Random Advice

Teach Kids to Apologize to The Au Pair

by cv harquail February 6, 2017

Hosting an Au Pair presents us with one opportunity after another to teach our children how to be kind. In many of our conversations here on the blog, we worry about being kind proactively. As adults, we Host Parents spend a lot of time thinking about how to be kind to our Au Pairs, to […]

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Au Pair Scam: Latest Example

by cv harquail December 13, 2016

Hi Folks– Ever wonder what “Au Pair Scams” look like? We remind Au Pair candidates to never, ever send anyone money to secure their place as an Au Pair, after only exchanging emails. While many international recruiters/ au pair agencies will place ads and send emails to find potential au pair candidates, NO REPUTABLE […]

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First Time Host Mom Wonders: Are her Au Pair expectations realistic?

by cv harquail November 7, 2016

A new Host Mom writes to share her frustration – and concern- about an Au Pair who doesn’t quite seem to fit. Are the mom’s expectations too high, she wonders? Or, Does she just have an Au Pair who needs (even) more direction and motivation? I’d like to think that I asked all the right […]

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Post by Email– not working? Test…

by cv harquail September 16, 2016

Hi Folks- A mom reported that she did not get the most recent post via email. Mailchimp recently upgraded, so I’m wondering if this has created a problem for everyone or if it’s just this one subscriber… so this is a test post. Soon, back to our regular programming. cvh

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Choosing an Au Pair: The Serious One or The Fun One?

by cv harquail July 25, 2016

“There’s a lid for every pot”, we often say here on Au Pair Mom. No matter how weird your situation, or how picky you are, there is an au pair out there for you. Sometimes you’re lucky and you discover TWO au pairs who seem to fit your needs. So, how do you choose? The […]

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Easy Patriotic Dessert for 4th of July –Au Pairs & Kids

by cv harquail July 2, 2016

Fourth of July picnics are the perfect time for desserts that feature the Red, White, and Blue, the Stars n’ Stripes, or your own combo of patriotic symbols. Some of these are marvelous, and simply too complicated. Between all the beer, burgers, and babies, who has time to make a fancy cake? Hence, I […]

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Newbie Host Mom Totally Not Sure She Needs Help (She Does)

by Frances Scher June 22, 2016

Hi! I am Frances Scher, and I am taking a turn at the APMom mailbox. First up is a letter from a new host mom. Her previous expectations of the au pair program don’t seem to be lining up with the current reality. The au pair is not doing her job and following the […]

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Suing for Breach Of Contract?

by cv harquail May 18, 2016

Legally-Blonde-2001-Promos-legally-blonde-14023182-609-609

Apologies for being out of it this past week-– not to mention, avoiding any conversation about the controversy surrounding the Au Pair with the cancer diagnosis and her Host Family’s efforts to keep her in the USA for care. I’ll post about that in a few days. In the meantime, let’s vent about another contentious […]

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Well That Was Interesting …

by cv harquail April 12, 2016

I leave the country for FOUR WHOLE DAYS and the blog gets hacked ! Grrrrrrr. Thank you, friends, for emailing to let me know. Password changed. I thought I’d have time to put up a post or two but I am stuffing my face with pain au chocolat and explaining to every American tourist I […]

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Letting Things Go Over The Holidays

by cv harquail December 26, 2015

Some of the glitter garland I made for our tree.

My inbox barrages me with contradictory messages. I’ve gotten a slew of emails trying to inspire me to up my game for the New Year. They want to help me with making resolutions, finding my words of the year, buying a new planner, setting an editorial calendar, changing my relationship with food, finding my inner courage, and […]

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