For Au Pairs

Help Your Au Pair Evaluate Potential Playdates

by cv harquail April 8, 2010
_116_264484011_25fefe1df0.jpg

I firmly believe that working on your au pair relationship makes you a better parent, directly and indirectly. Any time you have to stop and reflect on your parenting principles and your priorities for your kid(s), you have the opportunity to become more mindful about what you’re up to with your family. Here’s one of […]

30 comments Read the full article →

Au Pair Asks: When Host Kids Are Mean

by cv harquail April 6, 2010
201004061337.jpg

Hi Readers, we interrupt our regularly scheduled plan for an emergency request for advice that popped up in the comments of the previous post. Here’s the issue, from VA AuPairMaidNanny: Some of you dedicated readers & Host Parents will remember that I posted a few weeks ago about my experience so far. Many of you […]

89 comments Read the full article →

Au Pair Management Tip: Schedule Transition Time

by cv harquail March 29, 2010
201003291103.jpg

Here is a tip for both host parent and au pairs alike: Schedule transition time, with explicit overlap between when the au pair and the parent (or other caregiver) switch who’s ‘on duty’. Back when I worked as a manufacturing manager I always had to be there for “shift overlap”, when the outgoing shift would […]

10 comments Read the full article →

Au Pair Asks: My Host Mom’s Boyfriend is cramping my (caregiving) style. Advice Please!

by cv harquail March 18, 2010
201003181541.jpg

When it’s the host parent herself or himself who is making the au pair’s job difficult, she knows exactly what to do — bring the issue up with that host parent, and come to a resolution. But what if the person causing the problems isn’t the host parent, but the host parent’s “friend”? The au […]

19 comments Read the full article →

Au Pair Asks: Host Dad is Mean to Child

by cv harquail February 16, 2010
201002151502.jpg

Although this blog is not really for au pairs, there are times when other host parents are the best folks to offer advice to an au pair. This particular situation is a tough one, since the problem concerns how the Host Dad treats his son, and how (or even whether) the Host Mom and the […]

5 comments Read the full article →

Part of the Family: The Au Pairs’ Perspective

by cv harquail July 2, 2009
200907021055.jpg

Okay Au Pairs– It’s your turn to chime in… and share the au pair side of the ‘part of the family’ equation. What does it mean to you to be "part of the family"? What do host families do that helps you feel "part of the family"? What do host families do that takes away […]

48 comments Read the full article →

Almost-done Au Pair Refuses to Work Weekends!

by cv harquail June 8, 2009
girl argue.jpg

I heard this one ‘thru the grapevine’ over the picnic table tonight– and just so you know, I got irked on the host mom’s behalf, even though I don’t know her!! Here’s the situation: This family’s au pair has a little bit more than a month left before she leaves (for home or for a […]

39 comments Read the full article →

Au Pair Appreciation: Hooray for all of you!

by cv harquail May 8, 2009
livingstonandporter 8.jpg

Well, we’ve come to the end of the very first annual International Au Pair Appreciation Week! Thank you to  the host moms and dads who sent in the stories for the Au Pair Appreciation posts this week. Thank you to all of you who commented on the stories, offered snippets of your own stories, and […]

1 comment Read the full article →

Announcing…. International Au Pair Appreciation Week!

by cv harquail April 18, 2009
cute girl by blackboard.jpg

International Au Pair Appreciation Week May 1 – 9, 2009! Au Pair Appreciation Week is our chance as host moms and dads to celebrate what we enjoy the most about having au pairs in our family lives. Although moms and dads who ask for advice here on AuPairMom are occasionally accused of being grumpy, demanding, […]

6 comments Read the full article →

How to find a great host family: Part 1

by cv harquail April 16, 2009
heliopoe2.jpg

Although this isn’t a blog for au pairs to get advice on being an au pair, sometimes it’s just nice to have the opportunity to share advice, especially when it comes to helping an au pair clarify her needs and expectations before she begins her host family search. Hello! My name is Casey, I’m from […]

4 comments Read the full article →

← Previous Entries

Next Entries →