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Original poster

How long before you know your AP is a good 'un?

55 replies

Metrobaby · 06/09/2009 21:17

I guess I am asking as what is the reasonable length of time you would give for your AP to settle in??

I have a new AP - she has only been here for a week but I am getting the impression she is very homesick plus a bit reluctant to do her household chores (eg I have asked her twice now to ensure the childrens uniforms are ironed and they are not done which means I now have to do it in time for tomorrow ). I am also trying to figure out whether she does not understand - even though she says she does undestand...

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Set a reminder
ingles2 · 07/09/2009 08:41

If she's saying "later" to your requests in the first week then you need to put your foot down now.
Does she have set working hours? If not do it asap, and tell her no tv, surfing, chatting during that time. She's there to work fgs, not for a holiday at your expense. Later!... cheeky mare!

Original poster
Metrobaby · 07/09/2009 08:36

Yes Milarkie - I have written everything down, and also gone through everything with her in person. I took 2 days off work in fact to show her our routines, show her our town, school, facilities etc etc. I even emailed her list of duties with a suggested timetable so she had the chance to run it through a translation programme.

There really isn't much ironing - just the children's uniform - nor much housework as we have a cleaner. However a couple of times when i have reminded her - in the nicest possible way - to tidy in the kitchen after breakfast and to put the laundry out - she replied "later" - and then went back to watching TV or surfing on the net.

OP posts:
dreamteamgirl · 06/09/2009 23:48

Interesting post- I will be watching it with eagle eyes as I wonder the same!

Millarkie · 06/09/2009 23:01

Our good ones we could tell by the end of the week - generally to do with their attitude, our bad one we had a good idea she wasn't great after her second week (rang me from a coffee shop when she should have been meeting the school bus) but it wasn't really obvious until a month or so in.
If you think there may be a language problem (all of ours have spoken excellent English) then you could try writing requests down -gives them a chance to get a dictionary out or phone a friend if they don't want to admit that they can't understand.
Have you given her a written list of jobs/time table? Some people swear by them. Is it a reluctance to do all chores or just ironing (does she know how to iron?)

DrEvil · 06/09/2009 22:42

Our AP was fab from day one (she's only been here 3 weeks) very jolly, easy to live with and helpful but she doesn't have the problem of language as she's Australian.

She doesn't have much in the way of housework to do (I dont iron anything and am a bit of a slattern tbh) but is fab with the kids and takes the initiative on activities etc.

Maybe yours is still in the homesick phase? Or as you say not wanting to admit that her English isn't as good as she thought.