Common Challenges

Host Family Advice: Resist the Amenities Arms Race

by cv harquail June 17, 2008

Truth: Every good host mom wants her Au Pair to be reasonably happy. Truth: You can’t make her more happy by giving her more stuff. One important way to help your Au Pair feel happy with her situation is to provide her with various “creature comforts”, including a nice bedroom, entertainment equipment, access to family […]

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Your Au Pair’s Room: Advice

by cv harquail June 3, 2008

Picture yourself in this room. Imagine that you’ve just spent 8 hours with energetic kids, talking in your second language, driving on unfamiliar streets on the wrong side of the road. Wouldn’t it be lovely if you could walk upstairs, open the door, and step into a room like this? It doesn’t have to be […]

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Our Home: Guidelines

by cv harquail May 15, 2008

Principle: Our home is for you to enjoy as a member of the family, and we expect that you will treat it with respect and consideration. You should clean up after yourself (put your dishes and clothes away) and do your own laundry, but we do not expect you to clean the whole house or […]

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