Can an au pair look after my teenager whilst I'm working abroad

[Taija123]

I have a dilemma as i plan to work abroad in the next few months. But my 15 year old son doesn't want to come with me and is quite happy to stay here. I was planning on getting live in au pair to mainly be a presence in the house along with cooking meals and household chores etc. My mum will also visit my home on a daily basis to check in on the au pair and make sure everything is running as it should. There's not that much info out there but some of research I've come across suggests that au pairs cannot be left alone with children overnight. What do parents in my situation do if that's the case?, there must be another solution.

Can an au pair look after my teenager whilst I'm working abroad1
Today 22:18 Taija123

I have a dilemma as i plan to work abroad in the next few months. But my 15 year old son doesn't want to come with me and is quite happy to stay here. I was planning on getting live in au pair to mainly be a presence in the house along with cooking meals and household chores etc. My mum will also visit my home on a daily basis to check in on the au pair and make sure everything is running as it should. There's not that much info out there but some of research I've come across suggests that au pairs cannot be left alone with children overnight. What do parents in my situation do if that's the case?, there must be another solution.

I think at 15 the law would be hard pushed to prosecute you if you left him alone, let alone with an au pair. How many nights is it for? Would an au pair be ok with it?

Can't your son go and stay with your mum if she lives nearby?

I think it probably depends how long you intend to work abroad for. Assuming the au pair is over 18 i don't think social services would have a problem with it but you might be hard pushed to find an au pair who's happy with the arrangement if your abroad for a long time.

Couldn't your DS just stay with your mum?

Do you mean just get an au pair for this time you are abroad, or use her/him the rest of the time too? I don't see why not, anyway.

The most obvious solution is your mum!

You might need to check what the insurance situation would be if there was a problem while your house was being looked after by an employee. Would your usual insurance cover you?

Perhaps it comes under "house sitting" rather than "au pairing"?

Au pairs are often quite young. Maybe an au pair plus? A housekeeper? Your mum?

Another one wondering why he couldnt stay with your mum.

how long are you away for?

How long exactly is it for? Months, weeks?
Au pair may not be happy to work under those conditions.
If you could ask your mum to help, would that work?
Personally, I KNOW a 15 year old should be ok on their own (as it were) but I would probably look at other options rather than leaving them with au pair.
Many will contradict me, no doubt, but hey, I live to worry.

Insurance is an issue, but would be way down my list of priorities.

If your actually gone for months on end, then no. An au pair looks after school age children few hours a day max. No major responsibility

You need someone who can take control, set boundaries, and cope with the aspects of looking after a teenager who can do most himself, yet could easily dig himself into a hole of trouble and need someone to help.

Why not get a live in full time housekeeper who also has him to care for as needed. A driver who can take him to or from places, cook dinner, and keep control of house. Can also help with studying and been first contact with school/ etc

It won't be cheap though, as you effectively need someone on call 24/7 in case need as a parent would be.

I do think teenagers need more than a "presence" in the house, as you've described it.
Yes, they're capable, educated, street smart and well able. But they're still children.
At the most basic level, if it comes to it, they still need an adult to bail them out. Au pair wouldn't be up to that. Or shouldn't be expected to.

Wont this also be his GCSE year?