What Should I Do If I Find Out the Kids Are Sick When I Get To A Job?

YOU SHOW UP FOR AN ASSIGNMENT AND THE CHILD(REN) IS(ARE) SICK. YOU WERE NOT TOLD IT WAS A SICK CARE ASSIGNMENT.

It could have been that the children got sick after the parents placed the order, or that they failed to mention the illness when they called TLC, because they were being vomited on/cleaning up scary diapers/taking the temperature of a screaming child.

HERE'S WHAT YOU SHOULD SAY...

Oh my gosh, I didn't know Johnny was feeling icky! (Being extra nice to Johnny.) Pause for parent comment. I don't know if TLC knew either. I just wanted to make sure you knew the sick rate.

IF NO: It's just $11 an hour. Not a big difference. I just wanted to make sure you knew. And I have a form here for you to fill out if you need for me to give him any meds, even if it's just Tylenol.

Once again, have them call TLC if they have any questions. SICK CARE would cover: fevers, diarrhea, vomiting, chicken pox, any child who has been sent home from day care for a fever, any child whose parents are keeping them home because they do not feel well. Also any child requiring fever reducer, pain killer, antibiotics, or breathing treatments. Call TLC if in doubt-- even if it's after the parents leave. We can always intervene before it comes time to be paid.

Next: How to deal with clients who try to underpay you.

What are some fun summer activities I can do with the kids while still keeping cool?

Fun Ways to Beat the Heat!

INSIDE ACTIVITIES If you like ice pops, try fruit kebabs Here's a fun, healthful summer snack that the kids can help create, from the folks atOneCharmingParty.com: Scoop out balls of honeydew melon, watermelon, and cantaloupe, and thread onto wooden skewers for a refreshing treat. (Add chunks of strawberry and some blueberries for even more color and antioxidants; roll fruit in coconut or grated chocolate for texture and flavor appeal.) You can chill the skewers in the fridge, or even freeze them; just lay them on a waxed paper-covered tray in the freezer. Voila: a chunky and nutrient-rich alternative to a classic hot-weather treat. One Charming Party If you like reading on rainy days, try making a book Your avid reader will love putting her own story on the page--and it's easier than you might think. "For the littlest ones, you can have them pick out pictures from a magazine or online. Cut them out or print them and paste them onto the pages, then have your child narrate a story to go along with the pictures," says Wendy Lawrence, a Nashville-based mom of two who blogs about children's books at The Family That Reads Together. Or use photos of family members--or perhaps your kid's beloved animal friends, both stuffed and real--as a starting point for the story. Make it professional by using an online photo or bookmaking site like Blurb.com. Try a vacation memory album narrated by your child, or an original work incorporating his or her artwork. "That's a project an interested kid might spend weeks on, and when you are done, you have a gorgeous keepsake forever," Lawrence says. The Family That Reads Together Blurb.com bookmaking EVENING ACTIVITIES If you like picnics, try stargazing (with dessert) Who says picnics have to be daytime affairs? Head out after dark, when it's cooler. Pack an after-dinner treat, such as cookies or s'mores made in advance in the microwave. The whole family can spread out on a big blanket and search for constellations in the night sky. Make it a regular event and start a moon journal, suggests Almeras. "You can observe and draw the different phases of the moon." If you like going to the zoo, try an owl prowl You've probably seen an owl or two lately, on your kids' clothes, perhaps (owls are tres trendy as decorative items right now)--so why not thrill your junior zoologist by spying on a real live one in its natural habitat? "A lot of us don't think about evening activities for kids, but it's a perfect time to get outside as a family--it's not so hot, and it's fun and different," says Bethe Almeras, the education and outreach director of Head Start Body Start National Center for Physical Development and Outdoor Play. Check with local nature centers or park districts--most will offer nature discovery programs and outings that are low-cost or free, and these often include owl prowls. Before you go, check out the great owl info at the Audubon Society Owl Prowl or ateNature.com, where you can type in your zip code, learn about wildlife commonly found in your area, and listen to bird calls (including owl hoots). Audubon Society Owl Prowl Do you have a fun and "cool" activity you would like to share? Let me know and I'll post it on the blog!