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Paid childcare

Discuss everything related to paid childcare here, including childminders, nannies, nurseries and au pairs.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

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Original poster

Things that annoy you about your aupair...

115 replies

ChocolateBiscuitCake · 04/04/2015 14:39

Have just given the au pair the heave-ho and a huge weight has lifted. However, I am now enduring the two week notice period with a stroppy teenager.

Thought I would start a lighthearted thread on the annoying things that they do mine does:

Empty the dishwasher but after 6 months still not know where everything goes, so leave it on the side.

Filling the dishwasher with cleaned things left on the side of the sink to dry.

Hoover around things on the floor (rather than put them away). Definitely no hoovering behind doors!

Always let the dog lie in the only ground floor room with carpet, mostly when wet (when specifically told, no dog in this room).

Feed the fat dog treats (we don't have any, she has bought her own!).

The list goes on.

Any one else able to add their experiences?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Nolim · 04/04/2015 16:24

Good for you bigfam. However not everyone has your superpowers. There is nothing wrong with hiring help. I am sorry you cannot relate to other ppl.

MovingOnUpMovingOnOut · 04/04/2015 16:25

Interesting. None of that is relevant of course to the op, seeing as she isn't you; everyone is different and you don't really have to relate, just empathise.

The op has told us (albeit in a drip drip fashion) that she needs a bit of help because she's 8 months pregnant, got three kids etc etc. That should be enough to just accept and understand without thinking about it from a purely selfish perspective.

Some people sail through pregnancy and some don't. I think it's generally accepted that looking after children and being pregnant are not usually times when people feel on top form and able to do everything as usual.

I think you sound like you were very lucky and I say good for you doing all that :) It wouldn't be possible for many people.

MovingOnUpMovingOnOut · 04/04/2015 16:27

Do you know how hard I had to resist from posting a Sanctimommy version of the Four Yorkshiremen sketch? Hmm?!

LeahLeah · 04/04/2015 16:29

I have 6 children, work from home, look after my own kids, clean my own house, and obviously have been pregnant... I think your lazy

MovingOnUpMovingOnOut · 04/04/2015 16:31

I think you sound like a Sanctimommy LeahLeah. A nasty one.

bigfam · 04/04/2015 16:32

It doesn't say in the thread what op does, is she working or a sahm, what about her other half? I probably could empathise had she not come across as it being a burden that she had to do things with her children, that's all.

PrimalLass · 04/04/2015 16:32

Woopy doo LeahLeah.

Someone give her a medal.

Nolim · 04/04/2015 16:34

And a lesson on the difference between your and you're.

MovingOnUpMovingOnOut · 04/04/2015 16:36

I think I better hide this thread before I say something deletable about the nasty posters having a pop at a pregnant woman with children for daring to say she needs a bit of help.

What I will say is that parenting is not a fucking competition and just because you had it harder and feel you deserve some sort of special recognition in the compeitive parenting stakes doesn't mean that you actually do. We're all just doing our best and of you find it all a doddle that's great, but unless you have something supportive to offer instead of putting the boot in or showing how you are the superior person you can just fuck right off with your ludicrous comparisons that mean fuck all in the context of someone who is adult enough to admit she needs a bit of help.

MovingOnUpMovingOnOut · 04/04/2015 16:40

That last post was in response to LeahLeah posting like a twat. Not bigfam for her rather literal reading of the thread. One is forgivable, one is not.

Karoleann · 04/04/2015 16:43

bigfam - if you find it hard to relate to someone having an au pair - WHY POST? You wouldn't post on a chicken keepers thread, if you know nothing about keeping chickens so why post on one about au pair, when you obviously don't have one, don't need one or are not going to have one in the future.

art - you keep posting about au pairs not being expected to do housework, but that's not correct, they do a mix of housework and childcare. They should be cleaning toilets etc, but most au pairs would do 1-2 hours a day of housework. You can check on the BAP website and it explains what their duties can be.

OP - you au pair sounds a bit rubbish. We've been really lucky I don't think any of ours have done anything repeatedly to annoy, although our Italian one was very fussy about food.

bigfam · 04/04/2015 16:44

movingonup
Nolim are you referring to my use of the word you're, I'm pretty sure I used it correctly

LeBearPolar · 04/04/2015 16:44

Why is it relevant that she is an only child?

Mutt · 04/04/2015 16:47

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

OurGlass · 04/04/2015 16:47

Horrible thread.

Nolim · 04/04/2015 16:48

Bigfam my last comment was for leah:
I think your lazy

bigfam · 04/04/2015 16:49

Karoleann, that would just be silly, I don't have chickens.
I do have children and an au pair relates to childre.

bigfam · 04/04/2015 16:52

Oh thanks Nolim, I pride myself on using the correct context!! lol

PrintScreen · 04/04/2015 16:58

Why the hell don't you have chickens Bigfam? My children love our chickens and learn so much from caring for them. I think people with kids and no children are bloody selfish because my own approach to life as a chicken and child owner is clearly the only way to do it. Oh wait.... I've just rembered that my way isn't the only way.

FFS, if a person wants help with child rearing then they should be able to seek that help whether they have one children or ten, whether they are pregnant or fit as a fiddle, whether they work or not. Do you judge those whose parents help out? Those who rely on friends for a bit of respite? Those whose partners help more than most? Those who use nurseries? There are a thousand ways to make family life work and they can all be equally good as long as they are approached with kindness and good intentions.

bigfam · 04/04/2015 17:08

I'm not opposed to owning chickens.
Anyway op, despite all this I do hope everything is ok when your baby does arrive, and that he/she is healthy and happy, that's the most important thing.

mmgirish · 04/04/2015 17:15

People are being a bit hard on the OP here. It was supposed to be lighthearted, I can't understand why some people can't see it that way.

Things that annoy me about my nanny - she wants to put the baby in the baby bjorn and take him in her moped...

sosix · 04/04/2015 17:15

I bow down to the perfec mums on here. Odfodears.

mmgirish · 04/04/2015 17:16

On her moped not in it!

LeahLeah · 04/04/2015 18:40

It's not a competition, but it's pretty simple. Can't handle 3 kids so hire another one to take over your responsibilities and moan when she can't do it properly?
Nice work.

JulyKit · 04/04/2015 18:54

This thread is a lazy journalist's dream.

It's got it's own prickly little barbs on use of 'your' and 'you're' and everything.

Just needs someone to jump in with Did you mean to be so rude?

or Are you new here?

all round.

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