to ask next AP to use her own computer?

[CoffeeAndCarrotCake]

Really not sure about this one, so wondered what any of you do. Current AP (about whom you have heard a great deal over the last few months!) uses the computer all the time when she's not with DD. The trouble is that (i) I often need to use it for work or, more importantly, MN and it's getting annoying having to wait and negotiate a time for me to use my own computer; also, I really don't want her accessing my documents or my visits to MN!!!; and (ii) it's in DH's home office and, for numerous reasons, we can't move it, but it is impossible for DH to work with AP nattering on Skype; plus (iii) we have wireless broadband so AP could easily use the internet in her own room on her own computer.

We're not going to make the change now, but DH has said that the next AP is NOT allowed in his office, or on our computer. I agree, but, AIBU.....

[BitOfFun]

I'd tell this one to use her own too. YADNBU.

[ginormoboobs]

YANBU
Tell her use her own.
Tell her she is not to use the computer in the office as it is private and she is dirupting yours and DH's work.
She has her own for her personal use. Why would she think it is ok to use the computer which is shared between the rest of the family?

[willowthewispa]

Most au pairs would expect to have access to a computer. I think if you're not going to provide access to a computer you need to make that clear upfront. Could you get a laptop or computer for the au pair's room?

[DesperateHousewifeToo]

Password protect your computer so she cannot access it. Tell her she cannot use it anymore. You are quite within your rights as it is in your office, I think.

If she has her own computer, why is she wanting to use yours?

[willowthewispa]

I misread that and didn't realise your current au pair has her own computer with internet access already! In that case it's a bit weird that she's using yours in the office. I'd tell her to use her own too then.

[Chandra]

Not having access to Internet may make the AP feel isolated... however, I agree that I wouldn't like AP to use a computer that I need / use for work.

How about telling her that she can use it durig x-y times and that your work and the one of your husband takes precedence. (Can only be used when neither of you are using the office?)

[Quattrocento]

Oh this tings bells - YANBU - was a total pain with last AP. The one before that used laptop in his room.

[CoffeeAndCarrotCake]

Hmmm, perhaps I should clarify that current AP does not have a computer. She said that she was going to get one before she arrived, but then as she had full use of mine, she never bothered. We have wireless broadband so she could access the internet in her room, but she'd need a computer first.

I'm planning on telling the next one before she even leaves home to bring her own (which she does have) as mine will be out of bounds. You learn SO much with each AP experience! I reckon that by the time DD leaves home and marries we'll just about have it right!!

[Lurchin]

Why can't you tell this one to pull her ginger out?

[Quattrocento]

rings bells sorry not tings bells

What does pull her ginger out mean?

And yes tell them to bring a laptop.

[curiositykilled]

Couldn't you buy a PC for the AP's room so she was in her room more often when not with dd and you would get privacy?

I think the way you feel is not unreasonable but it might be very upsetting to her to be told to buy her own computer or that she has to stop using the PC when you have already allowed it for so long. I'd just buy a computer to put in the AP's bedroom so each of your subsequent APs could use it.

[Lurchin]

Finger. Sorry.

Are you made of mney?

[Totallyfloaty35]

We had an aupair who used computer for 8hrs a day every day,that meant no-one else got near it,so i told her she could only use it after 8pm,kids needed to do their homework,i needed to work.She was a bit stroppy about it but she still got about 3hrs a night with it and longer at weekends.
Most of our aupairs bring their own but we do have a spare(old) pc they use if they dont have one,saves lots of bad feeling i can assure you

[Blondeshavemorefun]

as it is your computer you are quite in your rights to use it as and when you want

so with current ap maybe say she can use it in eve for an hour etc

agree set passwords on your computer

i use my mb lappy suring the day, but she is at work, so we dont fight over it, and when she was on ml, i used db lappy - i know all her passwords and i would NEVER pry into her history, files,email etc

but yes when you get a new ap,say they need to bring their own lappy

[Lurchin]

Whwn are theses aupairs actually doing any work?

[CoffeeAndCarrotCake]

Right - I think I'll just tell next AP to bring own laptop (she's got one as she uses it to Skype me) and current AP can carry on on mine - she's lovely and is only here till Aug so I won't start changing the rules now.

HOWEVER, am still PMSL at the images of what "pulling her ginger out" might entail, and the phrase to "ting a bell". Am a bit gutted that you corrected them Lurchin and Quattro - much prefered them before!

Thanks all for good advice and good laugh x

[Millarkie]

Are you sure that next AP has her own computer rather than using her parent's/room-mates/college library? If not you may need to recommend that she brings her own but if she doesn't then tell her that computer time will be limited to x hours.
I admit we bought a computer especially for the au pair's bedroom but then dh is a computer engineer and got a broken one from ebay and fixed it so I think it cost us £35! Not a solution for everyone I know.
Our APs spend most of their time either msning or skyping their friends/family/boyfriends or surfing, and current one uses translator sites to work out english words so the computer gets a lot of use.