Your au pair’s social life

When a Host Mom Starts Dating Again …

by cv harquail March 19, 2018
Role_Model_Mindy_Kaling_The_Mindy_Projet_Brooch_from_LA_LA_LAND_1024x1024

Hi Everyone —  SO MUCH going on, all good, but it took this email, below, to get me back on the blog. It’s from a long-time reader and commenter who will remain nameless.  When I first read it, all I could say was I am SO PROUD of her for going to the gym! Moving […]

8 comments Read the full article →

Could an Au Pair Bring Her Boyfriend With Her?

by cv harquail November 17, 2017
4871743133_a80478750c_z

Dear AuPairMom — I’m interested in being an Au Pair. I love children, I love traveling, I don’t mind going on journeys by myself and discovering new places, Au Pair seems like the perfect position for me to apply for. But (there is always a but), I am currently in a very serious relationship. We […]

22 comments Read the full article →

Help A Brand-New Au Pair Get Better At Her Job

by cv harquail June 24, 2017
6939410983_ca43148038_m

It’s not easy to settle in, whether you’re the new Au Pair or the First Time Host Mom. The American college student who sent this email hasn’t had the benefit of a formal Au Pair orientation, and I suspect that her host mom hasn’t had the benefit of a local counselor or group of moms […]

6 comments Read the full article →

Au Pair Robbed at Gun Point: How to help her recover?

by cv harquail May 24, 2017
11999093926_62938a9c68_m

She’s safely home. And really upset. Sure, the worst didn’t happen. But it doesn’t matter. The Au Pair still had the experience of being dramatically unsafe, even though she’d done all the right things. The Au Pair still has to drive the car, go out in the evenings, be the responsible adult, and continue being confident […]

11 comments Read the full article →

How to Help Your Au Pair Appreciate the “Au Pair Car”

by cv harquail January 20, 2017
carkeys.jpeg

We all want to be generous, and we all want to be appreciated. And, there’s nothing like having a third car for your au pair to use to make you aware of the tension that can exist when you want to be generous and want to be appreciated. When we bought our first Volvo wagon […]

24 comments Read the full article →

I Want To Marry Your Au Pair. Do You Mind?

by cv harquail November 29, 2016
il_570xn-399646570_mh21

I love, love, love romantic stories. Especially when I have some inside scoop. Though I have no idea who the fellow is who emailed with this question, I’m only posting it on the condition that we get THE REST OF THE STORY and at least a photo of the happy couple. But first, Romeo needs […]

12 comments Read the full article →

Au Pair Getting High In Our Home

by cv harquail October 9, 2016
16463233379_b667727063_m

When we know an Au Pair is doing something that contradicts our house rules, but we aren’t able to present positive proof of this, what can we do? We don’t want to be accusatory. But then again, we’re sure we’re right. We don’t need to see him or her rinsing out the bong in the […]

41 comments Read the full article →

What Are Au Pairs’ Favorite American Trips?

by cv harquail September 18, 2016
Pile of suitcases from your au pair

Hi AuPairMom! I would love to hear from au pairs about their favorite places in the U.S. to take weekend trips. We always seem to end up with au pairs planning weekend trips around our kitchen table, and I’m struck by the places au pairs really want to visit. Vegas and Niagara Falls seem to […]

29 comments Read the full article →

Safety Tips for Au Pairs Using Tinder and Other Dating Apps

by cv harquail March 22, 2016
make good choices

Used to be we’d only have to give our Au Pairs a safety lecture about drunk guys at bars who assume things when they hear the words “Au Pair”.  Now, if our Au Pairs are using dating apps to meet people, we might have to expand our conversation about what’s safe and what’s appropriate. Yes, […]

24 comments Read the full article →

When Your Au Pair Streams Movies – Illegally

by cv harquail December 1, 2015
Taylor-Swift-in-bed-with-Apple-MacBook-Pro-laptop

Deciding whether or not to pay for the online media (movies, TV shows, music) that you consume seems to be a generational thing.   Young people do it, we “olds” do not. Sure — once upon a time I used Napster (dating myself). Until we got a reminder from the University where I worked that using […]

42 comments Read the full article →

← Previous Entries