Am I being unreasonable?

[Katiekattty]

I'm an au pair and I've worked for a few families. I'm studying so this will be my last job as au pair and I was hoping to stay with this family for a year.

The little boy I look after is great and I have him a few mornings a week and mum is pregnant but I'm finding her really hard to deal with.

She complains about everything I do from watching the amount of water I put in the kettle. I think I did just under half and she specifically came to tell me I don't need so much water. She specifies how I hang out the washing. I forgot to put two things in the wash and she came to have a word with me. It's just constant little things all the time. It's never about childcare or me taking the little one out and just in general looking after her. But she moans always about cleaning for she wants me to clean a specific type of way.

On the days that I have the little I have him from 8am- 2pm and then she expects me to help with bathtime again. An now she's added that I must tidy the toys in the evening. I don't have an issue tidying up when I have him in the afternoon but I feel like when I'm off I should be off. Not off until you need me. It's a massive house and I prefer to do the cleaning over two days when I don't have childcare but that is now a problem and she wants it done in one day. So I have work around the little ones nap. So I end up cleaning over a full day.

It's silly little things like I have a cold and she prefers I not use the hand towels in the bathroom. I just feel uncomfortable or am I just moaning about nothing?

She sounds like one of my old bosses! I don't have any advice though, I left the job.

She sounds like a nightmare and disheartening for you to deal with. Tbh I'd start looking for a new job if possible?

When did you start? How much longer is left?

I would try talking to the mother honestly and frankly. If things don't improve it sounds like you need to find another arrangement, it doesn't sound great. I say that as a parent who has had au pairs.

How easy would it be to find another family? Somebody that fussy needs to be paying for a professional cleaning service, who will also quit on her!

It's a control thing and unlikely to change. I'd sit down and have a very frank discussion and point out that while you enjoy the time spent with your charge, her constant picking and micromanaging are making your job very hard. Provide solutions instead of just highlighting her unreasonable behaviour. Allow it two weeks to improve, and if it doesn't move on.