Employee Child Care Alternatives

According to official statistics, corporations in United States loose as much as billion every year due to child care related absences. As such, there is definite need for companies to adjust own work conditions to the needs of skilled employees. At the present moment, businesses use such benefits as flexible schedule, possible leaves of absence, work at home and part time arrangements, as well as offer assistance in obtaining high quality child care. Such policies are beneficial for both employees and the companies themselves, as women get an opportunity to feel more secure about their children’s safety, whereas the company increases own productivity, employee job satisfaction, and, as a consequence, customer loyalty. Even though the perspective is not new, relatively few companies employ such a policy. This solution would allow economic efficiency, as child care services would be offered on a large scale, so economy would be realized on high volume operations. At the same time, it would also positively contribute to the quality of services provided and raise the level of certainty among mothers. It should be further pointed out, that single women most likely would not be the primary beneficiaries from this solution, as child care costs would proportionately raise for companies who employ single mothers. As such, child care options offered by employees should be combined with the governmental policy that would either provide subsidies to companies with high number of single mothers in the labor force, or would establish a definite number of single mothers to be employed for a company.

A child care alternative provided by a company could be implemented in the form of an on site facility. They can be located either directly within the territory of a company or in a child care center located nearby. On cite facilities are the most advantageous for employees, but at the same time are very costly for employers. As such, when choosing to introduce a child care on site facility a company should consider specific parental needs, employee need and commitment, the type of a program as well as the range of the services in order to establish the approximate cost of it. As normally a company would have a number of employees with different needs for child care services, an on site facility by itself would resolve the problem of child care needs, but rather should be combined with other programs offered by employees.

Flexible benefits and spending options could also be introduced as part of the solution to child care problems of single mothers. Benefits received by mothers and employees who do not need child care services could be adjusted to their current needs within a budget established by a company. This option is not costly for employers, but allows flexibility in spending for employees. This policy is also the easiest to implement.

Flexible benefits and spending options for single parents could be combined with referral services that can be a valuable source of information and educational material for parents. By contacting information centers on available child care services in the local area, a child care administrator either full time of part time could provide consultation and advice. This solution raises the level of education among mothers as well as improves the quality of services provided, and, when being combined with flexible benefits and spending options, allows saving on child care expenditures through flexible budgeting.

A child care consortium could also be a solution to the problem, as it allows cost minimization through better allocation of child care costs and raises the quality of services provided. Consortium of firms is organized by joined efforts of several companies, that join together to open an off site facility. As the number of children with similar needs would rise as a result of joined efforts of several companies, this would allow better delivery of services based on the age of children. This solution is flexible, economic, and might be difficult to manage, as there would be a need to develop a single policy for several companies.

Child Care Development: What All Carers Should Know

The environment that a child grows up in is a very important element in his development. As longer hours are spent by children in child care facilities, it is important for administrators of these centers to be more diligent in looking into their programs for child care development.

Essential to a child’s development are the approaches that a facility takes in his learning. Aside from the physical factors crucial to his progress, the child must also be emotionally, intellectually, and socially stimulated.

What types of development should be nurtured in child care centers?

Child care development comes in various forms. One is social development, to which child care facilities may greatly contribute if well-planned activities are properly implemented. When a child is in a day care center, for instance, he is constantly around other children, with whom he plays, works, and eats.

The child also learns how to deal with s – in this case teachers, volunteers, or caregivers who need to be well-trained in child care development. When these professionals show care and concern for their wards, the children react positively and would enjoy their stay in child care facilities more.

Child care development in these facilities also comes in the form of emotional maturity. As children interact with kids of various cultural, ethnic, social, and economic backgrounds, they obtain a deeper understanding of diversity and tolerance for others.

Another form of child care development that can be nurtured are language skills. Even toddlers learn a lot by uttering seemingly nonsensical words, as these are the first steps to language development. Children also take to singing naturally, which also helps in their linguistic learning.

Physical activities, a necessary program in almost all child care facilities, contribute to child care development in a variety of ways. Motor skills, both fine and gross, are enhanced via free play, playground time, and individual work such as painting and playing with puzzles.

Moreover, child care development is at its best when the facility also offers feeding programs. Balanced diets are essential for child care development because kids need proper nutrition in order to progress optimally. When they are given nutritious food, they learn better and are less irritable or hyperactive.

There are many instances when child care development is not easily detected at first, but is manifested in the long term. When there are enough activities to stimulate children’s creativity and interactive skills, we can say that the facility satisfactorily fulfills its role in child care development.

When we speak of outdoor gates, we refer to the security of the center’s perimeter itself. Even during outdoor play, the children must not be able to open the main gates by themselves and possibly venture out into the street. Indoor gates refer to the contraptions attached to staircases and other areas of the house or establishment where access to them may pose dangers to the children.

For the child’s safety, all staircases must be blocked by a safety gate which no child should be able to open without assistance from an . In the same vein, washrooms and toilets must have all the features necessary for it to be child-friendly – that is, toilet seats must be at levels accessible for kids; there should be no bathtubs which could pose dangers to toddlers; and sinks must be within their reach.

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Mother?s Day Poems and Quotesv

Mother’s Day poems and Mother’s Day quotes are just what you need to take your holiday gift or card from special to spectacular. If you’re looking for something unique this year for Mom, then look no further than Mother’s Day poems or Mother’s Day quotes. The perfect addition to a card (whether written in it or inserted on separate stationery), or ideal as a framed stand-alone gift, Mother’s Day poems and quotes go a long way in recognizing Mom on her special day, thanking her for all she does for you, and telling her just what she means to you.  Whether sassy, silly or sweet, a Mother’s Day poem is sure to bring a smile to her face on Mother’s Day.

Mother’s Day poems and Mother’s Day quotes are easy to find; the trick is to find the one that sums up most accurately how you feel about Mommy dearest, the one that best describes your dedication and loyalty to your Mother, the one that really reflects how you feel about her. Here are a few Mother’s Day poems and Mother’s Day quotes that are popularly used in cards and gifts.

Mother’s Day Poems

“M” is for the million things she gave me,

“O” means only that she’s growing old,

“T” is for the tears she shed to save me,

“H” is for her heart of purest gold;

“E” is for her eyes, with love-light shining,

“R” means right, and right she’ll always be,

Put them all together, they spell

“MOTHER,”

A word that means the world to me.
-Howard Johnson
Only One Mother

Hundreds of stars in the pretty sky,

Hundreds of shells on the shore together,

Hundreds of birds that go singing by,

Hundreds of lambs in the sunny weather.

Hundreds of dewdrops to greet the dawn,

Hundreds of bees in the purple clover,

Hundreds of butterflies on the lawn,

But only one mother the world wide over.                                                                                      Author Unknown
Wonderful Mother

God made a wonderful mother,

A mother who never grows old;

He made her smile of the sunshine,

And He molded her heart of pure gold;

In her eyes He placed bright shining stars,

In her cheeks fair roses you see;

God made a wonderful mother,

And He gave that dear mother to me.

-Pat O’Reilly
To My Mother

For all the times you gently picked me up,

When I fell down,

For all the times you tied my shoes

And tucked me into bed,

Or needed something

But put me first instead.

For everything we shared,

The dreams, the laughter,

And the tears,

I love you with a “Special Love”

That deepens every year.
Author Unknown

Mother’s Day Quotes

“All women become like their mothers.  That is their tragedy.  No man does.  That’s his.”  ~Oscar Wilde, The Importance of Being Earnest, 1895
“When you are a mother, you are never really alone in your thoughts.  A mother always has to think twice, once for herself and once for her child.”  ~Sophia Loren, Women and Beauty
“Mother love is the fuel that enables a normal human being to do the impossible.” ~Marion C. Garretty, quoted in A Little Spoonful of Chicken Soup for the Mother’s Soul
“Mother – that was the bank where we deposited all our hurts and worries.” ~T. DeWitt Talmage
“A man’s work is from sun to sun, but a mother’s work is never done.” ~Author Unknown
“A man loves his sweetheart the most, his wife the best, but his mother the longest.” ~Irish Proverb
“God could not be everywhere and therefore he made mothers.”  ~Jewish Proverb
“My mom is a never-ending song in my heart of comfort, happiness, and being.  I may sometimes forget the words but I always remember the tune.”  ~Graycie Harmon
“A mother understands what a child does not say.” – Author Unknown

Children To Mothers On Mothers Day: A Mother Like No Other

Children To Mothers On Mothers Day:  A Mother Like No Other

By Lama Kalla

Copyrights © 2009 PoemVidz.com

It is safe to say that just about every child in the world thinks they have a Mother like no other.  This is a normal attitude to have.  Our Mothers are that important in our lives.  It is for this reason that we celebrate Mothers Day. 

After all, they carry us around for nine months and then go through immeasurable pain to give us birth.  Then the real fun begins.  Mothers are then given the added responsibilities of being Teachers, Doctors and eventually Relationship Counselors.  They are bound to the Mothers code of ethics.  Oh yes, Mothers will love their children above life itself.  It is a built in emotion that never becomes tarnished by time.  A Mothers concern for her children is legendary.  Mothers are programmed to protect and love their children for all eternity.  They are destined to become Mothers like no others.

Mothers are there to mold us into the citizens of tomorrow.  They must instill in us the values that will one day sustain us.  This is not an easy task.  It takes a Mothers heart and soul to overcome the pressures of the world and still accomplish their mission.  However, it does not end with the teaching of right and wrong.  Mothers must also mend every ache and pain, coughs and fever.  They must one day mend the pain of broken hearts as well.  Thus we know that a Mothers job is never really done. 

As we grow we learn to appreciate the sacrifices that our Mothers have made.  Mothers Day takes on a whole new meaning.  Although it should not be put off until one day a year, the opportunity to show appreciation for your Mother on Mothers Day is critical.  Mothers Day is a very special holiday and it is a well-deserved tribute to Mothers everywhere.  All Mothers around the world should be saluted for a job well done.  Perhaps it is not said enough, those four little words, I Love You Mom.  We may know this in our hearts but it is essential that we communicate it to our Mothers on their special day and everyday throughout the year.  This is not too much to ask for a Mother Like No Other.

Mother is Still Here: Sister Nirmala

It has been a decade since Kolkata’s “Saint of Gutters”, Mother Teresa went home to God. But Missionaries of Charity, the order established by Mother in 1950, still continues to feel her divine presence around. The moment one enters the premises of Mother’s House on AJC Bose Road in central Kolkata, one is overwhelmed by a feeling of warmth, peace and serenity like one has never experienced before. Two days before her tenth death anniversary, the spirit of Mother Teresa rests in peace in a white marble tomb, built in the middle of Mother’s House, and is surrounded by devotees, who sit with their heads bowed, paying a silent tribute to the lady who gave up everything to serve the “poorest of the poor”. “Service to the poorest of the poor” still continues to be the fundamental article of faith in Missionaries of Charity.

“Jesus is the bread of life” is written in flowers over Mother’s tomb, and a soft fragrance of incense wafts through the air to create an aura of unmatched divinity. The room adjacent to Mother’s tomb holds her possessions and pictures, and tells a tale of Mother’s service to humankind. The pictures of Mother Teresa, along with her belongings displayed with care, make one feel a close proximity with the petite Mother. “She is everywhere in the House”, smiles Sister Nirmala, the Superior General of Missionaries of Charity, before settling down with HeadlinesIndia for an exclusive interview about life during Mother’s time, and beyond.

It has been ten years since Mother passed away. How has life been in Missionaries of Charity after Mother?

Sister Nirmala: Missionaries of Charity, by the grace of God, and with the presence, prayers and blessings of Mother, is continuing with its work and is going on. It continues to be in the same spirit that it was in when it was founded by Mother.

It has also been ten years of responsibility for you. How does it feel to be in Mother’s place?

Sister Nirmala: I would not say I am in Mother’s place. I can never replace Mother. I have my own place. I cannot be Mother, I cannot live her life. I have my life, and I am living it the way Mother wanted me to. I think Mother is irreplaceable. No one can ever take her place.

How far do you think you have lived up to Mother’s expectations?

Sister Nirmala: I am just continuing the work that she was doing. I try my best to live up to her expectations. I feel, may be Mother is happy with me (laughs).

So, do you hear Mother’s voice in your heart, saying she is happy with you? Do you feel her around you?

Sister Nirmala: Yes, I feel her guiding me in everything I do. I never felt that she is not happy with me. I know she is there to look after everything.

Apparently you shared a very close bond with Mother. Tell us something about your relationship with Mother Teresa.

Sister Nirmala: See, we are sisters, but we are really her daughters. I was like her daughter too…

And what kind of bonding did you share with her?

Sister Nirmala: She was a real mother for my future direction. She guided me in a lot of things. As I grew up before her eyes, she taught me how to love, how to care selflessly. She guided me to spirituality, and she encouraged me in whatever I wanted to do (Mother Teresa had encouraged Sister Nirmala to study law). So I really shared a very special bond with her.

With such special bond, do you miss her around?

Sister Nirmala: It is only her physical being that is missing from here. Her spirit continues to be in every part of the order. We feel here presence everywhere.

Coming back to the order, what changes has Missionaries of Charity seen over the past decade?

Sister Nirmala: The changes have come in the form of expansion. We have expanded to 14 new countries, and we are striving hard to expand further. The Missionaries of Charity has set up 166 new homes across the world. The number of nuns has increased too. Everything else is the same (laughs)…

It is often alleged that Missionaries of Charity follows a static and rudimentary style of functioning….

Sister Nirmala: It is our rule, you know. We follow our tradition, we follow our spirit…

Don’t you wish to modernise the Missionaries of Charity?

Sister Nirmala: No. We prefer to keep it simple. That is the way Missionaries of Charity is (laughs).

What about the funds and donations that are sent to Missionaries of Charity? Has there been any change in the amount of help you received during Mother’s time?

Sister Nirmala: People are still sending us donations. They’re helping us in many ways. We have more than we need (smiles serenely). Mother’s blessings are there with us. People still appreciate what she has done.

What is it about Mother that still keeps her alive in people’s hearts?

Sister Nirmala: Love. It is her love for them. The words of love that she spread is still carved in people’s hearts. That is why people love Mother Teresa.

It has been revealed that Mother Teresa suffered from a spiritual crisis in the last four decades of her life. Did she have doubts about her own faith in God?

Sister Nirmala: She did not have any doubts about her faith in God. It is just that she was disturbed by the silence of God. Don’t we all feel the silence of God at times? She was after all, a human, who was also perturbed by the silence of the almighty.

Did she ever share her apprehensions with you? Did she tell you about the crisis that she was facing?

Sister Nirmala: She never told anything to us. She was a very simple and reserved person, and she kept her problems to herself. She did not burden us with her troubles.

Did she not tell you even about her physical pains and problems?

Sister Nirmala: She did only when she was in immense pain.

How do you feel about Mother Teresa’s canonisation by the Pope later this year?

Sister Nirmala: For us, for the people, Mother was always a saint. Now they are making it official. Of course it is a beautiful feeling because though she is already a saint, it is now being declared officially. All her hard work, the challenges that she faced, the life she lived have been rewarded. It is a beautiful feeling (smiles).

So this year is special for Missionaries of Charity. Mother’s tenth death anniversary is to be followed by her canonisation… Do you have any special plans to commemorate her on her tenth death anniversary on the of September 5 ?

Sister Nirmala: We will be organising a Feast Day celebration on her death anniversary. A book containing all her writings and prayers is also coming out this year on the of September 4. We will start the day with Candlelight Procession and Rosary, and will follow it up with Holy Mass and Prayer for Peace. The Catholic Association of West Bengal has also scheduled events which started on August 4, her birthday, and will continue till September 14.

Anything other than this….?

Sister Nirmala: No. We would like to keep it simple, as Mother preferred it to be (smiles).

Okay, one last question. Is there any special message which you would like to convey to people on your own, as well as Mother Teresa’s behalf?

Sister Nirmala: Yes. I would like to thank the people for all that they are doing. I expect more of their support, their prayers to come. I would like to thank them for the love they have showered on Mother, and Missionaries of Charity. Their words of love keep us going. I would also like to encourage young people to give their lives to God so that they can carry on with Mother’s legacy of selfless love and sacrifice. Also, I would like to thank the media for all the efforts that they put for keeping Mother alive even today!

For More Articles By The Same Author & For More News From India Visit http://www.headlinesindia.com/

This piece was on CBS news for Mother’s Day.
Video Rating: 4 / 5

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