the stories are, where interesting, relevant tensions are in society and culture. I realized one of the best stories was playing out in my own living room. The notion of bringing a complete stranger into your house to help raise your children – it’s just fraught. It’s interesting, complicated, and potentially a great thing — but it’s really fraught. As I talked to friends about it and read about it, I realized it’s a huge issue for women everywhere. It’s not something that just rich people do. Increasingly, it’s a middle class option. Given how many of us are two-career families, given how crazy our hours are and how thinly we’re stretching ourselves, day care doesn’t provide enough coverage.

Q: What advice do you have for parents looking to hire a nanny?

A: The first piece of advice I would have — and this isn’t always easily achieved — is that you have to own your choices. One thing that can create a big problem is when women are in denial or deeply conflicted about the fact that they are leaving their children with someone else. You can get passive-aggressive with a nanny or be resentful of her for reasons that have nothing to do with the kind of job she’s doing but instead result from the fact that you’re not settled in yourself with the choices you’ve made. Women have to get past the fear, the guilt, and the ambivalence and make this as wholehearted of a decision as it can be. Be honest: Do you want someone who is going to be your proxy or who has qualities you don’t have? It’s a hard thing to admit to yourself. A lot of us who are working women may not have been steeped in the motherly arts the way we would have been thirty, forty years ago — with sisters and aunts teaching us about how to care for babies. We don’t live up the street from our mothers anymore. Women do well to admit that what they need is someone who is going to teach them. That gets tricky: The student is the boss and the teacher is the employee. This woman you bring into your home who often comes from a very different place than you do might know a lot more on some level about your child than you do.

Q: One of the biggest worries parents have is “what goes on when I’m not there?” How can you get some level of comfort with the care your child is receiving, short of using a “nanny cam”?

A: You have to do your due diligence — check references and spend a few days, if not more, at home going through the daily routine with the nanny and making the rounds with her. See how she does things; Make sure you’re comfortable with how she handles the minutia of the day. If you go through an agency, it can be helpful in screening out people. One of the hardest things is the conflict (mothers feel about leaving their children), and the guilt that can keep them from trusting their guts and from making a choice a person with good gut is able to make. If you’re unsettled in the choices you make, you will end up second-guessing yourself. Paranoia can settle in.

As for the nanny cam: The reality is that if you turn a camera on anyone — on a mother or anyone else — for ten hours, you’re going to see some things you don’t like. That incredibly jolly person you see when you come home — well, it’s unlikely she’s been able to keep up that level of attentiveness for ten hours. If you film this woman, you will be able to find something that makes you uncomfortable. But very possibly child protective services could find something they don’t like if they turned a camera on you for a ten hour stretch. It’s the nature of this very hard job. If you can make a carefully vetted and wholehearted choice, (you’ll have a better chance of having the relationship work out). You have to let this women do her job and have some faith in her. There are checks and balances you can rely on to make sure things down the line are as good as they seem. You can show up unannounced. You’ll also have a good sense if your child is feeling settled and happy and loving towards this person. If you need to do the nanny cam, then do it. I’m all about a mom doing what she needs to do to feel comfortable. That said, we hold our nannies to wildly high standards of perfection — in fact, to higher standards than we hold ourselves. Sometimes, we have to ask ourselves if we’re being reasonable.

Q: You write that it’s important not to fall into the common trap of thinking of and treating a nanny like a member of the family. Why?

A: There is a tremendous amount of love being shared between families and nannies. That’s nothing but good and it’s real. This is a very intimate arrangement and it would be strange if feelings weren’t developed between all parties involved. I’m all for that. I would never suggest that we should all be incredibly business-like in our dealings with one another. I do think we have to be business-like in the fundamentals of the job, though. You have to be clear about what you expect. We all know you can abuse family terribly. They aren’t going to turn their backs on you. But this woman is here because she needs to make a wage. She probably has far more difficult circumstances that have driven her to this relationship than you do. The minute you disregard that or think that her love of your children is motivating her to do the job, you are making a mistake. It’s important show respect for boundaries and for how difficult the job is. Whenever I make it very clear that I am in no way going to push our nanny beyond what we’ve agreed is her job, I’ve gotten it back in spades. For example, sometimes she picks up things she knows we need on her own initiative. I would never think to ask her to pick up something that did not have to do with the children. I am always observant of the lines that should not be crossed. It breeds great generosity in her. It’s just the same in an office environment. We will go to extra lengths for a boss we respect and like. Even though there’s no end of sweetness that goes on between all of us, the bottom-line is that we’ve hired her to do a job, her time is precious, and she gets exhausted by this tough job. I will never make the mistake of thinking she’s with us for the fun of it. I get that.

Q: You’ve said that “We in the western world are outsourcing addicts, and we are outsourcing a lot of parenting these days.” Are you concerned about this trend? What are the positives and negatives for the children of having a nanny?

A: I feel like it’s a slippery slope. Anyone of us with a career knows how you can get eaten up by it. It can be tempting to hang out and schmooze with colleagues when you know the nanny is there to make sure bath time and dinner and homework and all the other stuff that’s quintessentially a parent’s job happens. You can easily find yourself outsourcing all the essential stuff of parenting if you’re not careful. You don’t want to be that person who swans in and touches base and then swans out wishing everyone good luck as you’re off to something more intellectually stimulating and remunerative. So much of parenting is just showing up. It’s the face time with kids, it’s being there with them, that are important. You as a parent stand to lose incalculably if you let that slip away.

But as much as I love parents, they are nutty. They are really very wound up about their kids: Are they doing well in school? What’s going to become of them? Did they learn their ABCs fast enough? Are they on track to the Ivy League? I dare say that 90% of a parent’s interaction with a child comes with baggage. They can see it on your face if you’re worried, if you wish they had done something else or hugged you tighter or did better on a test. Parents supply pressure on a child to perform. I suspect they get almost none of that from their nannies. The nanny is there to make sure they are well fed, clean, safe, and have a nice afternoon. I’ve seen that dynamic play out in the city countless times. You see it on the crosstown bus — a very sullen eleven-year-old with her mother, who is questioning her. There’s contempt on the daughter’s face. But when you see these children strolling around with the women taking care of them, they’re chatting and laughing. It’s a different dynamic. Which isn’t to say kids don’t have fun with their parents. But it’s a qualitatively different type of interaction.”

                          

Call us Today to find a job in the Vancouver area – 604.298.6633.

Many jobs available for Nannies/Caregivers in the Lower Mainland in the following areas:

Nanny / Caregiver Jobs

• West Vancouver – Elderly lady looking for two live-in caregivers (three and a half days each).
  Duties: personal care, companionship.
  Starting date: ASAP
• West Vancouver – Family with 3 children ( two school age and one toddler), looking for live-out nanny, preferable driver.
  Duties: childcare as required, housekeeping, meal preparation.
  Starting date: ASAP
• West Vancouver – Senior looking for a live-in caregiver.
  Duties: companionship, housekeeping , meal preparation.
  Starting date: ASAP.
• West Vancouver – Family with 2 children (school age and toddler) looking for a live-in nanny and a live-out nanny.
  Duties: childcare as required, housekeeping, meal preparation.
  Starting date: ASAP
• West Vancouver – Family with 2 children (4 and 10 years old), looking for a live-in nanny.
  Duties: childcare, housekeeping, meal preparation.
  Starting date: ASAP. Salary Negotiable.
• West Vancouver – Family with 2 children, looking for a driver (with a car), live-out nanny.
  Duties: childcare, housekeeping, meal preparation, driving. TOP SALARY AND BENEFITS OFFERED.
  Starting date: ASAP
• West Vancouver – Family with 2 children, looking for live-in nanny.
  Duties: childcare, housekeeping, meal preparation.
  Starting date: ASAP
• West Vancouver – Family with 1 child (school age), looking for live-in nanny, driving the child to activities.
  Duties: driving the child to activities, housekeeping, meal preparation.
  Starting date: ASAP
• North Vancouver – Family with 2 children (baby and toddler), looking for a live-in nanny.
  Duties: childcare, housekeeping , meal preparation.
  Starting date: September 1st, 2010.
• North Vancouver – Family with 1 child (toddler), looking for live-in nanny.
  Duties: childcare, housekeeping, meal preparation.
  Starting date: ASAP
• Vancouver – Family with 3 children (1 toddler and 2 school age), looking for a or live-out nanny.
  Duties: childcare, light housekeeping, help with meal preparations.
  Starting date: ASAP.
• Vancouver – Elderly lady for live-in caregiver (working days: Monday to Friday).
  Duties: companionship, light housekeeping, meal preparation.
  Starting date: ASAP.
• Coquitlam – Family with 3 children (school-age), looking for a driver with a car, live-out nanny.
  Duties: driving the kids to activities, childcare, housekeeping, meal preparation.
  Starting date: ASAP.
• Richmond – Disabled person looking for a live-in caregiver.
  Duties: personal care, housekeeping , meal preparation.
  Starting date: ASAP.
• Richmond – Family with 2 children (school age), looking for a live-out nanny. Hours of work: 8:30am to 12:30 pm.
  Duties: childcare, housekeeping , meal preparation.
  Starting date: ASAP.
• Surrey – Family with 2 toddlers looking for a driver with a car live-out nanny.
  Duties: childcare, housekeeping , meal preparation.
  Starting date: ASAP.
• Surrey – Family with 2 children (baby and infant), looking for a live-in nanny.
  Duties: childcare as required, light housekeeping, meal preparation.
  Starting date: October 1st, 2010.
• Surrey – Family with 2 toddlers, looking for a live-in nanny.
  Duties: mainly, childcare, light housekeeping , meal preparation for the children.
  Starting date: ASAP.

Send us an Email:

info@paragon-personnel.com

Check our website:

http://paragon-personnel.com

                          

Well, there are other options of course …. Nanny is one, daycare center is another. Let’s compare these possibilities.

• A Nanny can provide excellent one on one care to infants and children in your very own home in a familiar and safe environment, while in a childcare center you often will find that five children are under the care of one caregiver. Special and personal attention to each child in this case is not possible most of the time while with a nanny; you know your child is number one priority at all times.
• In a day care center outside activities may not occur as frequently as you like. A Nanny however can personalize these activities according to your wishes.
• Coughs, colds and other diseases can spread swiftly in childcare centers. While some parents don’t mind exercising their children immune systems other families can’t afford time off work to care for their offspring’s.
• A main concern to every parent is child nutrition. In a childcare center pasta and sandwiches might be the order of the day. In fact you can never be really sure of what your child is eating. A nanny however will feed your children the food that you stock in your pantry.
• If you’re working odd hours or not regular shifts, it may be stressful trying to rush back to the childcare centers before closing time. Most centers have hefty fees for every five minutes late that you are. A nanny is bound to be more flexible and open to accommodate your schedule.
• If you have more than one child, having a Nanny can be most cost effective. Childcare centers charge rates that are not competitive with the cost incurred in having a nanny. Also, keep in mind that some house chores can also be performed when children are having a nap so you come home and have more quality time with your children rather than putting a load of laundry or cooking the evening meal.

All in all, as a general rule of thumb, a nanny in your home is by far exceeding the quality care offered by care centers. Adding the other advantages indicated above, it is quite evident why many families prefer using this type of childcare over the alternative.

                          

According to Wikipedia “Canada Day (French: Fête du Canada), formerly Dominion Day (French: Le Jour de la Confédération), is Canada’s national day, a federal statutory holiday celebrating the anniversary of the July 1, 1867, enactment of the British North America Act (today called the Constitution Act, 1867), which united two British colonies and a province of the British Empire into a single country called Canada. Canada Day observances take place throughout Canada as well as internationally.”

Take advantage and participate to Canada Day parties, discover and appreciate the wealth and diversity of Canadian society, and show your love of Canada and your pride in being Canadian!

“From Abbotsford to Vancouver, there will be celebrations all over the place.

2010 Langley Canada Day Celebrations: This two day event starts Wednesday at 3 p.m. and the fun continues Thursday from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. There’s live music for adults and kids, a car show, food and crafts.

Canada Day at Fort Langley: You’re invited to celebrate Canada Day where B.C. began. Fort Langley is hosting a party at the village with a BBQ at the community center, live music, “The West Coast Lumberjack Show” and a kids’ fun zone.

Canada Day at the Maritime Museum: Learn about our country’s sea-faring history at the Maritime Museum in Vanier Park between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. There will be a lot of kid-friendly activities including a puppet show, crafts and balloon artistry.

North Vancouver Canada Day at Waterfront Park: This celebration starts with a parade from 13th Street and Grand Boulevard to Mahon Park, followed by dancing, music and fun stuff for the kids at Waterfront Park.

Canada Day by the Bay: White Rock’s Canada Day celebration at White Rock Beach starts with the Rock 10K on East Beach at 8 a.m. That’s followed by live music and lot of fun stuff for the kids.

2010 Surrey Canada Day: It’s still Western Canada’s largest Canada Day celebration. Surrey’s party at the Cloverdale Millennium Amphitheatre runs from 10 a.m. until 10:30 p.m. It’s headlined by Honeymoon Suite this year, but the crowd will also be treated to performances from Stereos, ODDS, Ridley Bent, Jessie Farrell and more.

Canada Day at Granville Island: Celebrate Canada’s multicultural nature on the Island between 8 a.m. and 11 p.m. with entertainment, food and artwork.

23rd Annual Canada Day at Canada Place: Vancouver’s massive celebration starts at 10 a.m. around Canada Place, Canada Place Way, the Jack Poole Plaza and neighbouring Harbour Green Park. There’s a parade through downtown at 7 p.m. and fireworks at 10:30 p.m.
West Vancouver Canada Day Celebrations: The party at John Lawson Park starts at noon with community performers. Stick around for a fireworks finale at 10:30 p.m.

Abbotsford’s Canada Day 2010: The celebration at the Abbotsford Exhibition Park. It starts at 8 a.m. with a pancake breakfast. There’s a parade, more food and live entertainment capped off with fireworks at 10:30 p.m.

Golden Spike Days: Port Moody’s summer festival starts Canada Day. It’s the 34th year Golden Spike Days has been held at Rocky Point Park.”

(from News 1130  (http://www.news1130.com/) by Jill Drews/Amanda Wawryk )

                          

Call us Today to find a job in the Vancouver area – 604.298.6633.

Many jobs available for Nannies in the Lower Mainland in the following areas:

Nanny / Caregiver Jobs

• Vancouver – Family with 2 children (baby and school age), looking for a live-in nanny.
  Duties: childcare, housekeeping, meal preparation.
  Starting date: ASAP
• Vancouver – Family with 1 toddler looking for a live-in nanny.
  Duties: childcare, housekeeping, meal preparation.
  Starting date: ASAP
• Vancouver – Family with 2 toddlers looking for a live-out nanny.
  Duties: childcare, housekeeping, meal preparation.
  Starting date: ASAP.
• West Vancouver – Family with 1 child (16 months old ), looking for a live-out nanny.
  Duties: childcare, housekeeping , meal preparation.
  Starting date: ASAP.
• North Vancouver – Elderly person looking for a live-in caregiver.
  Duties: companionship, housekeeping, meal preparation.
  Starting date: ASAP
• Coquitlam – Elderly person looking for a live-in caregiver.
  Duties: companionship, housekeeping, meal preparation.
  Starting date: ASAP
• Port Coquitlam – Family with 1 child (autistic), looking for a driver, part-time, live-out nanny.
  Duties: childcare, housekeeping, meal preparation, driving.
  Starting date: ASAP. Salary Negotiable.
• Langley – Family with 4 children (2 school age, one baby and one toddler), looking for a live-in nanny.
  Duties: childcare, housekeeping , meal preparation.
  Starting date: ASAP.
• Surrey – Family with 2 children (school age and toddler), looking for a live-in nanny.
  Duties: childcare, housekeeping , meal preparation.
  Starting date: ASAP.

Send us an Email:

info@paragon-personnel.com

Check our website:

http://paragon-personnel.com

                          

A foreign live-in caregiver work permit process can be quite a challenge for anyone to complete, especially for working individuals who don’t know the system and all its regulations. Dealing with different government from Revenue to Immigration and with Labour and Service Canada in between can be a frustrating long road. Just recently new regulation requiring more paperwork were introduced by the Federal Labour Ministry to the long lasting foreign workers program and more are most likely to come.

This is when you need a professional to take over the complicated task. All you have to do is pick-up the phone and call the experts who have done it hundreds of times before and know all the in’s and out’s of the system. Just provide the information and your blessing in the form of signature  and leave the rest for the pros. They will do it all from A to Z until the work permit is issued.
After all, you have enough on your plate and a little less worries can do you a lot of good.

                          

Still looking for a job? Call us at 604.298.6633.

Nanny / Caregiver Jobs:

• West Vancouver – Senior looking for a live-in caregiver.
  Duties: companionship, housekeeping , meal preparation.
  Starting date: ASAP.
• West Vancouver – Family with 2 children (school age) looking for a live-in nanny.
  Duties: driving, childcare, housekeeping, meal preparation. Top Salary Offered plus Benefits.
  Starting date: ASAP
• North Vancouver – Family with 1 child (with special needs), looking for a part-time driver live-out nanny.
  Duties: mainly childcare.
  Starting date: ASAP.
• Vancouver – Family with 1 baby looking for a temporary part-time live-out nanny.
  Duties: childcare and housekeeping.
  Starting date: ASAP.
  
• Vancouver – Family with 1 child (toddler), looking for a live-in nanny.
  Duties: childcare, housekeeping, meal preparation.
  Starting date: ASAP.
• Burnaby – Family with 2 children (twins infants), looking for a live-out nanny.
  Duties: mainly childcare.
  Starting date: June 1st, 2010.
• Coquitlam – Family with 2 children (toddler and baby), looking for a live-in nanny.
  Duties: childcare, housekeeping , meal preparation.
  Starting date: ASAP.
• Maple Ridge – Family with 3 children, looking for live-in nanny.
  Duties: childcare, housekeeping, meal preparation.
  Starting date: ASAP
• Langley – Family with 2 children, looking for a part-time live-out nanny.
  Duties: childcare, housekeeping , meal preparation.
  Starting date: ASAP.
• Coquitlam – Elderly looking for a Spanish speaking full-time live-in nanny.
  Duties: companionship, housekeeping, meal preparation.
  Starting date: ASAP
  

                          

Recently the federal government introduced some new regulations regarding the Live-in Caregiver Program to be implemented as of April 1, 2010. As owner operator or a nanny agency for the last 30 years, Paragon Personnel Ltd., I wonder if this was a pure coincidence that they chose this April fool’s day for the change….

If the Government is trying to eliminate exploitation of foreign worker in Canada, it has done absolutely nothing to achieve its goals. In fact, it just overburdened its own citizens with no help to the workers. Single parents, seniors and low income families are now told that they must pay thousands of dollars more for the same service with no expectation for a return on their investment. Moreover, I asked Immigration Canada what protection do employers have against caregivers who desert their employer a short time after their arrival in Canada for no good reason. The answer was: “you have to take your own risk…”

So, you offer a job to a foreign worker, you pay the agency fee, the air fare for your nanny, 3 months medical coverage insurance. You wait 5 months for her arrival, you met all conditions agreed upon in your employment contract, and you did everything as required.  But, unfortunately you live in a small town and the nanny wants to be in the big city so she tells you: “I am sorry but …” and you have no power to enforce your contract or get your money back.

Well, thank you Minister Kenny, you have done a great service to the foreigners and a very lousy one to your fellow Canadians. This may be April fools, honorable Minister, but we are no fools.

                          

Good Friday (April 2, 2010) is the next Statutory Holiday in British Columbia.
Easter Sunday (April 4, 2010) is not statutory holidays.

List of B.C. Statutory Holiday dates for 2010.

Good Friday (April 2, 2010)
Victoria Day (May 24 2010)
Canada Day (July 1st )
British Columbia Day ( Monday, August 2, 2010)
Labour Day (1st Monday in September)
Thanksgiving Day (October 11, 2010)
Remembrance Day (November 11th)
Christmas Day (December 25th)

Eligibility

To be eligible for statutory holiday pay an employee must:

• Have been employed for 30 calendar days before the statutory holiday and,

• Have worked or earned wages on 15 of the 30 days immediately before the statutory holiday.

Employees who work under an averaging agreement or variance at any time in the 30 days before the holiday do not have to meet the 15-day requirement.

No pay for ineligible employees

An employee who is not eligible for statutory holiday pay is not entitled to be paid an average day’s pay. If an ineligible employee works on a statutory holiday he or she may be paid as if it were a regular work day.

Statutory holiday on a day off

When an employee is given a day off on a statutory holiday, or it falls on a regular day off, an eligible employee is entitled to be paid an average day’s pay.

An average day’s pay is calculated by dividing “total wages” earned in the 30 calendar days before the statutory holiday by the number of days worked. Vacation days taken during this period count as days worked.

“Total wages” includes wages, commissions, statutory holiday pay and vacation pay but does not include overtime pay.

Working on a statutory holiday

An eligible employee who works on a statutory holiday is entitled to be paid:

• time-and-a-half for the first 12 hours worked and double-time for any work over 12 hours; plus

• an average day’s pay.

Substituting statutory holidays

An employer and a majority of employees can agree to substitute another day off for a statutory holiday. The Act and Regulation apply to the substitute day as if it were the statutory holiday.

                          

On March 27, 2010 at 8:30 pm, hundreds of millions of people around the world will turn off their lights for an hour to demand action on climate change.

We can all do something to go green and help make a difference. Here are some eco-friendly ways to help your family go green:

• remind your children to turn off the lights
• turn off the water when brushing
• take your children to the park, read favorite books, play family board games
• shop with reusable bags
• wash clothes in cold water
• clean the house with re-usable cloths instead of paper towels
• for lunches and snacks use reusable containers
• donate used clothing, books, toys and other items around the house to local shelters
• eat local foods