Abshier House Publishing

Article / Updated 10-05-2021

Before winter arrives, the most important thing you need to do for yourself and your family is to ensure that your furnace is operational, safe, and as energy-efficient as you can make it. When that first cold day hits, you don't want to turn on the furnace only to discover that it isn't working. (A lot can happen during the warmer months to affect your furnace.) It's important to have your gas furnace checked for a possible leak of carbon monoxide, which is an odorless, colorless gas. Having carbon monoxide and radon detectors are important for everyone's safety. You can purchase these detectors at most hardware and big box, do-it-yourself stores. Call a furnace professional for a checkup No doubt about it, your best bet is to call heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVACR) professional and have them come out and inspect your furnace. During a regular maintenance inspection, the technician will clean the furnace, change the filter, check for leaks and unhealthy gases, and ensure that everything is operational. You also can (and should if you can afford it) pay them to clean the furnace ducts. © Perry Gerenday / iStockphoto.com Do-it-yourself furnace tasks Here are a few other things that you can do yourself: Change the furnace filters regularly. Some suggest every three months; others suggest monthly. At least take a look at the filter after 30 days of operation. You'll be able to tell if it needs to be changed. If your filter still looks pretty good, you can put off changing it. Stock up on filters during the warmer months. You often can find a bargain on furnace filters and other winter items during those hot summer months. Remove any items you have stored near the furnace, particularly anything that is likely to catch fire. Also remove any household items that are suddenly sitting on top of or in front of your air ducts and return vents. If you have a gas furnace, contact your gas company and have them fill'er up. Gas is certainly much cheaper to buy during the summer than in the middle of a January cold spell. If you have hot-water radiator(s), bleed the valves. Open the valves slightly and close them again when water starts to appear.

Article / Updated 03-26-2016

The National Football League’s (NFL) injured reserve (IR) rules have been modified for the 2012 season. The rule now allows one player per team to be activated from the IR list. In addition, the sport’s trade deadline has been pushed back. Earlier, the sport’s franchise owners approved the rules; however, they were waiting for ratification by the NFL Players Association. The union approved the rule on August 30, 2012. As a consequence, each team had to reduce its roster to 53 players by 9 p.m. on Friday, August 31, 2012. Before the enactment of this new rule, any player that was placed on the IR list was not eligible to play again for the same team in that season. With the new rule, each team is allowed to activate one player per season from the IR list. The trade deadline has been moved until after the eighth week of the playing season. Previously, the trade deadline was after the season’s sixth weekend of games. IR list rules summary Following are the main points regarding the new IR list rule changes: Only players with a “major injury” who are placed on the IR list after 4 p.m. EST on Tuesday, September 4, 2012, or during the season are eligible to be reactivated later in the season. A major injury is described as an injury that renders the player unable to practice or play football for at least six weeks — or 42 calendar days — from the date of injury. A player who is placed on the IR list after 4 p.m. EST on Tuesday, September 4, 2012, must be immediately “designated for return” at the time he is placed on the list. That designation must appear on that day’s Personnel Notice. That designated player is eligible to return to practice if he has been on the IR list for at least six weeks from the date he was placed on Reserve. He is eligible to return to the active list if has been on the IR list for at least eight weeks from the date he is placed on Reserve. Roster rules summary In addition to the IR list, NFL teams use other mechanisms to manage their roster play list. A summary of those rules follows: Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) — Players listed on the PUP’s regular season list are eligible to play after week 6, at which point they can begin practicing with the team. The team has a three-week window to either activate the player or send him to the injured reserve list. A player can be placed on the PUP list only if he has been on the preseason PUP list and has not been practicing with the team. Waived/Injured — Teams are able to waive an injured player. Other teams can claim any player on the Waived/Injured list. If players clear their waivers, which most players do, their original team can either put them on the IR list or come to an injury settlement agreement and part ways. Reserve/Non-Football Injury List — The rules for this list are the same as the PUP list; however, the injuries come from something other than playing football. Practice Squad — Beginning on September 1, 2012, teams are able to complete an eight-man practice squad. For a team member to be eligible for this squad, the player must not have accrued a season of free agent eligibility. Eligibility for this squad is limited to players who do not have an accrued NFL season or were on an active 53-man roster list for less than nine games during their only accrued season. Players who have served two seasons on a practice squad are eligible for a third season if the team has at least 53 players on its active/inactive list for the duration of the player’s employment.

Article / Updated 03-26-2016

Contrary to some beliefs, you cannot just pay your nanny cash or check like you might a babysitter who comes to your home on an occasional basis. Nannies are not independent contractors. Nannies are actually employees of the family. Consequently, it is critical for you to establish yourself as a valid employer. Credit: ©iStockphoto.com/fountain_of_useless_info Household employers' legal responsibilities Before you can pay your nanny, you need to become a legitimate employer. The following are common activities you must do in order to pay your nanny: Complete SS-4 with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to secure a Federal Identification Number (FIN). Contact your state employment office to determine whether you are required to report any new hires with them. Determine your state and federal requirements on withholding social security and unemployment tax and find out whether you must retain workers’ compensation. Determine all of the year-end tax forms that must be filed with local, state, and federal agencies. As an employer, you must provide your nanny with a W-2 form by January 31 each year. The Social Security Administration requires that you file a form W-3 form with them by February 28 of each year. What you can expect to pay your nanny Depending on your work requirements, the nanny's experience, and what state or locality you live in, you can expect to pay different rates to your nanny. The 2009 INA Salary and Benefits Survey from the International Nanny Association is an excellent resource for detailed information regarding nannies. A summary of their responses regarding pay and benefits include on average: Nannies who live in their own homes Part-time nannies earn between $7.25–$20 or more per hour. Full-time nannies earn $350-$1,000 or more per week. Full-time nannies working more than 40 hours a week earn 1.5 times the hourly rate for every hour worked over 40. Nannies who live with their families Earn between $300–$1,000 or more each week. Must be paid at least minimum wage for each hour that they work. Are not required to be paid overtime. Have free room and board, which includes private room and bath. Full-time nannies work between 40–60 hours per week with two days off each week. Nannies are accustomed to receiving the following benefits in addition to their salaries: Use of employer’s car during working hours Health insurance or a percentage of health insurance premiums paid 8–10 paid holidays Two weeks paid vacation Paid sick days Some nannies also expect to receive the following: Reimbursement for attending professional development conferences and courses To be paid their regular salaries for attending professional development activities Retirement plans Annual bonuses

Article / Updated 03-26-2016

If any of the following situations ring true to you, perhaps your family should consider hiring a nanny. Maybe you’ve tried babysitters or have called on your parents and in-laws one time too many to care for your children. Perhaps you are working so many hours, and meeting all the kids’ obligations is just not possible. Or maybe you travel a lot for your job and your kids are experiencing instability in their lives. As with any arrangement, “good fences make good neighbors,” so it’s important to consider the following points before you engage a nanny. Credit: ©iStockphoto.com/Andreas Rodriguez What will a nanny do for your family? The first thing you and your spouse need to consider is what you expect your nanny to do for you. In other words, what is her job description? Some things to consider in addition to caring for your children are Will she prepare meals? If so, how many meals each week is she expected to prepare? Do you want the nanny to perform any household duties, such as dusting, making beds, doing dishes, laundry, vacuuming, or any other housekeeping duties? Will those be expected to be done daily, weekly, or on occasion? Should your nanny be prepared to take your children to after school or cultural activities? If so, does she need to provide her own car or will that be provided for her? What hours do you expect your nanny to work? Will she have a strict schedule Monday through Friday, or will she be asked to babysit some evenings and weekends? Where will the nanny reside? After you have determined the extent of the job duties your nanny will perform for your family, it’s important to decide where the nanny will live. Will she live with you, or will she have her own home and come and go on a scheduled basis? If she has her own home and just comes and goes on a regular schedule, the contract arrangement with the nanny will be much easier. However, if she is going to live with you, it’s important to consider these points. Even though the nanny is living with you, she will require a fixed working schedule. Any time she is asked to work over that schedule, she will expect, and should, be paid for that time. Will the nanny have only a room, or will she also be provided a dedicated bathroom or even other parts of the home she can call her own? How will you express to the children that even though the nanny lives with you, she needs her own privacy — a place and designated times where the children can’t visit her. Will the nanny be expected to be on call 24 x 7? If so, that will need to be clearly communicated to the nanny, and the contract between you will need to reflect this expectation. Will the nanny be expected to leave the family alone in the evenings, or will she be free to participate in all of the family activities? How will the nanny’s meals be handled? Will she join you for meals or be expected to eat at different times or in a different location? Will the nanny be allowed to have her own friends in your home? You know that your nanny will have a social life other than your family, so it’s important to think about how you feel about having strangers in your home and if you are going to allow her to entertain guests there. Other items to consider Can you really afford a nanny? Remember, you are responsible for taxes and maybe even retirement benefits. The nanny requires paid time off so you will need to plan on how to handle those incidences as well. How will discipline be handled with the children? Conflicting messages to kids are problematic, so a discussion around discipline rules is in order. Are you going to use an agency or try to hire the nanny on your own? Regardless, criminal background and reference checks are a necessity. How are you going to handle your nanny’s performance reviews as well as dealing with issues as they arise? Particularly during the first three to six months trial period, there will be a need for you and the nanny to set aside specific times to discuss progress and set new priorities and goals if necessary. After considering all of these questions, do you still want a nanny in your employ? If you were able to work through this list and give yourself honest answers, then a nanny might just be right for your family.

Article / Updated 03-26-2016

Both au pairs and nannies take care of your children. Au pairs are young foreign women between the ages of 18–26 who are seeking to live with a family in order to experience a new culture. They are screened by the U.S. sponsoring organizations against a set of criteria and will have a minimum of child care work experience and training. Au pairs come to work for a host family for 12–24 months. They are not usually doing child care as a career focus like nannies, but do the work to gain an understanding of and to experience different cultures. The nanny comes to work for the family as an employee. This isn’t true for au pairs. The au pair’s employment is governed by the exchange program that places them in the host family. The exchange program has a set of rules, including the number of hours the au pair works per day and week; the relationship between the nanny and the family is contractual. The au pair comes for the cultural experience, is immersed in the host family’s life, lives with the family, and often is viewed by the children and the family as a big sister; a nanny may be older and more mature. The nanny may have several years of live-in childcare experience and come to the family with more references. The nanny is building a child care career. An au pair host family can expect to pay anywhere from $195 to $250 per week, but a nanny's salary may be higher: $300–$800 each week. This all depends on the state, experience, and any additional duties that the family might require of a nanny. Au pairs do not do additional housework; they take care of only the children. Host families are not required to pay employee taxes for a foreign au pair, but taxes are required to be paid for a nanny. Credit: ©iStockphoto.com/LifesizeImages

Article / Updated 03-26-2016

It’s important to examine your specific family circumstances to determine whether an au pair is the right type of child care for your family. You might decide to consider hiring an au pair in lieu of day care centers, nannies, or babysitters if you Would like to expose your family to a new culture. Are interested in providing a cultural experience for a young foreign woman. Are prepared to house and feed a live-in child care provider. Are willing to follow the rules set forth by the U.S, Information Agency regarding au pair employment. Require child care no more than 10 hours each day and no more than 45 hours in one week. Are prepared to compensate the au pair based on the Fair Labor Standards Act as interpreted and implemented by the U.S. Department of Labor. Can host an au pair for 12 months with the possibility of 6-, 9-, and 12-month extensions. Credit: ©iStockphoto.com/olga_sweet Au pair definition Au pair literally means “on the par” in French. Hiring an au pair differs from hiring a nanny in that the au pair lives with you and becomes an extended member of your family. Au pair is French for "on the par." This means that when you hire an au pair, you are really bringing someone in your home that will be another member of your family. Au pairs come from foreign countries, while nannies are from the United States. The Au Pair Program was initiated in 1986 by the United States Information Agency (USIA) as a cultural exchange program with a child care component. Au pair description The typical au pair is usually female, young, and serves as an extended member of your family. She is not from this country, and since she isn't with her family, the host family serves as her surrogate family. Instead of treating her as a domestic servant, host families typically involve the au pair in all of their family activities, including dining with them, taking them on family trips, and including them in most family activities. Au Pair qualifications Sponsors of au pairs who come to this country are required to ensure that the au pairs are prepared to serve in your family as the primary child care provider by Ensuring the au pair is between the ages of 18 to 26 years old. Making sure the au pair speaks proficient English. Ensuring that the au pair completes at least six hours of academic credit or the equivalent in a U.S. post-secondary educational institution. Properly screening both the au pair and the host family. Providing the au pair with orientation and program information before she leaves her home country for the United States. Providing the au pair with child development training and child safety training before she is placed with the host family. Ensuring that the au pair can provide up to 10 hours each day and/or 45 hours each week of child care.

Article / Updated 03-26-2016

Is being a nanny the right career choice for you? Maybe you took care of your younger brothers and sisters, or you were always called to babysit by your neighbors, or maybe you are just passionate about working with kids. Being a nanny might be a great career choice for you. Credit: ©iStockphoto.com/Piotr Marcinski What exactly is a nanny? Yourdictionary.com defines a nanny as a person whose work is caring for a young child in the child's home. This can be done full- or part-time. If you decide you want to become a nanny, it’s important to figure out how many hours each week you’d like to work. Full-time nannies work 40–60 hours each week and have two days off. They get paid vacations, sick time, overtime pay, and other benefits. The family is relying on you to serve in their place while they work so your personal character and behaviors must be impeccable. You will be working with little or no other adult interaction, so your desire to be with children most of your day must be something you really want to do and enjoy. Sometimes a nanny has specialized skills, like being able to work with newborns. These nannies are generally on call for 24 hours a day during the first few weeks of a child’s life. Temporary nannies are another type of specialized nanny. These nannies will accept short-term, temporary employment — perhaps if a full-time nanny for the family is ill or on an extended leave. Some nannies even specialize in working with multiples such as twins, triplets, or more. Basic nanny characteristics Being a nanny is rewarding, but it takes hard work and dedication to be successful. Sometimes you have to work in an environment with morals and values that differ from your own. In addition, you might have to relocate and spend countless hours without a peer support system like many other professions provide. The International Nanny Association (INA) has adopted the following basic standards for nannies: Must be at least 18 years of age Must have completed high school (or the equivalent) Must be in good general health with proof of immunizations, and, where states require, a negative TB test and/or chest x-ray Must be able to legally accept employment in the country where they work Must have an innate desire to make a positive contribution in the lives of children under their care Extensive babysitting or daycare experience Perhaps have already raised a family of her own Could have a degree in early childhood education or elementary education What is the nanny’s role? A nanny basically takes the place of the parents for several hours daily. Although it’s important to ensure the children are protected, a nanny does much more. The duties of the nanny can include Disciplining children based on the values of the family Providing transportation to and from after school and cultural activities Planning and cooking meals Doing laundry and basic mending of the children’s clothes Child-related housekeeping activities, like cleaning up after spills Traveling with the family and caring for the children during family vacations Designing and providing stimulating learning and appropriate exercise Being a nanny can be a very rewarding field. For more information on becoming a nanny, visit the Internal Nanny Association (INA).

Article / Updated 03-26-2016

Hiring an au pair through a government organization has its benefits. First, the organization must comply with the Code of Federal Regulations, Title 22, Section 62.31, which addresses au pairs. Foreign nationals between the ages of 18–26 are allowed to live with a host American family under the program. They can stay for up to 12 months with an additional 6-, 9- or 12-month extension possible. Credit: ©iStockphoto.com/belterz Most of the organizations hire local coordinators to ensure the following guidelines are followed: Providing the au pair with mandatory child development and safety education. Requiring that au pairs participate in the program for only 12 months unless they are legally extended. Ensuring that everyone involved in the agency, including officers, employees, volunteers, and agents are appropriately trained and adequately supervised. Requiring that a local organizational representative is no more than a one-hour drive away from the host family. Making sure that the local representative can act on the sponsor’s behalf. Requiring that a monthly record of all personal contacts with each au pair and the host family is maintained by the local representative. Ensuring that host families, au pairs and the local representatives meet at least two times a month after the placement has been made. Ensuring that the local representative make available all support services to the au pair and host family that are required. Government sponsored organizations The following 14 sponsoring au pair agencies are designated by the U.S. State Department to administer the au pair program: A.P.EX. American Professional Exchange (ProAuPair) Agent Au Pair American Cultural Exchange (Go Au Pair) American Institute for Foreign Study (Au Pair in America) Au Pair Foundation Au Pair International AuPairCare EF Education (Cultural Care) Cultural Homestay International EurAuPair Intercultural Child Care Programs Expert Group International (Expert AuPair) InterExchange Au Pair USA International Au Pair Exchange USAuPair Costs for hiring au pairs through an organization To work through these agencies to hire an au pair, the host family typically will pay from $5,500 to $7,200. The actual amount paid depends on the agency used and the services that they cover, which include Fees associated to comply with the regulations set forth by the U.S. State Department. Airfare and arrival fees for the au pair. Medical insurance. The mandatory 32-hour child development and safety education program. Fees that might be associated to the agency an au pair uses in her home country, if she did not apply directly to the U.S. agency. Reasons why you shouldn’t hire an au pair without an agency First and foremost, hiring an au pair in the United States without an agency is illegal. You might be able to bring over a young, foreign woman on a tourist visa, but paying for them is illegal. The $5,000–$7,000 fee might seem steep, but consider what that agency does for you: Criminal background checks. You sure wouldn’t want to try to do this activity internationally. Recruitment and interviews. The time to coordinate this internationally would be a nightmare. The agency provides several prescreened candidates from which you can choose the right one for you. Travel arrangements. Imagine trying to obtain the necessary passport and visa documents as well as all of the travel from her home country to the states and back again. Medical insurance. Yes, that’s right. Your au pair might get injured, and you might be obligated to pay out of your pocket any medical expenses. The moral obligation you would suffer would be great should you choose not to pay for the young woman. Purchasing a plan to cover the time the au pair is with you could end up being cost prohibitive, and you risk not having the same amount of coverage that a sponsoring agency could provide. Firing the au pair. If the au pair just doesn’t work out for any reason, the agency will take care of replacing her. Local support. The sponsoring agency provides a local support for your au pair. This support is not only there to meet the needs of the au pair, but also to ensure that the host family questions and needs are met, too. So, by the time you add up all of the activities you would need to perform to hire a foreign au pair, the fees are well spent with a sponsoring agency. Since there are 14 to choose from, do your homework and choose the one that meets your requirements.

Article / Updated 03-26-2016

Although in some areas, roofs must be inspected regularly for wind damage, it's always important to inspect your roof and gutters before winter sets in. So, what do you look for when inspecting these items? You should check the following: Look for any loose or missing shingles and replace them. If you live in an area that gets the occasional hail storm, check your roof and gutters for dents and damage like small tears and holes. Contact your insurance company for assistance in replacing these damaged shingles. Check the flashing around the chimneys or other roof projections, which prevents melting ice and snow (or rain) from getting into your home. Add some extra insulation to your attic or upper crawlspace. This insulation will prevent the formation of ice dams on the roof. Clean the leaves and debris out of your gutters; use a hose to rinse the gutters and send water through the downspouts. You might have to use a chimney or pipe-cleaning brush to further clear the downspouts. Rake up and remove any debris that you remove from the spouts or the gutters. Credit: ©iStockphoto.com/Patrick Herrera Install leaf guards on the gutters to prevent more falling leaves from accumulating and undoing your hard work. Add extensions to your spouts to send the melting ice and snow farther away from the base of your home. Check the attic, upper crawlspace, or upstairs ceilings for stains and potential leaks. If you find any areas that look suspicious, check them again right after a rainstorm. If they feel damp, call a professional roofer or immediately repair the leaking area. If your roof is more than 15 years old, you might consider replacing all or part of it. Older roofs are expensive to replace, but the damage that a leaking roof might cause can be way more expensive.

Article / Updated 03-26-2016

If you live in an area where the temperature ever drops below freezing, even if it does so for only a few days, you need to do several things to protect your plumbing. First, make sure that you know where you water shut-off valve is — just in case you need to get to it in a hurry! If any of your pipes are exposed to the air (indoor or outdoor), wrap some insulation around them. It might not be the aesthetic look you want with your decor, but it's better than waterlogged carpets and furniture from broken pipes. Credit: ©iStockphoto.com/nsj-images This goes for pipes that are hidden, but exposed, in an under-the-sink cabinet. If you can see the pipes, you need to cover them. Insulate your hot water heater, whether it's in a cold, dank basement or stuffed in a utility closet. An easy way to insulate it is to purchase a specially made blanket at your local hardware or big box store. Or, you can use duct tape and insulation. Turn off the water supply to exterior faucets and drain them. In places where the temperature gets really low, use an insulated cover on the hose bibbs (outdoor faucets for your garden hoses). You can find some really cute covers in gardening catalogs that look like frogs or ladybugs. Or, you can use foam pipe insulation. Turn off the water supply to sprinkler systems. You also need to use compressed air to blow any water out of the lines. Otherwise, they might freeze and burst. Even if you're boarding the dog and stopping the newspaper when going on a vacation, you should leave your furnace set no lower than 55 degrees. If you are a snowbird, who lives in Florida or another warmer state during the winter months, you might need to shut off the water supply. Also drain the entire plumbing system, unless you have a caretaker of some sort coming in to check the plumbing and pipes.