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Original poster

Is my aupair being cheeky? Says it is hard for her to walk 25 min each way for school run.

294 replies

blueshoes · 28/06/2007 14:13

My first aupair (French) is starting in Aug. But I am already having doubts.

An important part of the aupair's duties is to do my dd's school run. The school is a 25 min walk away, with dd age 4 in a buggy. Now the aupair emails to says that a 25x4 walk every day is hard for her to do.

She was asking about taking a bus and having a bus pass.

I emailed her to explain that a bus would take longer (35 min+), she would still have to walk 20 mins each way (because the school is not near the bus stop), and the roads are congested in the mornings. Plus it will cost us £20 a week in bus fare. She does not seem to have taken that in (language problem?).

Is she angling for us to provide her with a bus pass or contribute to her travel costs? Or does she have a point about such a long walk? I personally have done it (old-ish and weak as I am, lol) and don't see why a young strapping 20 year old cannot.

We are paying her £65 a week allowance - which I feel is slightly above market for what is IMO quite an easy job(London).

Do any of you who are aupair employers pay/subsidise transport costs on top of allowance? Should I ditch her before she starts, as being lame?

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RnBee · 28/06/2007 15:08

it may seem cheep but they also get a room (in london, what about £100 p/w??) and all their food. Not bad for pocket money, I think.

Brangelina · 28/06/2007 15:07

Skinny doesn't mean firm'n'fit though. It's not going to kill her FGS!
Maybe I'm a nutter or something, but I really don't see the problem (and I still have a pert bum (almost)at my advanced age). When I was an AP there wasn't much in the way of public transport so you walked or nothing. I walk further now to take my DD to the park.

Aloha · 28/06/2007 15:07

Would I have ever wanted to walk across a blasted heath - not even an interesteing high st with shops and coffee shops - for half an hour four times a day in the pouring rain (and, later, the gathering dark) pushing a four year old in a buggy for two of those trips for £65 a week?
Um....no.
But good luck finding someone who does!

onlyWotzadodar · 28/06/2007 15:06

£65 / by 25 hours = £2.60 and hour ! Really ?

RnBee · 28/06/2007 15:06

I've had a french AP before who walked miles! Not for me though but to go clubbing/home from clubbing. He didn't have much energy for housework though

bookwormmum · 28/06/2007 15:06

You could offer to buy her a suitable pair of shoes to walk in or just look for a new AP who doesn't mind walking.

witchandchips · 28/06/2007 15:05

am i being stupid bu why is it four trips a day and not two

NineUnlikelyTales · 28/06/2007 15:04

She is French? I thought French people didn't walk anywhere - like most of Europe. She probably thinks you're asking the equivelant of marching from Land's End to John O'Groats twice a day.

Mumpbump · 28/06/2007 15:04

Does your dd walk part of the way? I just realised she is 4 and guess she is probably quite heavy to push - not casting aspersions on her weight, but ds is heavy to push around at 17months...

expatinscotland · 28/06/2007 15:03

An au pair isn't interested in losing baby weight and is probably already one of those skinny young adults.

RnBee · 28/06/2007 15:03

Don't worry blueshoes, some APs wouldn't bat an eyelid at that distance. You just need to find one that doesn't mind

expatinscotland · 28/06/2007 15:01

That's a two-hour/day walk.

I walk 2.5 miles a day into work and it only takes 40 minutes.

Pushing a buggy with a 4-year-old in it?

Sorry, but if I were that au pair I'd be out of there!

That's asking her to walk a good 5 miles/day.

Original poster
blueshoes · 28/06/2007 15:01

ViciousSS, I meant to answer your question - it is a Phil & Teds 3-wheeler with big bicycle wheels. Most of the way is paved roads, but a small part across the heath involves foot-worn paths.

OP posts:
Original poster
blueshoes · 28/06/2007 14:59

Bikebug, good point. Will buy her good shoes - cheaper than bus fare!

Thomcat/bibis, about bikes, we don't have a place to store. And I am not sure what to do with dd. She cannot ride one. And frankly, it is dangerous as the heath criss-crosses with heavy traffic.

MrsR, lol! I don't interview those who ask for too much. [Shylock in disguise]

ViciousSS,

filou/oo/Kew, I like your attitude. Wish she shared it.

Spider, yuo have a point about being lightweights pre-kids. I wish she had a more can-do attitude. I will do it now without a blink

For those who say it is unreasonable, it is just that in London, dh and I walk and walk and walk (ok, post-kids). And it is very common for families to do that here. It is part of the lifestyle - which I agree is not for everyone.

OP posts:
Mumpbump · 28/06/2007 14:57

I walk alot, but would probably balk at walking 25 minutes 4 times a day. Twice is fine though. Someone else asked, but I don't think you answered, did you specifically mention this in the job description? If so, then I think she is unreasonable in taking the position if she isn't prepared to do it. If not, then I don't think she is so unreasonable...

LaBoheme · 28/06/2007 14:55

It's not just a 25 min walk - you are asking her to do it 4 times in a day. Can't you just organise a bus pass for her? what's the big deal?

Kewcumber · 28/06/2007 14:49

I find my Meriva much more economical than Arse of hippo Olive.

oliveoil · 28/06/2007 14:47

lol

I now drive and have the arse of a hippo

let that be a warning to her

Brangelina · 28/06/2007 14:46

x posted Olive .

fifilou · 28/06/2007 14:46

its cheaper than joining the gym! tell her its free fitnees!

Brangelina · 28/06/2007 14:46

Goodness me, 25 mins is nothing! I walk futher even now, but then I've never been a car owner. It's what you're used to I s'pose.
When I was an AP I had a 30 min walk 4x a day to and from 2 different schools, and a large chunk of that was up a steep hill. As I was always late I more often than not ran up that steep hill, but got a lovely pert bum as a result.
Maybe you should promote the buttock shaping anti cellulite aspect of it?

meandmyflyingmachine · 28/06/2007 14:46

My dc tend to go on their bikes, which means I can walk at a reasonable pace. Is that a possibility?

oliveoil · 28/06/2007 14:45

AND I lost my baby weight in about 5 seconds so good exercise

tell her she will have rock hard thighs and a shapely arse

Original poster
blueshoes · 28/06/2007 14:45

wow, this thread is moving quickly.

flyingmachine, my dd does not have mobility issues but is a dinky do - she still wears 2-3 years clothes. Her walking is erratic and I often end up carrying her at her insistence. Faster to just bundle her into a buggy. at your dd. I am hoping peer pressure will make my dd walk more.

binkle, agree. It is a vital part of the job spec, so I don't want to force her if walking is not her thing.

Agree, Mrs Recycle. Wise words indeed.

Redlorry, I am now leaning towards finding a new ap.

Thomcat/southeast/donnie, she works parttime 5 hours a weekday, 25 hours a week. This 2 hours is part of her working hours.

ViciousSS, not she is not, erm, generous proportioned.

OP posts:
Kewcumber · 28/06/2007 14:45

I am a lazy git and wouldn;t do 25 min walk x4 however I would expect a spritely young au pair to do it.

Duh, young of today - don;t know they're born.

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