Our Au Pair Was Unhappy. Everyone Knew But Us.

by cv harquail February 21, 2015
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Dear Au Pair Mom — I have just discovered that our first au pair, who departed three months ago after a year working and traveling with us, told *everyone* but me that she was unhappy with our family. We though she was the greatest au pair: hard worker, experienced with the kids, wise…  She seemed […]

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Au Pair’s Dr. Host Dad insisting she receive Vitamin B shots? No. No. No.

by cv harquail February 19, 2015
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This particular pair of host parents wins the prize for “Most Invasive Expectations”. I received an email from an au pair currently working in Europe. She writes: Hi AuPairMom– I don’t know any other au pairs and so I’m hoping to get some advice from you on this difficult situation. I have been living with […]

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Cultural Exchange: American kids react to breakfasts from around the world

by cv harquail February 17, 2015

Cultural Exchange always feels more concrete when it’s translated into food. Food preferences, food differences, food customs, and beyond.   With a hattip to Mark Frauenfelder at BoingBoing, here’s a video that reminded me of the first time I had fishpaste from a tube, on a business trip to Sweden.   I wonder how many […]

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Want to find a fabulous Au Pair Host Family? Reply to our emails promptly

by cv harquail February 16, 2015
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Dear  Au Pair Candidates, Do you know how frustrating it is when you don’t reply promptly to Host Families’ emails? We read your letters, watch your videos, and pour over your applications to get a sense of whether you might fit well with our families. We’re nervous about getting in touch, but we write the […]

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Au Pair Extraordinaires: How Different Are They?

by cv harquail February 13, 2015
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The Au Pair Extraordinaire program offers host families the chance to match with an au pair who has additional documented childcare qualifications by paying somewhat more per week. This option seems particularly attractive to families with infants and toddlers who seem to need a more experienced hand (e.g., a colicky child). The idea here is that someone […]

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An Easy Way To Find Which Au Pair Agencies Serve Your Area

by cv harquail February 12, 2015
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Here’s a great question from NorthWestHostMom: What’s an easy way to find out which Au Pair Agencies serve my geographic area?   Other than calling each and every Agency, is there a simple way to identify my options? This is a not only a common question asked by potential host parents — Current host families that […]

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When Your Au Pair’s Efforts to Help Just Make Things Worse

by cv harquail February 10, 2015
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You know it’s a sad story when it begins … “One weekend in an effort to emulate Martha Stewart…” … I lovingly planted thyme in between the flagstones of my back patio. My plan was for the herbs to fill in the dirt lines, crowd out the weeds, and offer up a fragrance when we walked around […]

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Why Can’t I Buy AuPair Plane Tickets and Save Money on Agency Fees?

by cv harquail February 8, 2015
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What if you had 100 million frequent flyer miles? Or a $700 credit with an airline that flies from NYC to your Au Pair’s home city? Could you purchase your Au Pair’s plane ticket– in either direction — and save money on your Au Pair Agency fee? Our first au pair’s 2 years is about […]

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Which Au Pair Rules Feel Flexible?

by cv harquail February 4, 2015
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This is a companion post to “Which Host Family Rules Feel Flexible to Au Pairs?” Au Pair Program Rules are Great. One of the strongest elements of the US Au Pair Program is the framework created by the State Department rules.   These clear and specific boundaries around work hours and work responsibilities help US Host Parents and […]

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Which Host Family Rules Feel Flexible to Au Pairs?

by cv harquail February 4, 2015
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Okay, Au Pairs — It’s your turn to tell us which Host Family rules you feel it’s okay to be “flexible” with every now and then. [This is a companion post to “Which Au Pair Rules Feel Flexible?”] Since there is no set group of Host Family rules, I can’t create polls for specific ones. Instead, […]

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