How did you choose your Au Pair

[CountessDracula]

I have finally given in and said we can have and au pair - difficulties with dd being ill, dh's work going mad and general exhaustion have finally persuaded me that we should give it a go.

So what did you look for in yours

I have a preliminary shortlist (not spoken to them yet)

1. English, 21, looked after her much younger siblings for the past 2 years. The first line of her profile says "I am a christian" which tbh I find offputting, not because I don't like christians but to put it in the first line may imply fanaticism do you think? She sounds very nice and sensible.

1. A 22 yo hungarian girl who says that people say she is a responsible, tolerant ,open minded person who loves fun,children and the life. That sounds more like my cup of tea, she has worked in UK for a year and I think is still here so could interview her. She has worked in a nursery too.

what do you think?

What do you look for in an au pair?

Will show dh my lovely pie charts

he will think you doolally

x

oh he already does

He thinks I am mad overprotective obsessive mother I think. And I am pretty sure he puts it all down to mn

I do wonder though, if I had never found mn would I worry about half the things I do

Yes, its easy to focus on the time you're NOT there and forget all the time you ARE there. That's what dh keeps saying to me - they have 4 days being with us vs 3 days of childcare (and on those days we see them for about a quarter of their waking hours too). Plus we are very rarely away from home, as a rule we have breakfast, teatime and bath/bed time as a whole family.
I'm not at all surprised that the au pair figure is so low - but it's reassuring, isn't it? As they get older too its more important that the people they have are loving and interesting than that they are the SAME people year in, year out (apart from the parents of course!)

Thank you elliot

I really can't believe the results of those charts. I am a nutter I think for not doing something like that before!

I would worry more if it wasn't for MN. I find this place a great source of answers on almost all subject (like today's payroll mishap) which I'm sorry to say they won (in part).

Anyway, don't feel guilty. You are providing a wonderful role model for DD. You have a good life because you have earned it. And that should be a source of pride not guilt.

Glad I've made you feel better CD - your dh will will really think you're mad when you make him do one - as I did with mine

So, have you hired her?