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I have a male au pair from Slovenia arriving on Wednesday - any idea what to expect? Normally I get the girls flowers for their room as a welcome, but I am not sure whether to do that or not? My DH would not appreciate flowers!!! Also food-wise - should I stock up - in my experience (4 girls in 6 years) the girls barely eat a thing! What will he do in his "off" time - my others had long baths and painted their nails.... I wanted a boy as am sick of sulks, moods and treading on egg shells, but not sure how to handle them! All advice much appreciated.
I've had 3 male au pairs and all of them ate considerably more than the femail ones, whom, I agree, seem to exist on air! I don't get flowers for anyone, so didn't find that a problem. Did change any flowery/pink bedlinen for something more neutral.
OMG, Squiffy, I hope your Spanish chap is better than the one I had. He thought he was God's gift to au pairdom, but hadn't a clue how to flick a duster. He was OCD about English grammar and would ask me to explain why I'd used a certain tense etc (even tried to correct me on occasion and I'm an English teacher). The worst thing was that the kids loved him 'cos he could skateboard & play football. They were devastated when he left & I breathed a huge sigh of relief!
I had a Polish chap who wasn't very impressive and only lasted three weeks. But I defeminised the au pair bedroom for him and bought more meat and bread.
One thing he was great at was cleaning the oven and emptying the bins, all the dirty stuff I hate doing.
One thing he was bad at was entertaining himself in the evenings. He sat between us on the sofa grinning away and behaving as though we were his new mum and dad.
The people opposite have a Polish lad at the moment and he is brilliant, so I expect some of it is down to chance.
I've tried a few MAP's. Sorry to say it's never been that much of a success, even though a couple of them were lovely guys. Just no good with general chores, cooking, washing their own clothes, looking after themselves or getting up on time. I found them to be much harder work than the girls I had one Romanian MAP who was awful,... really bad attitude. He thought that all household stuff and childcare was "womans work!" Not sure what the agency were thinking when they agreed to him being an AP. Anyway, yes they do eat a lot...toast mainly... about a loaf a day
The MAPs I've met are all in couples, so not much MAP experience as they are kept in order by their Slovakian GFs.
I have my ex mother's help BF and one of his friends every tuesday and they have built me a chicken run, veg garden, cleaned my gutters, painted/filled everything in the house (just about) raked leaves etc
Had Czech MAP and he was fab. Ate a lot which is fine by me but was helpful, considerate and not neurotic unlike some of the girls. He entertained my son and never complained of weather, walking to school.
He spent lots of time on the internet (in his free time) but we were on a contract so no problem.
He has younger siblings at home and was helping a lot at home and his grand parents, so knew what to do.
Well 4 days in and this chap is FAB - the best au pair I've had for two years - the kids think he's great, he's playing with them a lot and he is amazing around the house - DH has got the hump as he's looking inadequate! The only thing is that today (Saturday) he was trotting around in his boxer shorts a lot and I am not sure about that....
Hmmmm. I would ask him straight away to put a dressing gown on if he wants to walk around the house before getting dressed. If he doesn't have one then perhaps you can launder and loan your dh's or buy him one or ask him to buy one. IME though, you will probably be fobbed off with a "No, I'm fine, thanks!" I don't think it's fair on family members and visitors to put up with literally half dressed aps but it's hard to get them to dress appropriately if they don't want to unless you tell them they HAVE to and that feels really awkward.
You must have your heating up too high . I know, I'm living up to my name once again. Talking of which, you can get lovely fluffy, white towelling dressing gowns in Tchibo for £9.
My AP's always get a towelling robe as a welcome present, just in case
I have to say, my new male AP is settling in well - very cheerful, very orgainsed. His mum is a GP so he is used to the whole working mums thing. Came home at 10 last night to find the laundry done and a Spanish Omelette waiting for me - and that was on his day off. Am keeping fingers and toes crossed that this lasts
bofin: 'He sat between us on the sofa grinning away and behaving as though we were his new mum and dad.'
PMSL!!
I would say that assuming the MAP is great with children, even if the MAP was not good at housework, he could make up for it by being handy around the house. Save me the cost of a handyman and I could use the savings to hire a cleaner.
. I know, I'm living up to my name once again. Talking of which, you can get lovely fluffy, white towelling dressing gowns in Tchibo for £9. 
