How to Interview a Babysitter

Once you have found a babysitter it is a good idea to ask them over so you and your kids can meet him or her.

The first thing you should note is whether or not he or she is on time. This is an indicator of future reliability.

When the babysitter shows up you should note how he or she is dressed. Look for someone who is well-groomed and in child-friendly wear. For instance, a young woman with long fake nails that look like talons may not be as interested in child care as she claims.

You should also have a piece of paper ready with the following information to be filled out on it.

Name ______________________________

Address ______________________________

Phone ______________________________
Cell ______________________________
Reference 1 ______________________________
Reference 2 ______________________________

You can make up this short form on your computer and print it out or you can simply write it with pen and paper.

Some neighborhood babysitters may not be used to being asked for a reference particularly if they are younger. That is okay. It is just fine to simply ask who he or she has babysat with before.

Questions that you might want to ask your babysitter are –
How long have you been a babysitter?
How many other families do you babysit for?
How old are the other children you care for?
Are you still in school?
What will you do when I am not here?
Do you mind feeding my kids?
Are you able to help my kids with their homework?
What do you like to do with your free time?
What television shows do you enjoy watching/
Will you need to use my computer when I am not here?
Do you intend to have visitors here when I am not home and if so who?
What is the very worst thing that happened to you as a babysitter so far and how did you handle it?
If my child had an accident, what would be the first thing that you would do?
If you are going to be late or have to cancel the job, how will you let me know?
How much do you expect to be paid an hour?
How do you want to be paid – in cash or by check?
Most of these questions are quite 'leading' in nature and can help you tell quite a bit about the candidate's character and tendencies.
Finally the best babysitter is the one that seems like he or she wants to interview you. If the babysitter is armed with a list of questions about your children, their food preferences, what time they go to sleep and other matters then you have found a good candidate.

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How to Make a Money Tree

Making a money tree is usually done at Christmas but you can actually do it any time of the year. All you need to do is find an old tree branch which looks like the body of a small tree. Then all you need to do is pin fake or real money to it with clothespins or some other type of pin. Some people use fish hooks or threads or chains to hang the money off of the tree. Even tape will do.

The idea is that that tree branches are bare but the money that is attached symbolizes the leaves. A variation of this is to use evergreen branches or a small Christmas tree as the foundation for the tree. All evergreens are natural prosperity symbols. Juniper brings material wealth. Pine brings good health and wealth. Spruce brings wealth though family connections.

If you are using tree branches the different woods you choose might also have some connotations for you. Willow tree branches can help alleviate sorrow and help pay for medical expenses. Money tree branches made from willow trees might also help a widow find a new husband.

Money trees made from oak branches bode financial strength and immunity to bad financial trends. They can very much be about being sturdy and having stamina during tough economic times. Oaks are big strong trees that put firm roots into the ground so they symbolize financial strength. Hanging a few acorns on this type of tree is also a good idea.

Maple trees are about the free flowing circulation of money and excellent for attracting business or trying to manifest and make a goal about how much money you would like a new business to make for you.

The principle of manifestation with this type of ritual is that whatever you put on the tree in terms of real or fake money will then multiply ten times. This is why it is a good idea to add as many money 'leaves' as possible. It is also not a bad idea to add coins. Foreign coins, fake coins and real coins work well. You can also decorate the tree with foil covered chocolate coins which symbolize the money coming to you in and easy and sweet way.

The idea is that whatever you attach to the tree is worth ten times as much. For instance if you attach a five dollar bill it is actually worth five hundred bucks. And of course if you don't have any money you can use any kind of fake money. It is perfectly acceptable to use Monopoly money. If you don't even have a set of Monopoly money around you can write the amounts that you need on little slips of paper. The paper can be green or you can write the amount that you need in green paint or marker.

As with all rituals like this remember that they only work as well as the intention that you put into it so be sure to put your heart and soul into making your money tree.

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