OF MICE AND MOM
HOW TO ENSURE THAT YOUR BEST LAID PLANS  DON'T GO AWRY

Remember when your future was so bright, you had to wear shades? Well, your future—now that you have a
family of your own—has arrived. So it's time to take the shades off and deal with it. THE FAMILY GROOVE compiled
a must-read list of everything you need to know to ensure that sunny days continue to chase the clouds away.

1. The New Paper Chase: Document Organization 101

Once your first child is born, important documents start flying into your hands and continue to accumulate for the
next 18 years—and you're responsible for them.

Certain documents should be kept in a fireproof box in your home or in a lock box in the bank, while others can simply be filed away for easy access.

Documents to consider filing or locking up:

Birth certificates, social security cards Marriage license, passports, wills, car titles Bonds, jewelry appraisals and any other valuables Lease (if renting your home) Closing documents, original deed and house survey (if home is owned) Living wills, proof of previous medical coverage Religious documents

Don’t forget to keep a list of the bank lock box or storage box’s contents somewhere in your home for quick reference. There’s no point in organizing and storing without keeping track of what was put where. The small annual fee for a bank lock box is a tax deduction, so you might want to consider this economical and secure option for very important papers.

2. Sweat the Small Stuff

Depending on how sentimental you are, you may find that keeping mementos organized can be just as important. Choose one place where these precious items will be kept, such as a  plain old shoe box, a fancy hope chest or just a drawer in a dresser. The trick is to keep them all together so they don’t get misplaced. A few items to consider (even if you are not very sentimental, your child may be someday):

Sonogram photos, footprints, hospital name tag, wrist band or unofficial documents Journal written during pregnancy/baby’s first years Record of weights/heights, milestones from each doctor’s check-ups Special cards from family, cards/notes written from you to your baby First tooth, first lock of hair, first booties, favorite rattle First artwork, school photos, report cards, written reports, ribbons, badges Family heirlooms like jewelry

3.  Know What Lies Ahead

Who will take care of your children and your estate if you and your partner suddenly pass away? Not something any of us wants to consider, but when you're the parent you have to face your mortality and make some tough choices (or they will be made by others in your absence).

According to Amanda Douvres, Esq., an attorney in Norwood, NJ,  here are the main considerations for developing a will:
You must appoint an executor of your will. This person will take care of the paperwork at the Surrogate's (the county officer who has jurisdiction over the administration in probate matters) office and is responsible for seeing that the provisions of the will are carried out.
You must name a guardian or guardians. Guardians are legally responsible for your children’s care, well being and management, raising them in your absence. Douvres suggests considering who will raise your children in accordance with your wishes, ways of being and ways of doing.
You must also appoint a trustee. A trustee is responsible for handling the money and making decisions regarding the assets. Douvres suggests determining at what age or ages you'd like your wealth to be distributed to your children.

4.  Check into Child Care
 
If both parents will be working full time after the baby arrives, then the time to look into child care is while you're still pregnant. Regardless of work situations, all parents will need child care, even if it's just occasionally.

Full time day care is a reality for more and more parents today.
Here are a mini checklist to follow when choosing a center:
Tour at least three centers to get a good perspective on what makes one center better than another.
Be sure to consider the facility's safety and security, including procedures for child pick-up and security on entrances to the building.
Is the place clean? Pay specific attention to the places where food is stored and served and also keep an eye out for toy cleanliness.
Ask about basic care issues like diapering and nap time (do they place all babies on their back?). 
Are you able to pop in at anytime to check on your baby? This should be allowed.
Do babies sleep and play in the same room or are they put into separate ones?
How are babies protected from the sun when outdoors?
Consider your feelings on the age of the caregivers. Do you prefer more mature caregivers?
Don’t ignore your gut reactions. Pay attention to how comfortable do you feel during the tour.
Ask for the contact information of a few current clients who can give you a reference.
When you find the place that's just right for you and your baby, leave a deposit to hold your spot—they can fill up quickly.

If you visit a few centers and are not comfortable with this style of care, you may want to consider a nanny. 
Here are some ideas to think on before you begin the great nanny hunt:
Write out your questions before the interview and ask other moms with similar experience for help.
Check references in detail.
Work with a reputable company to find your nanny.
Give thought to what pay rate you can afford and your preferences regarding
languages.
Establish what other help you require outside of childcare (light housework, meals, etc.).
Think about what types of activities will you want the nanny to do with your child.
Consider what details will you expect the nanny to report to you. Do you want them written down?
Are you looking for a live in or live out nanny.
Do you require that the nanny be responsible for getting to your house?
Establish a back-up plan to cover your nanny in cases of illness/vacation.

If you don't prefer a childcare center or a nanny, maybe a solution in the middle will work for you. In-home day care (often run by moms or former school teachers) might be a good choice. Just be sure to confirm that they are licensed and reviewed by the state.

Sometimes parents just require a good, old fashioned baby sitter. From time to time, you will need someone to help you out, give you a break, so you can shower in peace or watch your sleeping beauties on a Saturday night while you're out with your mate.
If you don't have a lot of family and friends available to watch your child, start looking into the pool of neighborhood sitters now.
Here are some points to consider:
Have they attended a Red Cross CPR/Heimlich course or similar training program?  If not, you may want to sponsor their training or find kids who are already trained. 
What are their rates? (They tend to vary quite a bit.)
How much experience do they have? 
Do they have younger siblings? 
Do they have another client you can use for reference?

Consider starting off using a new sitter as a mommy's helper while you are home so you can get comfortable with them and show them your methods.

5.  Save It

As a parent you have a new role of provider, so you need to take control of your finances for the sake of your child’s welfare. For security in case of sudden job loss you should keep enough money in savings to pay all of your monthly bills for six to twelve months. It’s never too early to start saving for college tuition. A 529 savings plan is the best vehicle available specifically for this type of savings. You can add diversity to your college savings by including savings bonds.” (Be sure to check back next month for the 411 on 529s.)

Another way to get into the saving habit is to set up an automatic draft vehicle that transfers money from your checking account directly into a savings (whether it's stocks, mutual funds, money market, savings account or CDs) to build up to the six to twelve months of cushion. You needn’t start with much, even an extra $50 a month into savings is better than nothing.

Bonds are another vehicle that can be used to save for your child’s future. Often time friends and family purchase bonds in a baby’s name as a christening or first birthday present. Because bonds take close to 20 years to mature, the best time to purchase bonds for a child is in his or her early years, so that the timing of maturity will coincide with the college years. There are two bonds commonly purchased for children: E Series bond and an I Series bond. Here's how they are different in their calculation of value:
If a relative has purchased a $100 E  Series bond for your child, they have spent $50 on the bond and it is going to mature at $100. 
If a relative has purchased a $100 I  Series bond, they have spent $100 on the bond and there isn't a definite value at which it will mature. In fact, it may do more than double. There is a slightly higher potential gain with an I Series bond and a coinciding slightly higher element of risk involved, too.

6.  Oh, Grow Up Already—Just Kidding!

Becoming a parent forces us to grow-up while taking us on a journey back to the magical land of childhood. Organizing, planning, saving and even worrying to some degree are high priorities—but so are playing, hugging, tickling and beaming with pride. Don’t let the hard work of parenthood overwhelm you. Just take your new life one step at a time without letting the responsibilities drown out the music and joy that children bring to your life.—Deidre J. Groehnert

Click here to read all about the trials and tribulations of published author and TFG Sales Manger Supreme Deidre and her three little ones under three.