How and when should I tell my DDs that our au pair is leaving at Christmas?

[TanzieTinselToes]

They love her to bits, she has been with us for just under a year and is going back home to resume her studies. We will probably go to her country for a holiday at Easter, so will see her then. But I just don't know how to prepare them for her departure. They hated our last nanny so much that when she had gone DD1 said that she never wanted to see her again, ever, so we have never had to go through this before.

Have you arranged a replacement yet, Tanzie?

I think they need to know sooner rather than later - although they already know that au pairs do leave, it might not have occurred to them that one they do like has to go the same as one they don't, but you could use that as your introduction? "You know how X worked (sic!) for us for a while and then had to leave us? Well, Y only came to work for a year and even though we really really like her, soon it's time for her to go home because she has to go back to school." Something like that.

Fairer to give them time to get used to the idea and build on the fact that they will see her again at Easter. With luck they will look forward to that enough not to get too upset.

Hope you find another nice one .