Au pairs and smoking

[Millarkie]

I'm searching for a new au pair for next Jan, when our current one (who is practically perfect in every way) has to leave
There seems to be a lot more competition on aupair-world for Jan au pairs (compared to the last time I was recruiting) and I am not having much luck so far.
The only real contender (who has stuck it out through a complex job description email, and answered my top 10 question email, very thoroughly) is a smoker....now, usually I would not even 'chat' to an au pair who smokes but I guess her profile (which she had only just created when I clicked on it) was updated a little later with the 'smoker' box ticked.
So, she says she doesn't smoke in the house, she doesn't smoke around the children, and 'most of the time' wouldn't smoke in the park with the children....but I don't know.....
She has a child-orientated degree, previous au pair experience, fantastic english, clean driving licence and everything else that I can think of ...but not sure whether to jump in and say 'yes' (after checking references) or whether to hold out and hope to find someone who does not smoke.

So, how big a deal would you find it?

Well not really. Although she does cook wonderfully, it transpires. So there is an upside.

Oh that's good. As long as there are compensations.

Look at it from a positive point of view.

She was honest with you, she could have lied and said she was a non smoker and then had the odd fag when your back was turned. her honesty counts for a lot.

Clearly though she can't smoke when she is working and if you do take her on I think this needs to be laid out in the contract.

Smoking when she is not working and is away from the children surely isn't going to do anyone any harm (except her)

it would be a definate no-no for me too.