Welcome!

The New Mommy Track -- An article from US News and World Reports chronicling the change in attitudes about workplace situations among women over the last 10-20 years.
www.usnews.com/usnews/biztech/articles/070826/3mommy.htm

 
Who Says 9 to 5 Is Normal --  An article from the Seattle Times highlighting 4 organizations in Seattle that offer workplace flexibility. www.seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/living/2003682023_flexwork29.html

As with every undertaking, planning will help make a smooth transition.  Here are some of the questions you will need to answer before you start.

    When, where and how often will I spend time with my child during the work day?  Keep in mind that children thrive in predictable environments.  Try to keep your visits on a schedule as much as possible.
What, if any, extra responsibilities will I take on around the house?  For example, your partner may expect that you take on more meal preparation because you are at home earlier.  However, you may find that you have to work later in the day because of the breaks you are taking with your child.  It will be important to think through these issues and discuss them before hand.
Will my nanny need to change her schedule to accommodate my new needs?  Your nanny may fine it easier to be at the park than trying to keep your toddler out of the office in the morning.  She may have eaten lunch at the playground but will now bring your child home to have lunch with you.  Keep in mind that as your child grows the schedule will change; naps time will shrink and more structured activities like play groups or regular play dates may be added.
Where will I work and are there any changes I need to make to my space?  The best work space will probably be one that is out of sight and earshot of your child.  If you do not install an office phone line, you will need to decide if your nanny will answer the phone.

You, your partner and your nanny should discuss these issues and come to mutual agreement on how best to implement your new work schedule.  For a more in-depth look at the issues related to working at home in partnership with a nanny, check out the following article from NannyNetwork.com.  As always, Alyce is available to assist you if you need help working through this significant change in your nanny/parent relationship.

Tips: Successful Nannying with the Work At Home Parent
www.nannynetwork.com/library/NannyLib/nanny-work-home-parent.cfm

Green, Baby!

• Start small; although global environmental issues loom large, despair and hopelessness are not good catalysts for change
• Simplifying kills two birds with one stone; you can cut consumption and stress
• Don’t try to change every part of your life at once and don’t try to be a purist; both lead to burnout
  

For families, green can mean baby steps
www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/02/27/HOO2V6RQL.DTL&hw=green+baby&sn=008&sc=118 

Here is a list of products that make going green easy.

gDiapers – Finally, an environmentally friendly diaper that is easy to use.  These diapers have three parts: 1) washable cloth underpants, 2) washable waterproof liner, and 3) disposable absorbent insert.  The insert can be flushed, composted (wet ones only), or put in the trash.  They don’t have any plastic so they biodegrade in 100 to 150 days rather than hundreds of years.  For more information or to find a retailer go to  www.gdiapers.com

Rechargeable Batteries – If you are not yet, you soon will be amazed by the number of battery power devices your child has.  Since alkaline (disposable) batteries contain toxic chemical such as lead and mercury, they cannot go in your trash.  Instead, they are usually collected with e-waste or at special hazardous materials recycling centers.  Although rechargeable batteries must be recycled as well, most brands can be recharged hundreds of times, making those trips to the recycling center mush less frequent.  Look for low-self discharge NiMH batteries, often labeled “ready-to-use” or “pre-charged.”  For more information on batteries, read this comparison.www.greenbatteries.com/aa-battery-faqs.html 

Furniture – No matter what age your child is, he will always be in the process of growing out of something.  Infants will move to a toddler bed, school age children move to a desk from their art table.  Here are some local retailers with sustainable products.

IKEA (everything for the home)
www.ikea.com

Woodshanti (custom built, sustainable wood furniture)
www.woodshanti.com

Happy Planet (organic bedding)
www.ahappyplanet.com

Policy Spotlight: California’s Education Budget Cuts

• Spend $614 less per pupil per year than the national average
• Are ranked 49th in the nation in teacher/student ratios
  

Governor Schwarzenegger will release a revised budget in May based on more refined revenue projections and public input.  The month of April will be an excellent time to let your elected official know what our funding priorities should be.

Click here to voice your opposition to the proposed budget.
www.edvoice.org/TakeAction/tabid/90/Default.aspx

To voice your support of the proposed budget, click here for contact information for your legislative representatives.
www.legislature.ca.gov/ (enter your zip code on the bottom right)

For more details on the proposed cuts to k-12 education, read this report from EdSource.
www.californiaschoolfinance.org/BudgetandFunding/200809Budget/AnalysisofGovernors200809Budget/tabid/182/Default.aspx#jump

To see how California ranks with other states on funding issues, check out this report from EdSource.
www.californiaschoolfinance.org/BudgetandFunding/CaliforniaEducationSpendingComparison/tabid/183/Default.aspx