Culture Shock

Helping an Au Pair with Depression – without Rematch

by cv harquail May 11, 2015
83299826_b9691133ea_m

It’s more than homesickness. It’s more than a bad day, or a bad mood. It’s depression, and it’s a serious disorder. Is there anything a host parent can do to help? HostMomInParadise writes: I am a host mom in transition. My au pair had been here 8 months and left suddenly, stopping work abruptly and […]

65 comments Read the full article →

How do you assess an Au Pair candidate who has suffered from depression?

by cv harquail September 24, 2012

Dear Au Pair Mom, We are currently looking for a new aupair and I am concerned about an application that the agency has sent to me.  We have hosted girls for ten years from all over the world. Our kids are 11, 10, and 7 years old. One candidate looks especially good, except for few things. […]

40 comments Read the full article →

Help: We Need Our Au Pair to Grow Up

by cv harquail October 28, 2011
1490657629_3abb4fc89f_b.jpg

Au Pairs mature a lot during their year(s) in our homes. Most of them become more independent, more worldly, more self-confident, and more self-directed. They pretty much have to grow, since the challenges of living in another country, with another family, with responsibility for childcare are just to much for an immature person to handle […]

39 comments Read the full article →

Am I being unfair if I move on, and find another au pair?

by cv harquail November 20, 2010
201011191607.jpg

Here’s a request for some of your host parent wisdom: I am in need of opinions as to whether or not I am being unfair to our au pair. We have had the pleasure of hosting a delightful young woman for 1 year and we both agreed to a year-long extension. We have been pleased […]

28 comments Read the full article →

Using Cultural Differences to Come Together, Guest Post by Shana Medah

by Shana Medah September 15, 2010
201009121657.jpg

We think of cultural differences as the things that separate us and view cultural differences as obstacles we must overcome – and indeed, they do often present themselves in the form of a problem that must be solved. However, the problem-solving process also gives us an opportunity to know each other (and ourselves) better. When […]

4 comments Read the full article →

Top 5 Tips for Cross-Cultural Success, by Shana Medah

by Shana Medah August 24, 2010
3901910248_8abc66afca_m.jpg

Hosting an au pair offers a chance like no other to learn about other cultures and build enduring intercultural relationships. However, is certainly isn’t always easy. In some ways it’s like a marriage – all parties have to be committed to success in order to make it work. Here are a few tips to help […]

3 comments Read the full article →