Common Challenges

Celebrate Democracy: Take Your Au Pair to a Polling Place

by cv harquail November 6, 2012

(I realize I’m a little late with this one, but maybe there’s still time.) We Americans often take democracy for granted. Too many of us just never make it to the polls to vote, even in a close presidential race like this one. In my family, voting has always been a big deal. My dad […]

6 comments Read the full article →

Did You And Your Au Pair Get Your Flu Shots?

by cv harquail October 29, 2012

Some folks seem to love to prepare for emergencies. Here in the New York Metro area folks are darting around getting water, batteries, and in my case lots of chocolate, so that they’ll be ready for whatever Hurricane Sandy as in store for us. You can’t believe the lines at the supermarket. This morning there […]

15 comments Read the full article →

3 Tips for Cross-Cultural Conversation

by cv harquail September 30, 2012

When you and your au pair struggle to communicate — even when you both speak English resonably well– it can be hard to know whether the problem is “attitude” or “comprehension”. We see issue a lot in comments about au pairs who are given lists of tasks but don’t do them, or host parents who […]

25 comments Read the full article →

What To Do About Au Pair Bath Towels: Folks want to know (Poll)

by cv harquail September 28, 2012

Dear Au Pair Mom- What do you think about towels. Should I get my au pair her own personal set of towels? I expect to provide towels for our APs, but so far both of our au pairs have gone out and bought their own. I’d told both au pairs not to bring towels from […]

31 comments Read the full article →

Which bedroom to choose for your Au Pair?

by cv harquail September 26, 2012

Lucky you- you’re not only getting an au pair, but also you have a choice of rooms for his or her bedroom! But which bedroom should you choose– the one near the baby? The big one where s/he’d share the kids’ bathroom or the smaller one where she’d have her own bathroom? Or the […]

36 comments Read the full article →

Your Au Pair’s Bedroom– Minumum Standards

by cv harquail September 22, 2012

An au pair doesn’t need her own separate apartment, an entire wing to herself, or even a bathroom en suite. But there are some minimum standards, and the email (far below) from an au pair suggests that not everyone is paring attention. At minimum, your au pair’s bedroom needs: A bed, lamp, place to store […]

45 comments Read the full article →

Sustaining Your Au Pair’s Privacy When You Enter Her Room Without Notice

by cv harquail July 15, 2012

Au Pairs (and Host Parents) need their privacy — that’s why there are rules about the au pair’s room having an actual door (not a curtain or a screen). Pretty much the only time it’s okay to go into an au pair’s room without permission is when there is an “emergency”. Emergencies include: A/C left […]

77 comments Read the full article →

When your Au Pair schedules her vacation…when you need her to be working

by cv harquail July 14, 2012

The recommended approach to scheduling an au pair’s vacation time is rational and fair… at least in our eyes. We choose one week that we need her/him to take vacation (usually when we are traveling with kids and don’t need her, or when Grandma is visiting) and the we have her pick a week that […]

33 comments Read the full article →

Choosing the Right Au Pair, Expert Advice from CalifMom

by cv harquail June 23, 2012

CalifMom has been a key part of the AuPairMom community since Fall of 2008. She was one of the first au pair host moms to contribute wise advice, regularly and generously, on many of the toughest situations. Every now and then CalifMom leaves a treat in my inbox — a guest post. Here’s her latest… […]

81 comments Read the full article →

Help Your Au Pair Plan for a Fun Summer

by cv harquail June 17, 2012

As per usual, the summer has snuck up on me. Even though Target is already setting up the ‘back to school’ supplies display, I still haven’t gotten all the swimsuits and suncreen out of storage. And this week marks the last day of school! Thank goodness we have only one week of unstructured vacation days […]

5 comments Read the full article →

← Previous Entries

Next Entries →