Au Pair Community Counselors: Conflicts of interest?

by cv harquail March 13, 2010
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Can the role of the Local Community Counselor (or Area Director), and the compensation strategy for that job, set up an implicit conflict of interest? I think the answer to that question is: Yes. Caveats first: Each agency is different. This concern addresses only those agencies with the structure I describe below. First, let me […]

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Someone Stole My Au Pair: A secret rematch behind my back

by cv harquail March 12, 2010
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A Host Mom writes with a story that will irk us all.  The situation is ‘over’, but she still has to cope. And, we can all wonder– how could we prevent something like this from happening in our town? Dear Au Pair Mom Readers- Has anyone else had the experience of discovering that their au […]

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What Size Bed for Your Au Pair (Poll)

by cv harquail March 11, 2010
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A host mom writes: Do we need to get a bigger bed for our next au pair? Our current au pair has a queen-size bed in her room, which used to be our guest room. We are moving to a larger home in a few months. The new house will have a guest room, and […]

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Let’s Celebrate!

by cv harquail March 8, 2010
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I was surprised to discover that AuPairMom has just published our 300th post! It’s hard to believe. But even more amazing? These 300 posts have generated 6, 151 comments from us. What a happy amount of wisdom going around. To celebrate, two things are in order… First, invite a host parent friend to come join […]

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Awkward: It’s not a walk of shame if we know you are safe

by cv harquail March 8, 2010
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So let’s jump on in to another awkward topic — If your au pair is having fun, safe overnights, and she just wants to make sure you’re not worried, how should she tell you? Should she even tell you? I don’t actually want to know if my au pair is having fun. I do want […]

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6 Reasons why your Au Pair should NOT work a second job

by cv harquail March 6, 2010
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We’ve talked recently about the issues related to having an au pair work extra hours for the host family, and we’ve also talked about whether you should let your au pair babysit for your friends. But we haven”t talked about whether you should permit your au pair to work at another job. “Why haven’t we […]

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Au Pairs and Cell Phones: Concrete tips to hold down costs?

by cv harquail March 5, 2010
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When a host mom emailed to ask for some specific suggestions around keeping the cost of cell phones down, I flinched. The whole cell phone thing, like recycling, is delegated in our house to my DH. Why? Because I just can’t stand to deal with it. Though I should deal with it, and stop avoiding […]

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Can this Au Pair relationship be saved? Lying, smoking, drinking, and the silent treatment

by cv harquail March 3, 2010
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Hi, AuPairMom Readers– We are a host family in a metropolitan suburb with two young boys. This is our fourth year hosting. Over the years, we have had 3 very successful matches and 2 rematches – a mixed bag. The good matches were very good, and those au pairs continue to visit us, and we […]

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Do you require your Au Pair to get a U.S. driver’s licence?

by cv harquail March 2, 2010
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For example, in our town the police officers get upset if you don’t have a US license and have even ticketed a au pair or two, even though state lae says that using an international driver’s license is legal.

…Someone at our local DMV does not understand that a J1 working visa is different from a student visa, and has turned away more than one au pair who didn’t have a school transcript with her. it’s worthwhile to have a native English speaker there to explain the visa requirements so au pairs don’t have to stand in line for hours multiple times only to be turned away.

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My Au Pair got a speeding ticket

by cv harquail March 1, 2010
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Has your au pair ever gotten a speeding ticket? That you know of? Or that you found out about later, after several summonses arrived in the mail? How have you handled this? Tell it to this Host Mom: Our au pair got a speeding ticket– a surprise for her and for me. Now I have […]

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