Seeking Guest Editors for the Spring

by cv harquail March 29, 2016

Hi Everyone- I have a big commitment over the next three months — I’m working hard on a book, plus building a platform, writing a newsletter and starting some vlogging.  I have too much on my plate, and just not enough time (and typing energy) to keep all the plates spinning.   I’ve decided that […]

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Addressing a Vast Gap Between Ethical Standards: Yours vs Your Au Pair’s

by cv harquail March 25, 2016
john rawls

There are “cultural differences” and there are “philosophical differences”. With cultural differences, it’s less about “right” or “wrong” than about how folks prefer to do things. With philosophical differences, it’s all about right and wrong.   So how do you manage when you discover that your au pair thinks something is perfectly fair to do, but […]

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Safety Tips for Au Pairs Using Tinder and Other Dating Apps

by cv harquail March 22, 2016
make good choices

Used to be we’d only have to give our Au Pairs a safety lecture about drunk guys at bars who assume things when they hear the words “Au Pair”.  Now, if our Au Pairs are using dating apps to meet people, we might have to expand our conversation about what’s safe and what’s appropriate. Yes, […]

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Tips for a Nervous First Time Host Mom

by cv harquail March 16, 2016
Mary Poppins

Do you remember how excited you were, once you’d matched with your first au pair? Wondering what s/he’d really be like? How the kids would take to her/him? How you’d all get along? I myself was in a bit of a haze, getting ready to return to work from maternity leave, starting up classes again, […]

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Monitoring Your Au Pair’s Driving Using Car Apps and Tools

by cv harquail March 11, 2016
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In the new era of the quantified self, we have Fitbits for counting steps, apps for managing nutrition, online calendars to coordinate schedules, and GPS to get us where we need to go. Many of us use these tools not only for our selves, but also to organize our Au Pairs. We also now have […]

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Interviewing Rematch Au Pairs? Check Their References

by cv harquail March 7, 2016
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The Rematch / Transition Process makes everyone tense.   Au Pairs want to find a better situation but worry that host families will assume that rematch was their fault. Host Families want to find an in-country au pair who’ll fit better with their family, but want to avoid taking on some other family’s “reject”. Agencies […]

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Innocent Au Pair Shunned By Jealous Host Mom

by cv harquail March 5, 2016
innocent

Sorry about the headline, but how else to summarize this dilemma, below? Before you jump in with good advice, which you will, let’s remember that we only know one side of this story, and we should proceed with the assumption that it’s accurate. Take it away, team. Dear AuPairMom– Well, I’m a 23 year old […]

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When the Cost of Rematch Seems Too High, but Your Au Pair Isn’t Working Out

by cv harquail March 3, 2016
au pair, host child, childcare

This brand new host mom, in a country without much of an Au Pairing culture, is trying hard. Despite her efforts, though, the combination of her Au Pair’s inexperience, lack of English skills, lies about driving, and basic attitude (not to mention, cultural differences between them) have led to an untenable situation. Worse still, it […]

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Give As Much As You’ve Gotten Before You Quit Your Au Pair Job

by cv harquail March 1, 2016
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At the mom@aupairmom.com mailbox, I regularly receive emails from Au Pairs who are unhappy and want to leave their positions. Au Pairs present a slate of concerns, each one legitimate in its own right, although some of them are too small, really, to be dealbreakers on their own. These emails usually roam all over the […]

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What Makes an Au Pair a “Rock Star”?

by cv harquail February 25, 2016

… asks a Host Mom who thinks hopes she has one. I think I’ve always assumed that, like quality and pr0n, “you know it when you see it” if you’ve got a Rock Star Au Pair. And, I’ve probably also assumed that what makes some one a Rock Star Au Pair really depends on what […]

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