Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Work

Chat with other users about all things related to working life on our Work forum.

Am I being picky with new Au pair

28 replies

hattiel · 01/11/2004 21:13

I can't decide if i'm being a bit nit picky about our new Au pair.

within the first two weeks you generally know if its going to work out. However we are now a many weeks down the line, she has settled in,and will only do literally what is required.

She thinks it is reasonable to get paid extra for babysitting at weekends. I have never done this with previous Au Pairs, I clearly stated in our agreement that babysitting possible two nights a week ( although this is rare) inclusive of her duties- could be one evening at weekend.

She eats with the family almost every day including most weekends,thankfully she is not a fussy eater, during the week she will help clear up, but at weekends, when it is her time off, she literally just walks away from the table. After spending hours cooking i would have expected a little help clearing up after with DH and older child. I have not said anything as yet.

I have provided her with a mobile phone, but she seemed really disapointed when she realized it was 50p not £50 of credits left. I just put a one off £3.00 credits and thought this was clear. The phone is so we can contact her if a situation arises, and then she can use as she pleases.

On the whole she seems to fit our requirement ( just extra pair of hands I'm at home all day) she is fantastic with the kids, Ironing is great. Generally pleasent and happy She only does a bit of cleaning and this is hit and miss.

I can't decided if she is testing boundries or just just thoughtless

I know each family has different requirements/expectations but i think its human to have gripe when someone is living your house.

i know Au pairs are always discussing families.

OP posts:
hattiel · 09/11/2004 11:23

yes it was a cliff hanger... I will give it til christmas and see if i can live with the annoying things, if not i may start looking around for a replacement.

I now feel like i'm nagging - again this morning all her breakfast dishes were left in the sink, all her washing and ironing left in the utility room. She's not topped her phone credits, and has started using the house phone ( i don't mind for local calls) to call mobile numbers.

I don't allow the kids to leave a mess and we are not untidy - so why keep doing it.

Yes i know i'm having a whinge.

It could be worse, especially with the children although she does not have sole charge of the young ones, and she is pleasent.

OP posts:
Caligula · 09/11/2004 22:06

Hattiel, I would say having had 3 au-pairs now, that it's really important that you feel comfortable with them. If there is something that continually annoys you about them, you have to get it out into the open, because it will niggle and niggle you, and it's your house and your space and your life, and there's this constant irritation there that you can't resolve. And if you do put up with it for a long time, when you get one you like, you'll wonder why you bothered to put up with being so uncomfortable in your own home for so long.

The best relationship I had with an au-pair was one who was incredibly argumentative and opinionated and bloody irritating, with whom I had massive arguments, but because the communication was so frank and open, somehow it worked - she didn't get on my nerves, because I felt comfortable enough to say straight out to her when she did something which annoyed me. And I did say to her right at the beginning, that she was to tell me if there was something I did that really annoyed her. I didn't feel she was an intrusion in my home, which au-pairs can feel like if you don't get that communication right.
HTH

SecondhandRose · 10/11/2004 07:57

I have a Swiss friend who has just started an au pair job in Harlow. She was told she would be able to study as well as look after the children. She is only 18 and is being left alone with them for 12 hours a day. She has only been there 3 weeks and already handed in her notice.

Hattiel, I think you just need to communicate with her.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page