Au pair contacts for new au pair needed

[Imabadmum]

Hi all,

I have a new au pair, who is lovely but very homesick, and cries nearly every day. We don't want to lose her as she is everything we hoped for. What advice can other host mums/families give me to help her feel at home. We live in a rural area and I don't know any other families locally with an au pair. We have suggested she join some local groups which have an interest to her which she has done, but it's early days. Is there anything else I can try? Has anybody done anything differently to help their au pair feel settled and at home? Any advice gratefully received. Thanks x

Anyone, please?

Skype and copious internet is probably best thing. There are a few facebook pages for au pairs to chat to each other and make friends that might be helpful for her to at least find out that its normal. Might be able to find some friends she can join at weekends - what nationality?

She is Dutch and speaks great English, she is a go getter, but is bothered by getting so emotional. It happens at tea time every day, you can set your watch by it.

She Skye's every day with either her mum, sister, boyfriend, dad, sometimes some or even all of them. It helps, have also suggested Internet and fb pages which she has tried.

This is only her second week, so am hoping things will straighten out, but if there are any host mums on here that have au pairs who could do with getting in touch with ther au pairs that would be great.

Lostonthemoors , I am in north Devon. I also screwed this up with our first ap, had sort of assumed that she would find her own social life, and she didn't and was miserable. Tried harder with our second ap, and she did make friends through a fb page, but still only stayed 2months (it rained too much in England apparently). So we are now on our 3rd ap, and don't want her to go home early. She is great. I have taken her to the library and identified a couple of groups on the notice board there that she is trying. She is also going to Zumba on friday at the local gym, and is volunteering in the local theatre on Sunday. I feel sure that she will find her feet, but wonder if there is any more we could do.

I had no idea that hosting an ap would require so much input from us, it's been a steep learng curve for sure

Virtually arts - she is into crafts, knitting, sewing. So she went to an arts and crafts group today, which was mostly elderly ladies. All very lovely but not perhaps what she needs? She is also going to volunteer for the Mayfair committee who are asking for help in costume making, i think this will be ideal and should introduce her to mums with young kids.

But she also needs young unattached friends, possibly in the same situation as herself...?

I have no idea where young unattached people go either! Not my living room, that's for sure. Kavos I think, but that's none too helpful.

Her English is far too good for language classes, but we are planning to check out the local college for other types of courses that would give her access to young people (god that makes me sound like a pensioner).

Definitely get her to search Facebook. I had no idea there were so many aupairs in our area.. She meets with 14 every weekend!!

I asked this a while back and someone posted a link to a site. My AP now knows 100s of APs which is great. She is still a home bod though and rarely goes out. I think they all Skype each other too

Ask at your DC's school as well. And Facebook. And perhaps try an English course? Mine has just started one and made more friends!

I was an AP and found that one of the worst things I could do was Skype home- made it so much worse. That could easily be me though!

Any guide/rainbow/brownies groups locally that she could volunteer with?