Au Pair too perfect??? AIBU?

[Alicegm21]

Hi everyone!

Please excuse the potential typos, DS1 is full of cold so got one eye on phone one on baby monitor!!

We have decided to get an au pair for summer (june-september) and have opted for a lovely german girl (DH Czech with German parents). I was out at the time of the skype interview, so didn’t get to ask her my own questions but DH assures me he asked plenty (dubious) and that AP had a few of her own (probable).

The issue is, and maybe this is just me panicking as it’s our first time au pairing, she seems a little TOO amazing. Fluent in German, English, French, with conversational Spanish, Portuguese and Russian! Only 20, but already au paired a few times, qualified in first aid, grade 7/8 in ballet (fab for DD), taught herself piano and violin, has done a cooking course in school etc etc. The list is ‘sans fin’. If all this is true, OMG. We have hit AP jackpot. But..... is it too good to be true? AIBU in my hesitation? DH is jumping at the chance to have an extra pair of hands, and is sure that she’ll be perfect with the kids. And she might in all fairness! I’m sure I’m being a bit of a monster mummy, and if she ends up coming I’m positive she’ll be absolutely lovely, I’m just wondering if it’s all a bit of a hoax?

Thanks for any feedback, and would love for someone to calm my muddled baby brain! Xxx

Book another skype chat. I wouldn't have anyone in the house for three months without talking to them.

what are her references like from her previous au pair jobs?

Agree with SpoonBlender, she might be the world’s most talented au pair, she might be an utter bullshitter. I’d want at least a Skype chat to figure that out before she joined my household. Presumably you’re already getting references?

Well obviously she's going to blow her own trumpet vs stating she's mediocre at best in most areas. Definitely fluent in German/English goes without saying. The other languages who knows? First aid courses generally take 4hrs to complete for a certificate. Ballet it's unlikely you'll ask her to demonstrate when/if she arrives at your home? Ditto musical ability. She may well be a billy liar but if her references are great then still ok? She's not a nanny nor teacher and she's providing a limited wrap around child care for 3mths.

These skills are quite normal for teens in Germany and much of Europe. It doesn't mean you'll like her though. It's more about personality.

Skype again

I'd agree with another Skype call with you.

Also I have found summer au pairs to be a lot more confident in selling themselves than eg a 24 year old au pair who wants to work as an au pair because they can't find an office job.

How old are your children?

With I first au pair, I didn’t ask if she actually enjoyed playing with and spending time with children! (She didn’t - although she was a perfectly competent au pair, the children just didn’t get on with her.)

Did you husband think to check?

Thanks ladies! We are having another Skype call tomorrow afternoon.
@underneaththeash, dd is 5, ds1 2.5, ds2 4mo. , so they’re definitely a handful. I’m on mat. leave at the mo so she’ll never be alone with the dc, but it would help if she likes them! I’ll ask her.

References all checked and clear, though no mention of the skills she’s described, I shall have to ask more about them tomorrow! Xxx

As a mothers help (not sole charge) she sounds great and I can believe the languages though maybe she may have exaggerated the fluency! I wouldn't worry though as all you really need is common sense to au pair

au paired a few times

Does this mean that she's not stayed long in her previous placements- has she got bored quickly and left, or has she been asked to leave?