I give up with this Au Pair milarky...

[MrsRecycle]

..yes I'm probably the last person you'd hear saying that but we are finished with Au Pairs - that is even dh speaking. I cannot believe how we take a girl off the streets, give her a home and family and she repays it by doing a moonlight flit. She texted me whilst we were away on Saturday to say she had left us. No notice, no goodbyes to the LOs who idolised her, just gone.

I hope you've all picked yourselves up off the floor now...

Bloody hell! How long had she been with you?

I helped a friend leave her au pair job in Belgium as she wans't happy. One of her duties was to iron the children's socks.

I once did a midnight flit from a nanny job on my first night. The circumstances were justified though imo.

Oh no... so what are you going to do now? Au-Pairs are out, so what next... will you be having to find someone to help out, or will you and DH manage things as best you can?

6 weeks - we thought she was very happy - she'd told us she'd found the perfect family. Ironing - she didn't do any so couldn't have been unhappy with that. Although she did enjoy eating us out of house and home. Good job she was teetotal.

dh and I will try and manage things best we can - its not too bad as its half term next week so dh is off with LOs anyway. We really only need someone for 7 weeks so we should be able to manage.

oops half term - week after next

Oh no!! How old are your children can youuse after school clubs

what a nightmare for you

hope you manage to survive the next 7 weeks

wil you look for a new one for sept after summer hols?

NotABanana - and ironing children's socks was a reason to be unhappy in an au pair job?

Wanting socks ironed is a little fussy in my book, but hardly exploitation...

Of course there was more to it Anna8888. Jeez.

Maybe she was homesick, however she should have told you that she was leaving. How did you take her "off the streets"?

she would have been homeless as it was her last night staying at her df's AP-family home. I really don't know what her reason was but I just wished she'd had the decency to be honest when we laughed and joked the other night. We let someone into our home and family and this is the treatment we receive in return.

Imananny - thanks for your wishes, I'm sure we'll cope - they can go to after school club. This is definitely the last AP we ever have - I'm not sure what we'll do from Sept but I have a couple of options available.

hi MrsR, did she not give any explanation at all [nosy]

wish i was in a better position to be able to help out in real times. failing that, always on the end of the phone for a rant when you need.

hope the next few weeks aren't too stressful.

thanks pc - she left notes to all the family basically blaming me for her having to leave. I am as she never told me she was unhappy but she seemed to have no problem discussing it with all her df's and family. So I was meant to be a mind reader and know that "I love your family" means I am not happy. We will manage - my df has voluteered to assist - just have to wangle a few more WFH's.

I will definitely ring you if I need a rant...

All of these recent threads have really scared me. I was seriously considering some form of Au Pair help after maternity leave.

Mrs R!!!!!!
I'm gobsmacked!
you loved her, she seemed to love you!
Am very very for you

I swear the days of AP's are over.....

stab in the back completely ingles - as of last week she was completely happy with us. The thing that dh is really about is that she couldn't be bothered to tell us face to face that she was leaving.

My wonderful CM has volunteered to help out so we'll be okay.

Harriet - I've had APs for 5 years now - our 1st is visiting in two weeks time - they were definitely a different caliber a few years ago. My days of APs are gone - thank goodness. You know what this morning, I did the school run, dealt with baby, did the washing, cleaned the kitchen and made it to work (on M25) without the stress of telling an AP what to do. Freedom at last.

That is just rubbish Mrs R...
I posted for you here
Email? x

Gosh Mrs R have been in hosp with my DS for a day and it all happens. Poor you.

I agree..my first 2 au pars were fab abd we still see them both but of late they have been terrible and I have given up with them too.

Have a nanny now but its v exp for afterschool care and would want to back to an au pair in a few years!

Poor you. A similar thing happened to me recently. Hope things work out.

oh Mummpoppins - sorry to hear about your ds - hope he is feeling better. Don't worry about me, you concentrate on your ds.

bluesky - I remember your thread - why can't they just be honest eh?

Well coping remarkedly well - day2 and managed to do 4 lunches (1 cooked), washing, breakfast, baths, clean kitchen all before the school run.

At the mo, dds are going to after school club and ds' CM is going to drop him home (dh doesn't have a car) so all okay.

Thanks Mrs R. he is fine now. fell of his bycycle and punctured his left testicle. OUCH!!!

Spent a night in hosp but they say no lasting damage. he is quite proud of the whole thing now!!

well done on coping. on the times we have been let down ive found that we have coped well and the DC's have been darlings but long term it would wear me out so be careful and make sure you have rest when you can form all the drudgery as it were1

Just saw this MummyP!
your poor ds! Thank god he's ok.

Don't suppose either of you read Junior?
The article isn't on the website cos I just tried to link it, but theres a little feature titled Aupairanoa
It's so ridiculous couldn't help pmsl...
a little snippet for you..
um,...

"Hmmm sounds like a terrifying problem (aupairanoa) how does it start?
Just as you are celebrating your freedom from household duties and 3 yr old dialogue, you're worried that the svelte beauty you've employed to take care of your beloved child is actually a remarkable woman (who is also 15 years your junior) She always looks immaculate, she speaks 7 languages, she's giving your toddler ballet and violin lessons and she's reorganised the house (so that even you can find things)"

Ha ha ha... ha ha ha....,

Oh poor Mrs R (wave). how awful for you.

blimey ingles 2.........did they say which agency she was registered with!!! ha ha ha!

Not one I've heard of!

ingles - mind you this morning I was doing dd2's hair and though in a few weeks time old AP will be able to corn braid it for her. I'm also going to have to tell her not to clean/tidy up as it's her holiday. Oh the good old days.

MummyP - ouch for ds - must have been painful but he's a brave soldier. You are so right about the stress, it's ok for now but I do know it will get to me. Mind you dh has been amazing, last night I came home to a clean and tidy home, the LOs fed and my tea on the table. Last 2 xAPs only managed 1 out 3 of those (the LOs fed).

LadyG - I was thinking about you the other day - how are you? Have you given up work yet? If so we must arrange a lunch date when I'm working from home.