Tips

When your Au Pair has a Fender-Bender — Who pays, and what, and how?

by cv harquail September 24, 2008
hound in drivers seat

I have dreaded writing about au pairs and car accidents, because fear of accidents is one of the scariest things about having children, and even scarier when you are entrusting your children to someone else’s driving. Even the best of au pairs can have car accidents. (Heck, even the best of drivers can have accidents!) […]

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Au Pair Advice: Send a welcome package to your Au Pair’s orientation

by cv harquail September 10, 2008
ap welcome package

[Help me find our 100th Host Mom subscriber!] Almost everyone loves to get presents and almost everyone loves to get mail. Put these two things together by sending your au pair a welcome package, and you’re probably going to make her feel happy, welcomed, and maybe even special. Once upon a time, when I thought […]

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"Her Next Adventure": Telling your kids that your Au Pair is leaving

by cv harquail August 25, 2008
waving goodbye little boy2

When people ask me about what it’s like having au pairs, one of the most common questions is “How do you and your kids handle having someone leave (and someone arrive) every year?” It can be very hard on the family, both parents and kids, when an au pair departs. One thing that I have […]

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Tip: Give your Au Pair your camera so she can take candid shots of your kids

by cv harquail July 24, 2008
S1010105

Marguerite, a community counselor, sent me this great idea she got from one of her host families. The family leaves a camera at home with their aupairs with instructions to take candid pictures of their kids whenever the children are doing something particularly cute or fun. This way the parents get to see some of […]

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Want Safe Driving? Forbid your Au Pair to use the cellphone in the car. Period.

by cv harquail July 1, 2008

The announcement that California and Washington will ban the use of hand-held cell phones while driving prompts me to write about safe driving and cell phones. For a long time, we didn’t even give our Au Pair a cell phone, but now she has one for her own use and for family emergencies. So, we […]

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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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