Considering an Au pair...help!!!

[3littlemincemeatpies]

We live fairly rurally, 3 DC (in 3 different schools) 2 horses, 2 dogs 500 miles from family, I don’t drive and my military husband has been told that he is going to be deploying for the second half of this year for around 6 months.

I’m definitely having an “Oh Shit’ moment!!! 😭

I wondered if an Au Pair might be a good solution for us, particularly one who can drive and help with DC’s clubs, hobby’s social life’s etc and soften what going to a be a pretty shit time.

There seems to be a lot of different websites/agencies about and I’m not really sure how to even start looking, are some better than others?

I started filling out one form and realised I didn’t have a clue so hoping someone here might be able to help.

How much pocket money would they expect and what other costs would I need to cover?

Is it possible to find someone that has a shared interest as us, for example someone horsey would be the dream and someone that could tow would be even better, how do I go about this?

What is the norm in terms of tasks, all 3 of my DC are at school so the busy time is out of school hours rather than in the day. I had already decided that I was going to get a cleaner to make my life easier, can I tie in the two, especially with not a lot else to do during the day.

We are busy at the weekends, how many days a week is the right amount to ask them to work, is if ok to substitute a weekend day for a week day...

Anything else I should be asking myself, looking for or adding to to any profiles?

Maybe advertise on Horse & Hound or Your Horse and specify that you want an au pair/groom

I believe pocket money is normally in the range of £100-£150 per week? I think a horse mad girl would jump at the opportunity, but living out of a city would not be appealing to others.

I think you have to be careful about combining the role with that of a cleaner, as Au Pairs are not meant to do any heavy cleaning. I have heard they should be expected to do what a teenage daughter of your own would do, e.g. load dishwasher, wipe surfaces after use, kids laundry etc.

How about something like this thegroomslist.co.uk/equine-grooms/53174/groom-show-groom-au-pair-housekeeper-cook/

Au pairs do "light housework" a list of suggested jobs is here

bapaa.org.uk/au-pairs/what-is-an-au-pair/

You can't substitute a cleaner for an au pair, but they will do some cleaning.

Pocket money is between £80-£120, there are some au pairs that would love to be on a farm. For a driver they need to be over 22 and you need to check that they are competent drivers. Costs wise you need to cover, food, insurance and petrol on the car. They need their own room.

Go to au pair world, read a few other host families profiles and devise your own. Au pairs will reply to you and you to them. I would recommend not using an agency as you get less choice of au pair than from au pair world.

Would it not just be easier and cheaper in the long run though to just learn to drive?

Oh and I forgot to mention, you can only host au pairs from EU, Canada, Australia, New Zealand. Although some from other countries have EU/UK passports from a parent.

£90-120 per week seems normal - I have heard that if you pay over £120 then it's getting into taxable territory, which you want to avoid, though I do sometimes see people offering up top £150 in London.

Use au pair world, be clear you are somewhere rural and what that means (ie there might not be other au pairs to meet, or many non-English people). I have spoken to and taken on in the past au pairs moving because they are not happy somewhere rural - be sure they are happy with that. As you suggest, the horses might be a good 'hook' for the right person!

We used au pair world. Put all your criteria in and likely you will get people who are interested replying.

We had horsey girls apply in the past