January 2011

Experienced Host Parent is Weary: How can she regain enthusiasm for the Au Pair program?

by cv harquail January 12, 2011
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Over time, being an au pair Host Parent can start to feel tiresome. Even though each au pair is new, with his or her own talents and challenges, the activity and responsibility of being a host parent stays the same. Sure, with each new au pair relationship you get better and better with your handbook, […]

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How can an Au Pair candidate hasten a match?

by cv harquail January 11, 2011
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Yesterday we got this email from an au pair candidate who is very excited about finding a family. She asks: How could I be selected as an au pair as soon as possible? I offered her a little advice, and I’d love to hear what you all might suggest… Hi I’m Shannon from (Southeast Asia), […]

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When should we send our Family Handbook to our incoming au pair?

by cv harquail January 6, 2011
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As every reader of this blog knows, we are big fans of the concept of the Family Handbook. And by “we” I don’t mean the royal  moi, but all of us host parents (and even au pairs). It really helps to create a handbook to get your expectations and needs out into clear language, and […]

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Too much excitement for her first weekend?

by cv harquail January 6, 2011
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Dear Au Pair Mom readers– We are expecting our very first au pair to arrive tomorrow — we are really excited! And we already have a question about the best ways to get her into the swing of family life. We were invited to a birthday party the day after the Au Pair arrives. (She […]

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How can we prepare our Au Pair for significant disruption?

by cv harquail January 4, 2011
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Life brings us wave after wave of change. To move forward, we have to adapt to changes that happen to us and to changes that we make ourselves. And, as parents, we have to help our families anticipate and adapt to the changes we see coming, and to all the surprises we’re not quite able […]

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