"Willing to work for a single parent"?

[silvercuckoo]

Hello,

registered on the aupairworld and it looks like many of the more decent, especially experienced, candidates answered "no" to the question of whether they are willing to work for a single parent family.

Just wondering why is that? Is it because of financial security concerns? Or are they afraid that their share of workload will be higher (as in, housework divided between two people as opposed to three)? Or are they looking for, effectively, proxy mum+dad figures?

I find it a bit difficult putting myself in a young au pair's shoes, being an old hag and all, but I'd probably be more comfortable sharing my living space with one woman rather than a couple.

I am just trying to put things in my profile that will address any potential concerns they might have about single parents.

Thanks :)

It could be they're not willing to work in a single dad home, or that they're concerned you're always going to be late home from work with no relief from the other parent. Those are my best guesses.

I think I'd rather not work for single parent households because that could mean a single dad and whilst I'd like to trust men I can't due to a number of assaults.
I'd also worry that the parent would lean on me emotionally and I'd end up acting as their therapist as well as their au pair.
There probably is more workload within a single parent household too, care of children is split across two instead of three, cooking, cleaning, laundry etc is split between two as well. Single parents might also be struggling more as they're the ones making all the decisions in regards to the children whilst working full time and running the household and so more might be put onto the au pair to help out.
Of course this is all stereotyping but it's probably what is going through their minds unfortunately

@Rtmhwales nice everyday sexism there, so early in the thread to. Well done!

It could be they're not willing to work in a single dad home
Ah, true, can be the reason. I was probably blinkered as majority of single parents I know are women, but now suddenly remembered a middle aged male colleague making a joke about why doesn't he invite a hot 18 year old au pair to take care of him.

I've always ticked the "single parent" box on aupairworld because my DH is away 50% of the month and I want an au pair to be happy with the responsibilities which are usually faced when one parent is absent.

I've always gone with aupairs in their mid 20's and can't say I've had an issue in hiring although I'm also in London Zone 2 which helps.

Maybe they think single parent equals less money equals less pay. Surely a single parent is more likely to need an au pair so they are giving themselves less employment opportunities. I wouldn't be willing to be with a single dad due to previous assaults by men.
As a single parent I feel insulted that people think I'd lean on an pair emotionally or be less reliable with timings etc. Pretty shitty attitude to have.

I think it’s a simple case of not wanting to be the second adult.

Easy. There are more hands around to help when there are two parents and I would fele like I am fitting in with a family. Personally if it was a mother with kids, I can picture her moaning to me in the evening about her ex

I've always recruited APs as a single parent and have found no shortage of applicants. Some unpleasant stereotypes on this thread probably say more about MNers than APs.