Why pay a membership for a sitter service?

We often get asked, "Why should I pay a membership fee to hire a sitter" and the answer is simple...

Mom and dad's are very busy and juggling family, work, and life can be such a daily challenge. Add in trying to find trustworthy sitters through one's personal network, then screening those prospective sitters and the process can be daunting.

Joining an elite company such as Lucky Lil' Darlings (LLD) enables you to take the trouble, and hard work out of the mix.  First and foremost, LLD is a trusted company that hand selects each sitter. In addition to finding top-notch sitters, we conduct extensive screening, ensuring a properly background checked and college educated sitter.  In addition, we have also perfected the LLD sitter match. We are experts at finding the right sitter for your kids and ensure a fun, reliable addition to your family, making the process secure and painless. 

Having a reliable person you can speak with about your individual family needs also really takes the pressure off. Sometimes you need to discuss options for your child-sitting needs. Whether you need a weekly sitter for date night, a holiday sitter for your next family vacation or just an extra set of hands on the weekends, LLD's personal service really helps configure the best solution for your family. We have loads of experienced sitters for all occasions: parties, vacations, corporate events etc, and we've seen it all. The level of experience we provide is hard to match, and as an LLD member you can tap into our information anytime, with a quick call or email.

Another great benefit is being able to book sitters last minute. Even if your "regular" nanny/sitter is booked, LLD has an extensive database of amazing, available sitters, and can accommodate last minute requests: what's better than that!? 

Here are some of the highlights to being an LLD member:

--LLD’s sitters are the best in the business and become true, long term role models for your children.

--LLD provides a loyal and genuine local community for elite, urban families. Our families are friends, we have great local events that enable fun family networking, hearing about amazing local deals and being plugged in to a wonderful group of mom and dad's that like you are looking to engage.

--LLD’s Secure Screening Process is extensive, organized, and thorough to always ensure your Lil’ Darlings are always in the best of hands.

--LLD’s core mission is to provide the utmost highest quality of family care solutions in a convenient & efficient manner.  We have the reputation in the business for finding the best childcare providers for your family. 

--LLD’s comprehensive suite of family care offerings reduces daily stress for busy, modern families. You tell us what you need and we do all the work!

-LB

Bring Back Family Dinners!

By Allison Brooks

This is the 21st Century! Home of the overworked, underpaid, tired and in dire need of "me" time. Parents, children, husbands, wives and extended family are become isolated from each other, due to disparate schedules, after school activities, work and a myriad of other reasons. These days, people go to the nearest drive thru and eat on the run, order takeout and plop down on the counter, or use convenience and processed foods to prepare some semblance of a meal.

Family dynamics may have changed in the past 50 years, but the inherent desire to hold the family together still remains important. Circumstances might indicate that the concept of family is disintegrating and that may be the case for some people. The simple fact is that we are human and we need each other. A way that we can keep our family units strong and together is to sit together and to eat together. We need to nourish not only our bodies, but also our minds, spirits and souls.

Research has shown that families that make the time to have dinner together are happier, stronger and better prepared to negotiate life's difficulties. Eating together is a mutually beneficial experience for adults and children. Sitting and enjoying a meal together promotes open communication, better appetites and a more positive outlook on life. This is why many RD’s and nurses recommend a family meal at least once a day. Not only in the home but facilities like nursing homes and cancer facilities ask families to visit to have a meal together. Since the idea of a short life-expectancy can make one feel isolated, a family meal makes them feel closer and more at peace.

If you have not engaged in this practice, there is no better time than now. Getting everyone together to eat without distractions is going to take inner strength and resilience, but once you overcome the objections and excuses, your loved ones will start coming around. In fact, your family might even look forward to the family meal time.

There are both extrinsic and intrinsic benefits for eating together. Decide today that you will make the time and a lovingly prepared meal for your family. Everyone will thank you.

What is your sitter back-up plan?

What is your babysitter back-up plan?

Kids are sick and home from school.

Nanny or regular sitter is sick.

Grandparents, friends are at work…

Ugh.

It is important for every family to have a go-to sitter service, group or person that you can rely on for those last minute curve balls.  Check out this article on Daily Worth. They recommend strategizing, network and budgeting. I agree, be sure to have at least two go-to sitters or agencies on speed dial in case the need arises, where you can call one of them and pretty much be guaranteed a sitter for the next day.

Last Thursday I was at dinner around 10pm when I received the frantic message, OUR NANNY IS SICK…HELP! Luckily we had a sitter at her place at 8:30am the next day. But to alleviate stress be prepared with your back-up!

-LB

Hey Dads! Check this out!

Hey all you hard working Dads out there. Did you know the “stress about balancing careers and caregiving is no longer just a woman’s issue”? An article in today’s New York Post discusses the growing stress being placed on the working Dads of today. Brad Harrington, the director of Boston College’s Center for Work and Family, is a working father himself and explains in the article that Dads are increasingly dealing with the same work vs. family conflict as Moms have been for the past couple decades. Harrington also helped write a report about this subject entitled “The New Dad: Caring, Committed and Conflicted”. Based on a survey of nearly 1,000 working Dads, the report paints the picture of how modern Dads are struggling to be both hands-on fathers and the hard working breadwinners. The article also touches upon issues such as work flexibility programs and how Dads are less likely to participate because of perceived expectations of their companies and management, and how many employers may have a way too outdated perception of what today’s working Dads are like.

Who knew that Dads were just as stressed about balancing work and family as Moms are! To read more visit: http://www.nypost.com/p/news/business/jobs/male_call_or5IMz3zJeHKu7svlocWNN#.Tgjj0wlqIf4.email.

We’ll we are here to support you Dads! Keep on being the best Dads you can be, and when you need help, just give us a holler!