Expectations & Responsibilities

When Host Parents Start Working ‘At Home’: Helping your au pair make the switch

by cv harquail April 2, 2013

Given all the work that we put into matching our family situation with just the right au pair, it can feel pretty painful when– all of a sudden– your family situation changes.  Adopting a baby, getting a divorce, moving across the country, moving to a new house  starting home renovations, getting a dog, … you get […]

9 comments Read the full article →

Send an Excerpt from your Family Handbook to Prospective Au Pairs

by cv harquail March 19, 2013

In my house we have a saying: “Fewer, better things.” This advice is to keep me from buying those $2.00 sequined rabbit statues at Target when I already have ceramic bunnies that will make perfectly fine easter decorations thank you very much. This advice also works for the family handbook selections we send to prospective […]

9 comments Read the full article →

5 Secrets of Good Au Pair Host Parents

by cv harquail June 10, 2012
photo (7).JPG

I was tidying up my desk this morning, preparing to get back in the saddle with AuPairMom posts, and I found this post-it note to myself:   Did I ever write this post? I can’t tell, so here it is!   What makes for a Good Au Pair Host Parent? In my experience talking with […]

33 comments Read the full article →

What to do when your Au Pair’s job performance starts to slide

by cv harquail March 31, 2012
erik s flickr pony.jpeg

In the seasons of the Au Pair year, there often comes a time after The Honeymoon and All Systems Go, but before On the Way Out, when some au pairs hit The Minimum Viable Performance. (Sometimes, though not always, this is paired with The Slough of Not Giving a Shit  Not Caring Anymore.) During The […]

94 comments Read the full article →

Advice wanted… best medium & process for communicating expectations?

by cv harquail April 5, 2009
homemade_snare_gbg.jpg

Calif Mom needs some ideas for upgrading her communication system with her au pair. My AP joined us last summer and is going to extend (yay!). I have been wanting to fine tune some expectations ahead of signing those papers, and have been taking notes on specific things I would like her to start doing […]

8 comments Read the full article →

Next Entries →