One of my favorite things about staying home with my small people when they were itty bitty was that I didn’t miss a thing. I was there for the first words, the first steps, the moments those first teeth broke through (in fact, I’m certain I FELT that happen – I had little biters 
.
I know how lucky I was to have that as a treasure. I also know how much I have always loved sharing those moments with EVERYONE. You see… living in St. Louis, we are a mere stone’s throw from much of Jeff’s family, but my family is spread out and so are so many of the people we both love most in the world – the friends we call first with news, those we have chosen as godparents and the people who would hop on a plane the second we needed them. And, it is beautiful to say, our circles have continued to expand over the years.
These are the people who tolerate the ‘first lost tooth’ updates, the ‘Delaney scored two goals during her soccer game today!’ newsflashes and the people who still put pictures of my small people on their refrigerators. Our updates are coast to coast….and even beyond. I’ve used everything from traditional mail to texts to Facebook to keep the lines open… but it can be easy for a simple moment to be lost in the chaos of an overcrowded timeline.
I have a new solution for you. It is simple. And free. Interested yet? It is called Karoo. (even saying the name is fun). It is an app that operates like a personal family timeline designed to highlight the individual moments you want to share – from the crazy exciting (Delaney scored two goals during her soccer game this weekend – first time she has EVER done that in one game!), to the simple, but beautiful milestones (that same small girl is working on her very first book report), to the very basic (she has a test tomorrow and is going to bed early.)
I attach the pictures, videos, or updates and post it in a timeline format…and I can invite friends, family and the people I love the most to follow along. It is viewable to only those I invite.
Now…. here is something amazing: what if I are traveling, my husband is away from home…or one of us is out of the house working? We can have other family, grandparents and babysitters giving US real time updates about OUR small people via Karoo! Wondering how that test went? If pick up from school happened seamlessly? If the small dude enjoyed soccer practice? Karoo allows me to connect, to see what is happening as though I are right there.
It makes sense that Karoo would be the brainchild of Care.com – a service that connects families with the care they need for the people they love – whether that be children, parents (seniors), household needs or even pets. You can find nannies, au pairs, babysitters, assisted living facilities and retirement centers, house-sitters and even doggie day care. If you offer any of these services, you can also register with the site to be found and paired up with a family.
If you aren’t already familiar with Care.com, but are interested…. (lucky day!) you can use this code KAROO20 for 20% of their premium membership through the end of October, 10/31.
But of course, be sure to check out Karoo (need I remind you it is easy-peasy to download and use and it is free?) and I would love for you to come back and let me know what you think and what moments you are sharing. Are you using it for day-to-day with family and friends out of town? Or for staying in touch while you are out of the home?
I am delighted to be working with One2One Network, Care.com and Karoo on this particular project, though, as always, opinions and experiences shared are always my own.
