Whats Your Customer Service Level

What's your customer service like?

Today was a day to run errands.  Today's errand takes G-Pa to the VA for a doctor appointment. Today's drive to the VA was a little different. I saw something that made me think and smile. As I passed Vanderbilt children's hospital I saw something wonderful; there were four men dressed like superheroes cleaning the hospital windows. This quickly got me thinking about levels of customer service. These four men decided to make a kids day by dressing up.

I’m mostly stay at home mother, so I guess my customer would be my son. I started to think about my son as a client and wondered if my level of customer service was up to par. In business when you don't provide great customer service your business suffers but what happens when you don’t give your kids your 100%.

What 100 percent looks like to me.

Recently I went out of town to visit a family member. After getting off a 12 hours shift she came to the airport and picked me up.  It was only 9am and she had already had a parent teacher conference at her twin’s school. After enjoying breakfast and some catching up we got to her house. She went home to a big mess her boys and husband had left for her. She cleaned for an hour kitchen, restroom, and bedrooms. After that she pulled out something for dinner. And finally bed or should I say nap.

By 3pm the twins were knocking at the door. They went straight to the kitchen table for a small snack and homework. This was their routine.  I sat and watched as she helped her 9 year olds with homework and cooked dinner. Shortly after the 9 year olds got home the 14 year old come in. Another snack is made and back to homework. Two hours later homework is done the boys are getting ready for football practice, and she was putting dinner on the table. She drops the boys off at practice where their dad will meet them.  It’s time for work and tomorrow she gets to do it all over again.

I focused on the mom, but both of these parents are wonderful. Dad left work, went to football practice, made snacks, got the boys bathed, and off to bed.  They are both sacrificing for their children. These parents are selfless.  The reward is well mannered, intelligent, and one day successful children who will return this love. 

What I’m Learning

I am not sure yet how great my customer service is to my son.  I have learned from watching my family that parenthood doesn’t get easier it just changes. Every day and every year a little more will be added to my parent plate.  Only as time goes on will I be about to grade my parenting skills. 

I started this blog with a window washer story and I ended with a story of wonderful parents. Both stories were an example of wonderful customer service.  It's good to think, compare, and improve. I ask you what your level of customer service is. Is it up to par?

Superhero Video

The Ups and Downs of Daycare

My little man is not in daycare.

Before I started back working I went on a two month journey asking all the wrong questions to find my son a daycare. The problems I ran into were waiting lists and cost. Nathan is my first kid so I never had to talk prices for a daycare before. After touring many programs I felt like I had found the right one. There was no waiting list, the cost was reasonable, and it was close to my house. After only a few weeks at the daycare, I began to see red flags and got a funny feeling in my gut.

Unlike most parents, I only worked part time (25 hours a week) and my schedule was not set. I often showed up at the daycare unannounced. I quickly saw things I didn't agree with. My son had three teachers of whom two were never introduced to me or even mentioned. When they only had a few infants they would send that teacher home and put the kids in the room with a toddlers. They were leaving the kids in their cribs and let them cry.

Education not just Playtime

The only time I saw the staff interacting with the kids was when they were feeding them or changing their diapers. This really bothered me because I remember telling them that my son was very interactive he likes people talking, reading, counting, singing, and playing with him. Usually if this did not happen he would cry. In my tour they assured me that that would not be a problem that that was their regular routine and my son Nathan would fit right in. I felt betrayed when I really found out how they treated the kids.

For $660 a month I felt like my kid should be learning something it and daycare shouldn't just be a glorified babysitter. Sometimes in the morning a teacher would be late and it would just be one teacher with 20 kids. I quickly realized it was time to take my son home. For weeks I took Nathan to work while I looked for a new daycare.  After a while his grandpa volunteered to watch him for a small fee so I could work.

Recently I went to a women's church luncheon and talked to a lady sitting next to me about our kids and jobs. Come to find out she works for the state and her job is the visit and review daycare facilities. She gave me a list of websites to go to find questions to ask your daycare before you hire them. Those sites are listed below. She has said that pop up visits are the best way to find out what your daycare is really like. She suggests everyone do surprise visits to their daycare as often as they can.

What would you have done in my shoes? Have you experienced similar problems?  Tell me your story and experiences.

Parent Quality Childcare

State of Tennessee

Great Childcare Questions

Holiday Savings (Wise Wednesday)

Holiday shopping

If you're like me you've been saving all year for the holidays. But if not that's ok. Today we are going to talk about gift ideas and savings money this holiday. People tend to overspend around the holidays so I have created a few holiday shopping steps to ensure you don’t go over your budget for the holiday. 

Step one: Shop using a list. You are more likely to spend less money and buy less stuff.

Step two: Simple but hard stick to your list. With all the great prices you will be tempted to shop, shop, shop.

Step three: Only buy each person on your list one gift. At the end of the day that person will be glad you remembered them.

Step four: Spend less on younger kids. Kids under the age 5 are most likely not going to remember there gift so there is no need to break the bank.

Step five: Give a card. Holiday cards are inexpensive and a wonderful way to express yourself.

Step six: Create crafts. The holidays is a great time for the family to sit at the kitchen table and create beautiful and almost free gifts.

Step seven: Bake. Who doesn't like a sweet desert? Your gift can be the one the whole family enjoys while you all sing carols.

Step eight: Do spend so much. If you buy that expensive gift are they going to use it or brake it?

Step nine: Buy useful gifts. Buy gifts you can use year round so you can get your money worth. 

Step ten: Buy gift cards. A lot of time it's you buy a gift cards you spend less money than you would on a gift. Some businesses give you rewards and points for buying cards from them.

By using these few steps you can save amount of money this holiday season. You can get a gift for all the people on your list and feel good about it.

Why Budgeting Matters (Wise Wednesday)

What's with a budget anyway? 
Budgets are for everyone and the kind of budget you use is important. I only found this out after going to FPU or Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University.  I have been using a budget since I was 18. At the age of 18 I lived in my first place (alone). No one had ever explained money to me. I can recall asking the adults around me for financial advice at the age of 18. I find out that everyone around me including my parents was bad at managing money. I didn't understand how or why you had to manage money but now I do.

Yes, like many people I have lots of debt but unlike most I'm on a plan to be debt free. I want to be debt free for my son. Take a minute and think about what you would do if you were debt free. I will wait. My budget is a big part of my plan. 

“Why?” you ask. Because it helps me see, track, and pay attention to where my money is going.  It gives me power and control. Having a budget saves me money.

 “How?” you ask.  Well, it’s easy.  I pay less bills late. I have fewer overdrafts, and fewer payment (convenience) fees. By not paying bills late I save on that late fee businesses love to charge. These fees can be up to $30 or $40 depending on the type of bill.  The banks have to get their cut of course. Forgetting you purchased a $1 soda pop on a debit can cost you up to $40. And last but not least, technology has made it easy to wire, pay by phone, or pay online however many businesses charge a small fee for that service. Not paying this small fee may be your biggest savings yet, depending on the bill.  Let’s say you mortgage company charge an $8 payment fee each month.  That is $96 a yearly or a total of $2880 over the course of 30 year’s. If you plan better, you can mail the payments on time and save money.

So what’s a good budget?
The zero based budget is the best one I have used for two reasons. Usually the stuff you don't put in your budget (gas, fast-food and entertainment is what's eating up all your money). The zero based budget included everythings.  Not just bills, but your clothes, oil changes, entertainment, insurance, and fun money.  Fun money is that cash in your pocket just in case you see the “It”. Whatever the “It” is. When you dont feel guilty the next day for buying something that is where your freedom comes from. 

How do you do a zero based budget?
First start by doing the budget for the next month so if it's October do the budget for November in October. On the last week of the month do your budget for the next month. By this time your usually have all your bills for the following month (light, water, cable, etc.).  It’s easiest if you write all your expenses out. At the top of the page write your total take home income for the month.  Put your expenses in order from most important and automatic withdraw first and just keep going. Put a dollar amount by each item and subtract that amount from your income total at the top. Once you get to zero you are done.  If there are still bills left they either don't get paid or you can change the amounts on some of the other bills. Below is a zero based budget form and example sheet you can use. Try it out and let me know if it helps you get your finances in order.

Zero Based Budget Example

 

Zero Based Budget Worksheet

 

 

 

Mikey (who eats everything) vs Picky eater (who could do without it all)

 

So far I have not found a food my 13 month old son won't eat. On the other hand, I don't really eat much of anything.  I’m a great cook who can even cook the things I don't eat.  Most of the time I don't have time. I get tired of beef, chicken, and pork and seemed to have lost my creative gene for cooking.  I need quick and new ideas.

I'm looking to create a recipe box of about 40 recipes that only take 30 minutes or less. I was reading Parentmag.com today and they had a few interesting recipes I'm going to try.  I'm a working mom who gets home between 6:00 and 6:30 pm most nights. After not seeing my son all day I want to spend time with him and he with me. My son is in the tub by 830pm and bed by 9pm every night so I have little time to cook dinner.  Due to a health condition and taking care of my son, I'm tired a lot and don't have much energy. I don't want to be over a stove long but we need to eat.  I like meals with a protein, vegetable and a starch.

It's time for research. Send me some of your quick, easy, and tasty recipes I can cook.  I will take a picture, taste, and review them. I'll let you know which recipes make it in the box.

Recipe

 

Is He Asleep Yet (Part 1)

My son Nathan is 13 months old. From the day he was born until now he has never slept for a whole night. This can be exhausting to say the least.  I thought I would take the time to share a few things I have tried.

 

For 10 months I was a stay-at home mom, so at first his not sleeping at night didn't get to me.  Now, I'm back at work and to be honest, I'm tired.  It’s a lot harder to let him cry when I'm sleepy too.  It’s much easier to pick him up.  I hardly ever get a whole straight 8 hours of sleep. On the few nights my mom and step-dad watch him I sleep all night and most of the day. 

Even now as I write this blog I have had to stop 3 times for him. Some nights aren't so bad.  He will wake up 3 or 4 times for a bottle and twice more for a change (he is always wet).   Other nights, every time I put him down he pops up like weed. Tonight he's a weed. 

This problem had three parts but I solved two of the parts. Part one getting him to not sleep with me. Part two getting him on a sleeping schedule and part three getting him to stay asleep all night. In the beginning he slept with me every night for two reasons.   1) I lived at my mom’s for 3 months for help and 2) I was nursing. I nursed him until 8 months but I had to stop due to health reasons.

Now, how did I stop him from sleeping in my bed?  That was a hard one at first. He slept with me for 6 month but I realized he was a bad sleeper (aren’t all babies), and I'm single now but one day I would have a husband so it was time for him to go.  First I bought him a bigger comfortable crib not that old bassinet.  Second I asked my doctor and mother what to do. The nurses gave me reading material and mom said you’re going to have to let him cry. I didn't know then what she meant but I found out quickly. 

 

So I read the material and it said create a bedtime schedule so I did. Every night I read him a book, feed him dinner give him a bath and at 9pm he is in the crib.  In the crib, but crying, just like mom said. The article also said after bath time I should stop talking, turn off all the lights and let him cry some. The article never said how long to let him cry.  “Some” for me was up to 30 minutes.  But it worked.  After about two week he was sleeping in his own bed. Thank goodness!  I'm not going to tell you these two weeks was easy.  I felt like I was in a ‘who is more stubborn’ contest.  At first he would win because I didn't like hearing him cry. After about day   four, I just started pacing the halls until he stopped crying.   And now he is asleep every night at 9pm in his own bed.

 

What I haven’t said is my son has been dealing with some ear infections as well.  So initially, the doctors led me to believe that his not sleeping was because of all the ear infections.  So the doctors prescribed Benadryl after he had tubes put in (for the pain), but it didn’t even help with the sleeping, only the pain.   My son is no longer in daycare I will post about why one day soon. My step dad G-Pa watches him and G-Pa has been keeping a nap log for 3 weeks.  Starting tomorrow we will be cutting his nap time in half to see if that works.

 

Now What??

Now how do I keep him asleep all night is my question to the world? It's research time. I'll share what I learn.  If you have any idea of something I can try please comment and share with me and the rest of the blog family. I will keep you updated.

Goals are Important

What is one of your goals?  How are you taking practical steps to make your goals a reality?  

This question is not my question I actually got it off of my twitter from another blogger Alan Smith and even further.  He got the question from another blogger Jeff Goins.  This question came to me at the right time.  It helps me to understand what it was I was doing and it gave me clarification of why I wanted to start a blog. My goal is to become a writer and what better way to practice the skills than to create a blog about my day to day experiences and stresses.

I eventually would like to write children's books and because a bestselling author.  For now I feel like writing this blog is a good way for me to get out there.  In the process of reaching my true goals, I can help mothers and they can help me. I truly believe that everyone has a goal in life or a dream that they want to fulfill. I think the easiest way to go about that is to create small steps that you can easily do.  That will eventually transition you into your bigger goal. You could do such small steps that by the time you reach your main goal or your main objective you don't even realize that you are there because it wasn't dramatic or an overwhelming change. So that's my goal. My goal is to start by practicing my craft of writing by writing this blog.

It’s your turn to share with me.  What is your goal and what are you doing to make it a reality?