August 2008

Exorcising the Ghost of a Bad Au Pair: Advice?

by cv harquail August 27, 2008
ghostlytooty102

– Thoughts of her send chills down your spine. – You see her in your dreams. – Thumps on the third floor make you think she still lives here. – You can’t shake the feeling that someone is watching you, criticizing you, maybe even disliking you. You can’t shake it, because you’re haunted. Haunted by […]

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"Her Next Adventure": Telling your kids that your Au Pair is leaving

by cv harquail August 25, 2008
waving goodbye little boy2

When people ask me about what it’s like having au pairs, one of the most common questions is “How do you and your kids handle having someone leave (and someone arrive) every year?” It can be very hard on the family, both parents and kids, when an au pair departs. One thing that I have […]

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Checkout Tasks List: Advice for when your Aupair departs

by cv harquail August 25, 2008
checklist

When your aupair is getting ready to leave for home or for ‘her next adventure’, there is a confusing array of tasks for her to attend to. Here is a partial list of tasks — tasks related to the home and the kids– that might help you and your departing aupair stay focused. Bedroom Remove […]

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When your Au Pair complains about working too many hours, but still less than 45… what can you do?

by cv harquail August 4, 2008
no whining cat

A Host mom/reader, Acicala, wrote in a comment/question last week that hit me right in the pit of my stomach, because this particular problem has been the source of nearly all the “APA” (AuPairAnxiety) that I have experienced as a host mom. The problem, in a nutshell, is when your Au Pair begins to complain […]

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