sad to be giving out again!

[friendlyedjit]

it all started promisingly! thought at least I'd have another adult int he house. At 35 I was worried that new au pair may be set in her ways. But as a pre school teacher thought may be ideal. She didn't mind cats and happy to look after, and seemed not to be phased by the fact our old tom had colitis and had recently started pooing 3 feet away from tray.
The opposite is in fact the case. Won't entertain lifting a poo, so left there all dafternoon fortunately on a tiled floor.. so am going to have to teach 8 year old how to manage. Walks around in zombie fashion , and is disconnected and cold.
Understands when is complaining about something but doesn't when I need to say something!
Now I'm sure our mad family are a shock to anyones system but I would have thought thrid time lucky. I had of course begun to wonder whether it was in fact all our fault...but I am assured that its not by friends- that we're pretty alright most of the time- and I didn't have to pay them to say that!!
So again back to the drawing board- and as am having numero 4 in April maybe a completley new think on childcare.

It's such a slog going through it all, isn't it?

There have been loads of threads recently about the trials and tribs of AP recruitment and there are a couple that go through the pro's and cons, and recommend girls from certain countries...might be worth a look.

I am currently doing the great AP search myself and getting very depressed by it all. I have a list of questions that I send out to applicants (normal stuff: what experience do you have, what food do you like, what are your hobbies etc), and out of the 32 people who have applied for the job, only one has bothered to respond to my qn's. I think most of them haven't a clue what they are doing (and the rest only wnat to work in London!!!!!)

I don't really think I can do it again- unless I go for someone who speaks English from Aus or US.
My 5 year old thinks current AP doesn't listen to her and isn't interested. Eight year old- ditto. I've just made the mistake of being concerned as she only appears to hear us when she's facing us and asked whether she'd ever had her hearing checked..which I could tell she thought was a very odd question and started laughing!
We apparently never use her first name loudly- which is BX.
The 3 year old is fine with her- but of course it's much easier at times to engage a 3 year old than a tired 5 or 8 year old after school.
I cannot bear it at the moment- and have tried to explain what I feel her problem is.
Bother and humbug........

Good luck to you though squiffy- gosh haven't had a snowball in years!! that brings me back

If you do try again then go for someone Swedish.

Not that I am biased but IME the combination of cheerfulness & perfect English and careful drivign cannot be beaten.

cheerful.. thats what we need and on planet earth a bonus!

friendly, can you get rid of her now? Sounds horrendous! Really feel for you.

I've come home to a AP pain again tonight too (French), I'll def go for another Nordic one next time - I love Finns and Swedes.

DS (3 SN can't speak) was not given his tea, despite me showing her how to turn on the oven, getting a spud out, telling her when to put it in, when it would be cooked by etc. Came home 1 hour 15 mins after tea time and he hadn't been fed!!

Also it is my schools Xmas fair tomorrow, I help run it and will be there 8am until 2 pm tomorrow. My DH is the PR Agency for the cruise ship that is sinking in the Antarcic and doesn't think he will be coming home....bugger. I'll have to go cap in hand to the blardy stroppy AP now.

I couldn't cope with another 'grown up' in my house, I think you are very brave considering it. What nationality is she?