Monday, September 1 is Labor Day in the U.S. - a Federal holiday that many nannies and caregivers receive as a paid holiday. Families often struggle with how to calculate the employee's paycheck, especially overtime pay,  when a paid holiday is in the pay period.

“Appreciation is a wonderful thing. It makes what is excellent in others belong to us as well”- Voltaire

We all have our own unique ways of showing appreciation for the people around us that make our lives easier or brighten our day in some other way ...  Whether it is your employee, nanny, spouse, boss or even a kind stranger, make sure you show how valuable their positive impact in your life is for you.  If someone challenged you to get out of your comfort zone and meet a goal, especially during the holiday season, remember to appreciate what they have done for you. Get creative with the ways you say “Thank you!”

Although the Holiday Season is usually filled with excitement and celebrations, for some in their “golden” years, this can be one of the toughest times of the year.   The stress that comes with taking part in these special celebrations can be overwhelming for some.  Many people, regardless of age, can experience feelings of sadness, disappointment and depression this time of year which is often referred to as the “Holiday Blues”. This can be due to the extra stress that results when preparing for all of the fun holiday festivities, while still juggling all of the day to day of our busy lives.

Some seniors experience the “Holiday Blues” more intensely, while others are not affected at all ...  Life experience brings many changes with it, and our senior family members often reach a point in their lives when it becomes more difficult to adapt to change. During the Holidays, in particular, some reminisce about better times and the absence of their loved ones.  Some of their spouses or closest friends might even have already passed, and their grown up children have busy lives of their own now …