So as some of you know, we recently waved goodbye to our lovely nanny of 4.5 years, and hired a new one who for various reasons I had to fire within a fortnight.
I have 4 children, 2 at school fulltime, one at nursery a couple of days a week but will be 4 days in Sept, and a 16mth old. I don't work at the moment, but am waiting to hear about a job which will require about 2 weeks full time training and then be about a day a week. That would a ll start in October. I also have to go abroad probably 2 nights every couple of months on family business.
The school run is a good half an hour each way, requiring motorway driving. Accordingly I've always had nannies, who are 25+, mature, lots of experience, sensible etc. They help with the school runs, help with everything child related (laundry, meals, keeping room and toys straight etc) and do a fair amount of playgroups, music groups, playdates, trips to soft play etc etc.
Current problem - I've interviewed a nanny who seems great. 33, last job lasted 8 years looking after 3 children (two much older than the youngest who she had from a baby, so in recent years looking after just her), also lots of experience with a family who fostered lots of children, really sensible, nice etce tc. Unfortunately she has just taken on a temp job until the end of Sept.
So if we go for her, I need some help for the holidays and Sept. Do I hire an au pair, on the basis that I won't need her to drive the kids anywhere on the motorway, and just have an extra pair of hands around the house? I don't want a live in nanny long term, but I don't mind someone live in just for 12 weeks or so.
So if I get an aupair, do I get one off Great Aupair (which I've registered on and had about 30 responses in 24 hours aurgh), or do I go onto gumtree and find one who is already here and Ican interview, or what do you all reckon? Some of the ones on GreatAupair look nice - 23 yr old Americans (who probably won't be able to drive a manual car, thinking about it), 20 yr old Hungarians with good refs from previous employers... I've never gone the au pair route though so don't know what to look for particularly. I'm also horrified by how little they are paid, but I suppose I have to get over that!
Or I can decide to just look for a nanny who can start earlier... but it is a bad time to look and Id on't have any more interviews lined up.
Anyway if you have read all of this, well done! and thank you. And anythoughts would be appreciated - sometimes it is easier to see the obvious path when it is someone else's problem!
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