Phones & Cellphones

Au Pair Tech Update: Sharing SmartPhone Accounts & Apps while Staying Secure

by cv harquail August 14, 2016
4367063185_6eb254b1dd_m

You know that whole argument that you should make sure both parents know how to diaper, feed, and soothe a baby, so that no one parent gets “stuck” with all the hardest work because the other parent quietly “deskilled” him/herself? I paid attention to that advice with my kids, and contradicted it with our phones, […]

47 comments Read the full article →

3 Ways to Help Your Au Pair Break A Texting Addition

by cv harquail July 28, 2015
harry-styles3-460x407-300x265

… at least while s/he is On Duty caring for your kids. SmartPhone addiction isn’t a metaphor– people actually get hooked on the physical rush of receiving a text. Like Pavlov’s dogs, a simple ‘ping’ starts them salivating for a connection with another person. Another person on the other side of the smart phone, though. […]

50 comments Read the full article →

Smartphones That Outlast Your Au Pair, guest post by QuirkyMom

by cv harquail October 26, 2014
ganesha balunsat

It’s a lot of work to set up your au pair’s smart phone so that it has all the apps, all the contacts, and all the info you think s/he’ll need.   This is great work to do on behalf of keeping everyone organized and connected.  How can you keep this information year to year, […]

27 comments Read the full article →

How To Establish Family Norms Around Texting

by cv harquail June 17, 2014
au pair cell phone rules

One of the most annoying things about adopting new technology is the way that we quickly and unconsciously sink to the lowest common denominator of interpersonal norms.   Said another way, new technologies seem to bring out self-centeredness, thoughtlessness and rudeness in people (cell phone conversations in toilet stalls, anyone?), often without anyone really noticing, and almost always without […]

81 comments Read the full article →

When Your Au Pair Loses Your Smart Phone

by cv harquail May 7, 2013
droid meets pavement

Yeah, it happens.  The phone falls out of a pocket into a puddle. Or a purse gets stolen. Whatever the reason … If your au pair loses or breaks the smart phone that you provided for her/him, it is up to her/him to replace it, or to pay to replace it. One of our au […]

60 comments Read the full article →

Apps for Au Pairs — Suggestions from Lara Coffee

by cv harquail May 6, 2013
top 10 smart phone apps for au pairs

Host Mom, Marketer and Blogger Lara Coffee (@laracoffee)  has gathered together her recommended “Top 10 App for Au Pairs” and sends the link our way.  Lara writes:  I know most families might not provide a smart phone, but from my experience, the Au Pairs have their own devices any ways. We hope our Au Pairs are not […]

59 comments Read the full article →

Texting: Taming the Au Pair Distraction

by cv harquail February 10, 2012
2501197232_47834f3285_b.jpg

Who’s got an au pair who texts a lot?  Sometimes at inappropriate times, and often without any understanding of how this behavior distracts them? Raise your hands. Okay, you can all put down your hands. It annoys me hugely that people have bad manners when it comes to texting. In our family, we have rules […]

33 comments Read the full article →

Au Pair Advice: New App to Manage Texting While Driving

by cv harquail April 14, 2010

Local mom and blogger Kristen Kemp wrote a post so important that I’m borrowing heavily from it to share with you all. It’s all about: Parental Control Feature to Stop Texting While Driving If you’ve been reading this blog for a while, you know that most host parents are preeetttyyy concerned about safe driving. Talking […]

26 comments Read the full article →

Au Pairs and Cell Phones: Concrete tips to hold down costs?

by cv harquail March 5, 2010
201003050912.jpg

When a host mom emailed to ask for some specific suggestions around keeping the cost of cell phones down, I flinched. The whole cell phone thing, like recycling, is delegated in our house to my DH. Why? Because I just can’t stand to deal with it. Though I should deal with it, and stop avoiding […]

49 comments Read the full article →

Why Safety Rules Matter

by cv harquail January 30, 2010
Reblog this post [with Zemanta]

I get a lot of crap from people about the safety rules at our house. Apparently we’re a little strict. Probably our most prominent safety rules have to do with driving. For example, I don’t use my cellphone when I drive. I just don’t. I’m that person who waits ’till she gets where she’s going, […]

36 comments Read the full article →

← Previous Entries