Can this relationship be saved?

Rematch? You vote yes or no….

by cv harquail May 25, 2009

When I saw this comment pop up earlier tonight, it reminded me of the story that we just discussed… so many similar issues. So I have an idea– let’s take a vote on whether or not this mom should insist on a rematch. Then, let’s give this mom some ideas about what to tell her […]

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What’s the cure for “Summer Fever”?

by cv harquail May 22, 2009

When seasons change, so do family schedules. When family schedules change, so do au pair schedules. And when au pair schedules change, sometimes you uncover a problem. For my family, there is a big difference between winter and summer. In the summer, we spend weekends and even some full weeks at my dad’s house at […]

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Au Pair Advice: Can we get her to speak the right language with the kids?

by cv harquail May 21, 2009

Sing me Spanish techno? This just in from Madrid!! A host mom with a different kind of language challenge! Just about every host family- au pair relationship I know of feels some kind of communication challenge… and these are always exacerbated when the host family and au pair grew up speaking different languages. But this […]

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Choosing an Au Pair: Using email to reach out to a candidate

by cv harquail May 14, 2009

Once you’ve found a candidate that interests you and you have her contact information, you need to establish contact reach out to her. I’ve found that an email is a great way to start the conversation. (If she does not haves an email address, go to the phone pronto.) An email can "warm up" a […]

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The Magic Wand Question

by cv harquail May 12, 2009

We all know that having frank, candid talks between Host Parents and Au Pairs can be difficult. It can be hard to share tough feedback or to ask for a change in behavior. We recognize that often, not only the au pair but also the host parents and/or kids have to make changes in order […]

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My Au Pair is ruining my life…

by cv harquail May 10, 2009

Saving this post until after APAW— it’s too much of a misfit after all that appreciation! … I am counting the days until she is gone. She refuses to do anything except be a lukewarm body. She claims nothing is her responsibility. I provide written instruction each day. She ignores them. She isn’t suppose to […]

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Advice Wanted: Should I intervene in another Au Pair-Host Family situation?

by cv harquail May 7, 2009

What, if anything, do you do if you become aware of a situation where another host family is taking advantage of their Au Pair? Here are the specifics, as shared by our Host Mom: … A friend that my Au Pair met at the Au Pair "school" in NY just recently moved to our state […]

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5 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Considering Rematch

by cv harquail May 5, 2009

How soon can you know that it just won’t work? Dory asked a question (which I post below) about whether she’s reasonable to think that she should rematch with another au pair. She’s only had this one for 3 months, but it isn’t promising. My quick response to her prompted this advice … 5 Questions […]

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Au Pair Appreciation: Try this today!

by cv harquail May 5, 2009

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International Au Pair Appreciation Week Moms and Dads, it’s still International Au Pair Appreciation Week, and there is STILL TIME for you to send in a note, a sentence and/or a photo to share with the world something that you appreciate about your au pair. I’d love to have a few more submissions! Still, I […]

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