From the category archives:

Before your AuPair arrives

Advice Wanted: Lost Mojo, Cold Feet. Now what?

by cv harquail June 7, 2009

Some call it losing your Host Mom Mojo. Others call it cold feet. Whatever it is that MR has, she needs some advice:
"My new au pair is scheduled to arrive in less then 3 weeks. So far, we have had 2 au pairs in one year, both were failed matches. To make the matters [...]

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3 Ways to Reclaim Your Host Mom Mojo

by cv harquail June 7, 2009

Remember back when you were a brand new host mom, all excited and positive about getting an au pair? Before you knew that being a host parent could be really challenging at so many levels?
Once you’ve had a tough experience, a disappointment, or even just several good au pairs in a row, you can become [...]

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What’s the cure for “Summer Fever”?

by cv harquail May 22, 2009

When seasons change, so do family schedules. When family schedules change, so do au pair schedules. And when au pair schedules change, sometimes you uncover a problem.
For my family, there is a big difference between winter and summer. In the summer, we spend weekends and even some full weeks at my dad’s house at the [...]

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What if my kids overwhelm her on her first day?

by cv harquail May 16, 2009

Request from a host mom:
How do you fellow host parents deal with the excitement your kids have for the new Au Pair?
We all know how it is, the new Au Pair arrives and the kids barely let them go to the bathroom alone!
I feel like I spend the first few days shooing the kids [...]

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Advice Wanted: How to set the right tone from Week 1

by cv harquail May 13, 2009

OK experienced host moms (and dads), I need some of your advice.
Although I have had three Au Pairs, they have all ended in transition so I feel like a new host mother. Since this is the first time I am going into the AP relationship with the aid of other mothers as mentors, I thought [...]

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Matching: Share one great interview question

by cv harquail February 6, 2009

Okay Moms, I give in. I will take a deep breath, and open the floodgates, because it’s time to address the topic that every host parent cares about: "How can we get the best match possible?"
We have to take this one slowly, maybe even over a couple of months. There’s just too much to cover, [...]

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Au Pair Advice: Send a welcome package to your Au Pair’s orientation

by cv harquail September 10, 2008

[Help me find our 100th Host Mom subscriber!]

Almost everyone loves to get presents and almost everyone loves to get mail. Put these two things together by sending your au pair a welcome package, and you’re probably going to make her feel happy, welcomed, and maybe even special.
Once upon a time, when I thought [...]

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Your Au Pair’s Room: Advice about Transition Cleaning

by cv harquail July 7, 2008

As I was staggering down the stairs to the laundry this morning, burdened by my armload of bedding from the Au Pair room, I remembered an important part of preparing Your Au Pair’s Room. This important item is “Transition Cleaning”.

Transition Cleaning
When your Au Pair arrives, it’s nice to have the Au Pair’s [...]

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Your Advice Wanted: Should you have your new Au Pair overlap with your old Au Pair?

by cv harquail July 7, 2008

Calling All Host Moms-
We want your opinions!

** Should a Host mom have her incoming Au Pair overlap with her outgoing Au Pair? **

A reader recently posed this question in the comments section of the post on Orienting Your New Au Pair. Rather than responding unilaterally with my $.02, I’d like to get [...]

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The “Before You Leave Home” E-mail

by cv harquail June 12, 2008

If I were an Au Pair, I think I’d be more excited (and perhaps less worried) about leaving home for a year if I knew that my host family was excited to be welcoming me into their home. But, how would I know? I haven’t talked to them since we matched! That’s why, around [...]

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