I have a lovely german au pair who the children adore and who is equally very good with the children.
She isn't our first au pair and learning from our mistakes, this one was given a "package" containing amongst other things, house rules, duties and a timetable of how and when those duties should be done. A copy of the timetable is also stuck on the fridge.
Before she started with us several emails were sent back and forth again with details of the job. One of the things is that I need help with housework. She agreed that was fine.
We then had a face to face interview (as she was already here but with a family she wasn't getting on with). Again I ran through a "typical" day and told her what my expectations were. Again no problems.
She started 2 weeks leter (having given her current family 2 weeks notice). From day one she was fantastic with the 3 children
However..... she isn't very good at any thing else. Several times I have had to ask her to make sure that children's washing and ironing is done on time. They have at least 3 of everything but they are still running out of things because even though the time table says "please wash, iron and put children's clothes away" on a Wednesday and Friday it isn't being done. I have spoken to her at least 5 times but this week my middle child didn't have any clothes in his cupboard. They were washed, dried and folded (as I had done it) but the au pair hadn't put them away even though she had nearly 2 hours to do it (the children were at swimming).
I have asked several times for pockets to be checked but we are still getting hair tyes, lip seal, toys etc in the tumble drier becuse she hasn't checked pockets.
She never offers to help makes the evening meal or helps tidy up after. I cook, she comes down, eats puts her plate in the dishwasher and goes back up stairs.
I came home with the food shopping (£160 worth) which meant lots of bags. She sat there and watched me put it all away. Maybe I should have asked her to help but isn't that common sense?
She never puts the recycling out despite being asked to - she leaves it on the side for me to do.
I am starting to get fed up with constantly asking her to do things and them still not being done but am I just being too petty?
One of the house rules is "no over night guests"
This week she asked if her brother could stay here when he is in England. I said no, i don't want men in my home that i don't know. Today she asked if her friend could stay here for the weekend....can I say no again or is that being mean?
She is also supposed to ask the children to do their homework. I asked my children to make sure their homework books were in their school bag today as it has to be handed in today and my middle one told me it wasn't finished as the au pair hadn't asked him to do his homework and they had done baking instead
On a Thursday I need to take my eldest to swimming (for 9am)so the au pair needs to take the younger 2 to school. She should leave at 8.30 to get them there on time. At 8.40 the boys were still not ready. I said "you should have left 10 minutes ago. Please go and get your shoes and coat on" The au pair then asked me if she was taking them. To which i replied, "eermmm yes please as I can't be in 2 places at once!" She didn't look happy.
I know I need to sit her down (again) to discuss things but how many times do I do this? This is her 8th week and we have already had to sit her down 3 times to discuss things.
Do I ignore the fact that she is crap at everything except playing and baking with the children after all the childre are very happy?
Sorry that was a real rant wasn't it