Comments on: Tell your AuPair stories to a Journalism Student http://AuPairMom.com/tell-your-aupair-stories-to-a-journalism-student/2010/02/05/celiaharquail/ Helping Host Parents and Au Pairs build great relationships. Wed, 23 May 2012 08:31:59 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: FormerSwissAupair http://AuPairMom.com/tell-your-aupair-stories-to-a-journalism-student/2010/02/05/celiaharquail/comment-page-1/#comment-9582 FormerSwissAupair Tue, 25 May 2010 20:00:34 +0000 http://AuPairMom.com/?p=2549#comment-9582 Sarah, I think that is one of the biggest stories out there. I have been an AP for 3 years, and a nanny for 2, and I can tell you, this RARELY happens. So, I would not use this as an excuse not to become an AP. :) Sarah, I think that is one of the biggest stories out there. I have been an AP for 3 years, and a nanny for 2, and I can tell you, this RARELY happens. So, I would not use this as an excuse not to become an AP. :)

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]]> By: sarah http://AuPairMom.com/tell-your-aupair-stories-to-a-journalism-student/2010/02/05/celiaharquail/comment-page-1/#comment-9580 sarah Tue, 25 May 2010 16:56:19 +0000 http://AuPairMom.com/?p=2549#comment-9580 i think au pairing is dangerous!!i heard a story about a man that wanted to sleep with the au pair girl when his wife has travelled!! i think au pairing is dangerous!!i heard a story about a man that wanted to sleep with the au pair girl when his wife has travelled!!

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]]> By: chithu, au pair in london http://AuPairMom.com/tell-your-aupair-stories-to-a-journalism-student/2010/02/05/celiaharquail/comment-page-1/#comment-6482 chithu, au pair in london Thu, 11 Feb 2010 21:21:27 +0000 http://AuPairMom.com/?p=2549#comment-6482 I think the article is brilliant. It tries to improve the communication channels between employers and nannies, and the experiences highlighted happen in every new Mom-nanny r'ship. I fail to see how it is portraying HMs as "fools". These are real women in real situations... surely such an established paper will not use false interviews? And this article is about nannies, not au pairs - very big difference! I think the article is brilliant. It tries to improve the communication channels between employers and nannies, and the experiences highlighted happen in every new Mom-nanny r’ship. I fail to see how it is portraying HMs as “fools”. These are real women in real situations… surely such an established paper will not use false interviews? And this article is about nannies, not au pairs – very big difference!

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]]> By: PA Mom http://AuPairMom.com/tell-your-aupair-stories-to-a-journalism-student/2010/02/05/celiaharquail/comment-page-1/#comment-6432 PA Mom Wed, 10 Feb 2010 06:58:22 +0000 http://AuPairMom.com/?p=2549#comment-6432 Hannah, I would be happy to speak to you about my experience hosting an au-pair. I have had a successful 1 year and 10 months with my Thai au-pair in which see would also be willing to communicate via skype or phone. I have also had my share of a not so good au-pair from Germany that just left. I usually host two girls at one time. Regards Pa MOM Hannah,

I would be happy to speak to you about my experience hosting an au-pair. I have had a successful 1 year and 10 months with my Thai au-pair in which see would also be willing to communicate via skype or phone. I have also had my share of a not so good au-pair from Germany that just left. I usually host two girls at one time.
Regards
Pa MOM

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]]> By: Anonymous http://AuPairMom.com/tell-your-aupair-stories-to-a-journalism-student/2010/02/05/celiaharquail/comment-page-1/#comment-6329 Anonymous Mon, 08 Feb 2010 17:51:59 +0000 http://AuPairMom.com/?p=2549#comment-6329 I read the aforementioned article and I really don't see anything wrong with it. A lot of us ARE reluctant or fearful of directly telling our AP what to do and how to do it, mainly because we fear damaging the relationship to the detriment of our kids. I know I'm totally in that boat. And I think the reccomendation to put stuff in writing (household handbook anyone?) and have weekly sit-downs is right on target. Many of us are career women with a lot of responsibility but that doesn't help with the psychological baggage that comes with being a Mom - in fact, it probably makes it harder for us. I read the aforementioned article and I really don’t see anything wrong with it. A lot of us ARE reluctant or fearful of directly telling our AP what to do and how to do it, mainly because we fear damaging the relationship to the detriment of our kids. I know I’m totally in that boat. And I think the reccomendation to put stuff in writing (household handbook anyone?) and have weekly sit-downs is right on target.
Many of us are career women with a lot of responsibility but that doesn’t help with the psychological baggage that comes with being a Mom – in fact, it probably makes it harder for us.

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]]> By: Hannah http://AuPairMom.com/tell-your-aupair-stories-to-a-journalism-student/2010/02/05/celiaharquail/comment-page-1/#comment-6322 Hannah Mon, 08 Feb 2010 14:59:55 +0000 http://AuPairMom.com/?p=2549#comment-6322 @AnnaAuPair: I'd love to talk to you! Want to shoot me an email (nannystoriesnyc@gmail.com) and we can talk further? Thanks! @AnnaAuPair: I’d love to talk to you! Want to shoot me an email (nannystoriesnyc@gmail.com) and we can talk further? Thanks!

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]]> By: AnnaAuPair http://AuPairMom.com/tell-your-aupair-stories-to-a-journalism-student/2010/02/05/celiaharquail/comment-page-1/#comment-6313 AnnaAuPair Mon, 08 Feb 2010 10:20:07 +0000 http://AuPairMom.com/?p=2549#comment-6313 @ Hannah: Do you want to speak to AuPairs personally? Because I would love to answer questions, but I finished my year already, so I'm not in the US anymore. @ Hannah: Do you want to speak to AuPairs personally? Because I would love to answer questions, but I finished my year already, so I’m not in the US anymore.

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]]> By: Hannah http://AuPairMom.com/tell-your-aupair-stories-to-a-journalism-student/2010/02/05/celiaharquail/comment-page-1/#comment-6305 Hannah Mon, 08 Feb 2010 01:53:57 +0000 http://AuPairMom.com/?p=2549#comment-6305 Hi. I'm the Journalism student who asked CV to post the request. In defense of my request: I am looking to speak to au pairs and host families for precisely the opposite reason as articulated above. I believe that there has been quite a bit of negative publicity towards mothers who employ childcare professionals--particularly nannies--in the press, and am looking to learn more and ideally be able to present a much more balanced depiction. In addition, as far as I am aware, the bulk of the reporting (and finger-wagging) has been directed towards the nanny-employer relationship, whereas the au pair community has been largely ignored. From what I can glean, the decision to host an au pair is strikingly different from the decision to hire a nanny-- the au pair is welcomed into the home and brings a cross-cultural dimension to the childcare that most nannies don't. Speaking with CV was extremely enlightening for me, and reinforced my interest in learning about the au pair community. In any case, even if there is not much interest in my project, I would caution you not to group all journalists in the same camp. There are a broad range of journalists and journalistic practices, as in any profession, and telling your story can often be a way to learn from and connect with other people. Hi. I’m the Journalism student who asked CV to post the request.

In defense of my request: I am looking to speak to au pairs and host families for precisely the opposite reason as articulated above. I believe that there has been quite a bit of negative publicity towards mothers who employ childcare professionals–particularly nannies–in the press, and am looking to learn more and ideally be able to present a much more balanced depiction.

In addition, as far as I am aware, the bulk of the reporting (and finger-wagging) has been directed towards the nanny-employer relationship, whereas the au pair community has been largely ignored. From what I can glean, the decision to host an au pair is strikingly different from the decision to hire a nanny– the au pair is welcomed into the home and brings a cross-cultural dimension to the childcare that most nannies don’t. Speaking with CV was extremely enlightening for me, and reinforced my interest in learning about the au pair community.

In any case, even if there is not much interest in my project, I would caution you not to group all journalists in the same camp. There are a broad range of journalists and journalistic practices, as in any profession, and telling your story can often be a way to learn from and connect with other people.

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]]> By: Anonymous http://AuPairMom.com/tell-your-aupair-stories-to-a-journalism-student/2010/02/05/celiaharquail/comment-page-1/#comment-6273 Anonymous Sat, 06 Feb 2010 21:51:47 +0000 http://AuPairMom.com/?p=2549#comment-6273 I think we have an enormous need and desire to communicate with each other the joys and challenges of hosting someone from another country. In many cases, it is life changing ; at the very least , it is a significant experience for us as well as for our children and hopefully for the aupair. I want to suggegst another book, Host Family by Maeve Medved. I would love to hear reactions. I think we have an enormous need and desire to communicate with each other the joys and challenges of hosting someone from another country. In many cases, it is life changing ; at the very least , it is a significant experience for us as well as for our children and hopefully for the aupair.
I want to suggegst another book, Host Family by Maeve Medved. I would love to hear reactions.

]]> By: CV http://AuPairMom.com/tell-your-aupair-stories-to-a-journalism-student/2010/02/05/celiaharquail/comment-page-1/#comment-6272 CV Sat, 06 Feb 2010 21:42:08 +0000 http://AuPairMom.com/?p=2549#comment-6272 Hi Anon- I missed that article... if I'd seen it I'd probably have had a reaction similar to yours. It is not really possible to vet a journalist you don't already know, and I sure have been burned in my time by being quoted incompletely and having been intentionally misconstrued. But, since I myself already talked with this student, it's too late for me! Why I feel responsible to convey the positive side of hosting an au pair I don't know....but there we have it. Hi Anon-
I missed that article… if I’d seen it I’d probably have had a reaction similar to yours. It is not really possible to vet a journalist you don’t already know, and I sure have been burned in my time by being quoted incompletely and having been intentionally misconstrued. But, since I myself already talked with this student, it’s too late for me!
Why I feel responsible to convey the positive side of hosting an au pair I don’t know….but there we have it.

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