In a season that celebrates care and connection, seeking support isn’t a sign of weakness or failure. It’s a powerful act of love for yourself, your children, and your family as a whole. At °”ÍűAV Family Care, we see every day how support transforms households, strengthens relationships, and brings more joy into family life.

Why Asking for Help Matters

Modern families juggle so much: work, school schedules, household responsibilities, emotional labor, and the constant needs of growing children. When parents try to carry everything alone, stress rises and connection suffers.

Asking for help creates space for:

• More patience and presence
• Healthier routines and calmer days
• Quality time with your partner or children
• Rest, recovery, and emotional well‑being

Support doesn’t replace love, it protects it.

How Support Strengthens Families

1. It Models Healthy Boundaries for Kids

Children learn by watching. When they see adults ask for help, they learn that collaboration and self‑care are normal and healthy.

2. It Reduces Stress for Everyone

A trusted caregiver can ease the daily load, giving parents room to breathe and reconnect.

3. It Creates More Meaningful Moments

When parents aren’t overwhelmed, they have more energy for the moments that matter: bedtime stories, family dinners, and weekend adventures.

4. It Strengthens Relationships

Support gives couples time to nurture their partnership, which benefits the entire family.

Let °”ÍűAV Family Care Support Your Family This Valentine’s Day

Whether you need a date‑night sitter, weekend help, or ongoing support, our experienced caregivers bring calm, care, and connection into your home.

Asking for help isn’t giving up, it’s giving your family the gift of balance, joy, and love.

The professionals at °”ÍűAV Family Care personally assist nannies, babysitters and families in St. Louis, Atlanta, Chicago, Nashville, Memphis, Charlotte, Miami and Orlando to find the right childcare arrangement. Our mission is to provide a safe and personalized  approach for families and caregivers to connect with each other that is not an internet search. °”ÍűAV has worked with families, nannies, sitters, newborn care providers, and tutors for over 35 years and looks forward to working with you! To find great nanny and babysitting jobs visit us at tlc@tlcforkids.com or Call 314-725-5660.

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Pride Month is more than just parades and rainbow flags (though we love those too!). It’s a meaningful opportunity for families, caregivers, and children to learn, grow, and show support in age-appropriate, joyful, and impactful ways.

Here are some family-friendly ways to honor Pride Month:

1. Host a Pride-Themed Movie Night

Gather the family for a cozy evening watching inclusive, affirming movies that celebrate differences and promote empathy. Great family-friendly options include The Mitchells vs. The Machines, Out (Pixar short), and Steven Universe.
Use this as a jumping-off point for conversations about love, respect, and identity.

2. Cook a Rainbow-Themed Meal

Get the kids involved in the kitchen by preparing a colorful, rainbow-inspired meal or snack—think fruit skewers, layered smoothies, or rainbow veggie pizzas.
As you cook, talk about the meaning behind the rainbow Pride flag and how each color symbolizes something powerful (like healing, peace, and spirit!).

3. Attend a Local Pride Event

Many cities host family-friendly Pride parades, picnics, and storytimes. These events are a great way to celebrate community, show support, and expose children to messages of love and acceptance.
Not sure where to find one? Check with your local library, city website, or LGBTQ+ organizations for a schedule of events.

4. Read Inclusive Books Together

Visit your local library or bookstore and pick up books that reflect LGBTQ+ stories and characters. Great picks include Julian Is a Mermaid by Jessica Love, Heather Has Two Mommies by LeslĂ©a Newman, and Red: A Crayon’s Story by Michael Hall.
Representation in stories helps all children see themselves—and others—more clearly.

5. Foster Conversations About Kindness & Inclusion

Whether you’re a parent or a caregiver, now is a great time to encourage open conversations about identity, family structures, and being a kind friend.
Let kids ask questions and share their thoughts. Your openness helps them build empathy and emotional intelligence.

At °”ÍűAV Family Care, we believe every family deserves to feel seen, safe, and celebrated. This Pride Month, let’s take time to lift each other up, educate the next generation, and create more inclusive communities—one conversation, one story, and one rainbow snack at a time.

Happy Pride!
With love and care,
The °”ÍűAV Family Care Team

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Here are some tips from  Dr. Laura Horsch , a child psychologist in Menlo Park, California on helping your kids deal with separation anxiety.

1.   It’s important for parents to keep their morning goodbyes consistent and short. “Lingering in response to crying or tantruming may inadvertently reinforce those behaviors,” explains Horsch.  The rule of thumb in such situations is to strive for a short goodbye process.

2. “Parents are encouraged to prepare their children for what to expect, acknowledge their child’s feelings, engage their child in a goodbye ritual (for example, hug, wave, etc.), and reassure their child that they will return,” she says.

3.  And it’s crucial for parents to talk openly with their children about their feelings. Read a book about kids going off to school or Mommy going to work and then discuss with your child. And remind them that Mommy or Daddy will always come back to get them.

Horsch reminds parents that being tearful before mom or dad leave is common and natural. “Remember that these challenges are likely a normative part of healthy child development. These experiences are part of a child’s building resilience and emotion regulation.”

And she adds that there is almost always a silver lining: “Most children calm down quickly and enjoy their day shortly after their parents’ departure.”

To read the complete article and interview with Dr. Horsch click

The professionals at °”ÍűAV Family Care personally assist nannies, babysitters and families in St. Louis, Atlanta, Chicago, Nashville, Memphis, Charlotte, Miami and Orlando to find the right childcare arrangement. Our mission is to provide a safe and personalized  approach for families and caregivers to connect with each other that is not an internet search. °”ÍűAV has worked with families, nannies, sitters, newborn care providers, and tutors for over 35 years and looks forward to working with you! To find great nanny and babysitting jobs visit us at tlc@tlcforkids.com or Call 314-725-5660.

The post Helping your Preschooler with Separation Anxiety appeared first on °”ÍűAV Family Care.

In my opinion, make-believe is not only healthy, it is essential. Make believe helps a child to make sense of the world around him. He assigns his perceptions of a person, place, or thing with the help of make-believe.

There are those who advocate removing all make-believe from childhood. These experts tell us that make believe causes children to delay their perception of their reality. Shame on them! Too much “reality” isn’t good for adults much less little kids.

Grown-ups attend movies and plays and get caught up in the action on the screen or on the stage. Just for a moment, they believe what they are seeing and hearing. Adults, of course, can separate fact from fiction and fantasy from reality. Kids will learn to make those distinctions as they grow older. Meanwhile, that fantasy is helping them learn how to deal with life in a safe and nonthreatening way.

As long as the make-believe is healthy and doesn’t desensitize the child (make killing seem good and evil seem desirable), I see no harm in make-believe.

The professionals at °”ÍűAV Family Care personally assist nannies, babysitters and families in St. Louis, Atlanta, Chicago, Nashville, Memphis, Charlotte, Miami and Orlando to find the right childcare arrangement. Our mission is to provide a safe and personalized  approach for families and caregivers to connect with each other that is not an internet search. °”ÍűAV has worked with families, nannies, sitters, newborn care providers, and tutors for over 35 years and looks forward to working with you! To find great nanny and babysitting jobs visit us at tlc@tlcforkids.com or Call 314-725-5660.

The post Is Make-Believe Healthy? appeared first on °”ÍűAV Family Care.

Though you may actually serve sandwiches on a blanket multiple times on the trip, being a travel nanny is no picnic; it’s work. And unlike your usual set up, where the parents go to work and you’re at home in familiar territory with the kids, it’s all new, to you and your nanny family. So before you pack your bags, it’s important to prepare, communicate and set expectations that will ensure that everyone has a successful trip.

Who Is In Charge?

Unlike your usual routine, there will be times on the trip when you and the parents are both present. In these scenarios — such as on the plane, during some sightseeing and back at the hotel — who is in charge? Many parents will want to be, but many won’t. Some may prefer flying first class while you handle the kids in coach. Others may not want to undermine the authoritative status you’ve already worked so hard to achieve. Either way, discuss it before you set off for your destination. If you know you’ll be in charge somewhere big and crowded, consider asking the parents to invest in wearable technology that keeps kids from wandering. For example, the  uses Bluetooth technology to alert caregivers if a child has strayed an unsafe distance.

What Are the Expectations?

Will you be meandering through museums with the kids in tow, or will you be holed up at the hotel while the parents explore alone? Either is fine, as long as you know what’s expected. Knowing beforehand allows you to properly prepare. For example, if you’ll be in charge during the six hour flight, you may want to introduce earphones earlier that week so young ones won’t be reluctant to wear them. And, if you don’t already own one, a  is a must. If you’ll be in charge of meals and snack time, you may want to pack nutritious kid-friendly snacks, like BodyKey protein bars or Nutrilite smoothies from . If given enough notice, consider following the company’s Twitter page to learn more about other healthy on-the-go product offerings.

When Is Your Down Time?

For everybody’s sake, it’s important to remember that this isn’t a vacation for you but a vacation for your employer’s family. That means this trip shouldn’t count as your paid time off, and you shouldn’t expect to see and do everything you would’ve had you made the trip yourself. With that being said, you are deserving of down time. Talk to your nanny family beforehand to set aside time for yourself. For longer trips, you may even suggest a full day off to see the sights on your own instead of receiving the day’s usual compensation.

Where Do You Sleep?

To cut costs and keep you close, many families expect the nanny to share a room with the kids. If you’re OK with this, then by all means accept. If not, speak up. If having your own room is important to you, consider pitching the idea of an AirBnB-type home rental. That way you’ll have your own space, but you’ll also be just across the hall if anyone needs you.

How Much Are You Paid?

This depends on the family, expected duties and trip duration, among other things. But, in most cases, nanny employers will disburse your usual salary and will also cover food, travel and lodging expenses. Others may add a $50-$100 or more, daily bonus to compensate you for being away from home, and others may come up with a 24-hour rate, so they don’t have to keep track of work hours. If you’re unsure about the rate your employer has offered, do the math. According to federal labor laws, if you work more than 40 hours a week you’re  at one and a half times the regular hourly rate of pay.

This article originally appeared on Regarding Nannies. 

°”ÍűAV For Kids, Inc. has been St. Louis’ premier nanny and babysitting agency for over 30 years. °”ÍűAV For Kids’ dedicated staff is ready to assist you in finding nannies, tutors, newborn care specialists, sitters and more in Atlanta, Charlotte, Chicago, Ft. Lauderdale, Jacksonville, Miami, Orlando, Palm Beach, Sarasota, St. Louis, Tampa and more!. Reach us at tlc@tlcforkids.com or 314-725-5660.

The post Tips for a Traveling Nanny: 5 Things You Need to Know appeared first on °”ÍűAV Family Care.

Count to Ten

This is not for the sake of your child, nor is it a countdown to consequences for him (or her). This is a countdown for you. Sometimes when our children are being immature, which is normal for their age and to be expected, we simply need time to refocus and put things into perspective. Stop, count to ten, and remember that your child is only acting this way because they are indeed a child.

Talk It Out

The best way to resolve a conflict between you and your child is not to explode in anger, but to talk it out with them. Sit down and discuss what is really going on. Talk to them calmly and aim to find out why they feel the need to push your buttons in this manner.

Do a Relationship Checklist

Often when a child is intentionally pushing your buttons, there is a reason he wants your attention. It is possible that you have not been spending enough time together, and he is looking for a way to connect? Does he feel like at this point, any attention is preferable over none? Jog your memory and see if you can find any reason why your child may be acting out in this way towards you.

Remember How It Felt to Be That Age

Sometimes pushing buttons is simply the normal actions of an immature child. Children do not have the life experience we do, and often struggle to find efficient ways to communicate with others. Take a moment and remember how it felt to be that age. What made you feel good? What made you feel sad? What made you feel connected to your parents, and disconnected? Remember what it was like to be a child, and this will surely lead you to a place of greater understanding and patience with your own.

Think about Life in 20 Years

When all other methods fail to help you feel calm, think about the future. Picture you and your child 20 years from now. What will you fondly remember about these days? What will make you wince with regret? This can be an effective way to quickly put things back into perspective. Times passes so quickly and we only live each day once. Think about how special these days are as a family, and you are certain to emerge as a more caring parent who is slow to react in a negative manner.

Children can surely push our buttons, but our time as parents of non-adult children is relatively short. If you can keep this in mind, and compile a list of distraction strategies for your own benefit, it will help you get through the moments that you feel you are close to losing your cool. When your child is saying and doing everything to get a reaction out of you, maintain your composure and stay cool, calm and collected.

°”ÍűAV For Kids, Inc. has been St. Louis’ premier nanny and babysitting agency for over 30 years. °”ÍűAV For Kids’ dedicated staff is ready to assist you in finding nannies, tutors, newborn care specialists, sitters and more.  We serve St. Louis, Atlanta and Florida. Reach us at tlc@tlcforkids.com or 314-725-5660

The post How to be Cool, Calm and Collected When Kids Push Your Buttons appeared first on °”ÍűAV Family Care.