Random Advice

How Should An Au Pair Bring Up A Challenging Topic? Your preferences

by cv harquail March 9, 2011

We all want our au pairs to let us know if they have questions, concerns, or issues that are bothering them. But how do we want them to bring these issues up? In our family, the informal-yet-scheduled-family-meeting is the best place to bring up any “issue” that goes beyond something like how best to load […]

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Calling all Forms, Worksheets, LogSheets and More!

by cv harquail February 16, 2011

We’ve had a request to add some resources to AuPairMom– in the form of a depository of forms. I’m not quite sure how we’ll do this, technically, but– please email me any forms that you’d like to share with other host parents and/au pairs. These can range from preprinted gratitude cards that you include in […]

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Au Pairs and “Twins and a Toddler”

by cv harquail February 4, 2011

Hello, HostDad in NJ here looking for some advice from the group– We’ve had an Au Pair since our daughter was 3 months old and have loved it. We are now in our 7th month with our second Au Pair who is an absolute rock star. Anyway, we are expecting twins (yeah!/OMG now what?) in […]

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If my au pair gets married, can she still au pair?

by cv harquail January 23, 2011

What happens if your au pair decides to get married– not just engaged, but actually married — during her year with your family? We have our first au pair. She is from China and she has been with us since July. She met a man and is planning on getting married in a few days. […]

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Most Engaging Posts of 2010 on Au Pair Mom (part 2)

by cv harquail January 21, 2011

You asked, and here they are: The 11 to 20th most engaging posts of 2010! 11. Au Pair Asks: When Host Kids Are Mean (86) 12. Au Pair Abruptly Quits, then wants to come back to see kids. Really? (poll) (85) 13. Can an Au Pair be happy without driving privileges? (80) 14. Au Pair […]

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I Know a Great Au Pair going into rematch… how can I help her find a good family?

by cv harquail January 17, 2011

We try not to meddle, but sometimes the temptation is too high… like, when you know a ReallyGreatAuPair® who’s going into rematch. Host Mom Jemima would love your advice, maybe even if it means trying to do a re-match through the comments… ! From Host Mom Jemima — When I was choosing my current (and […]

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How can we prepare our Au Pair for significant disruption?

by cv harquail January 4, 2011

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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New Year’s Eve Thanks

by cv harquail December 31, 2010

Some New Year’s Eve thank you thoughts: Thank you to all of you host parents who are staying in tonight, so that your au pairs can go out on the town. Thank you to all of you au pairs who are staying in tonight, so that your host parents can go out on the town. […]

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What are the best lessons you’ ve learned this year about being a good Host Parent?

by cv harquail December 27, 2010

Kids seem to like the time between Christmas and New Year’s because they have days off to play, Grandparents visiting, parents off work, and if they’re very lucky, 22 inches of freshly fallen snow. Grown-ups seem to appreciate the time to eat a little more, work a little less, reflect on the year gone by […]

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How Can You Help Your Au Pair Feel at Home over the Holidays?

by cv harquail December 20, 2010

Last night I was ironing a pretty Christmas tablecover given to us by the cousin of one of our au pairs, when he was visiting a few years ago. Smoothing out the God Jul! embroidery, I looked up to see the Swedish straw reindeer, the sleigh candle holder, the Dala horse ornaments, and one of […]

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