Is the nanny the new “mommy”?

We had a Toronto parent upset this week because her 18-month old started calling her toronto nanny “mommy”. She felt that because the nanny was with the child full time during the day, that she really thinks that the nanny is her mommy. Well, I can see what why a parent would think this, but I really feel that this is not true.

Remember that a nanny will never replace you. It is common to feel some competition with your nanny or caregiver. Whether you use a childcare centre or an in-home caregiver, you sometimes may worry; “Does my child miss me?” or “Does my child like her more than me?”

Your baby will not start thinking the nanny is you. If your children stop crying when you leave, it is because they trust you and know that you always return. If your child calls your nanny “mommy,” it is likely because he or she sees women as mommies. It is a good thing if your child becomes attached to your nanny. This means that your nanny is providing your child with love and a sense of security. Your children can never have too many people in their lives that support and love them.

Posted by Martha @ 11:39:26 AM

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Geocaching - High Tech Family Fun

Want to take your family walks to a new level? How about getting out with the kids more to enjoy the nice weather of spring? We have found a great activity that we think families across Canada will love!

The activity is called Geocaching, and it’s a high-tech treasure hunt that brings families together. By using a handheld GPS device, you can enter coordinates into it and it will lead you to a hidden treasure. Once you find the treasure, you take a treasure and leave on in return, singing your name and the date in the logbook before returning it safely to its home for the next family to find.

The treasures are hidden by other people who like geocaching, “geocachers”, and post the coordinates and details online at www.geocaching.com. Before you head out, you can logon to the website and download the information for caches (treasures) that are hidden in the area you’re in. Then, you’re ready to hunt!

Parks and trails around the world have caches hidden in them. So the next time you want to go to the park, or want to explore a new area with the family, grab the GPS and go for a hunt. It’s great for family bonding, as you search around together, and so rewarding once you’ve made the find. Your account on Geocaching.com tracks how many you’ve found, and you can leave a note for the owner with your story.

There’s always an adventure to be had while geocaching!  You can explore a new area, try to find as many as you can in a day, or use it to break up a long trip. Take a look at www.geocaching.com... I’ll bet there’s one so close and you never even knew it was there! There's over 62,000 hidden across Canada!

Have you heard of Geocaching before? What's your funniest/craziest/wackiest/favortie story? Share it here!

Check out Martha's blog on Today's Parent at www.todaysparent.com/marthasblog!

Posted by Martha @ 3:59:24 PM

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