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Originally posted by baltassoc
Since you guys have brought it up, does anyone have any experience with au pairs? The literature I've received implies a pretty strict time limit per week (45 hours). Is there some flexibility there? Would we have to provide a car (as a practical matter, not as a program requirement)? Can I use that as an excuse to get myself out of the SUV I hate and into the convertable (or sports car) I've always wanted (and hand down the SUV)?
Obviously, with an au pair a lot of such things would be highly dependant on the actual au pair, and so the luck of the draw, but anyone have experience? Besides Wonks suggestion, is any country better than another, for any reason besides appearance (NTTAWWT)?
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We have had a lot of experience with au Pairs, from back when we were a two professional family. We had some great experiences, some so-so experiences, and a couple of really bad experiences, but the really bad one's we dealt with quickly and they were over in a week or two (one was an au pair with a fondness for every pharmaceutical in the cabinet, the other simply one with all the get-up and go of roadkill). Interview carefully and check references. We have had better luck with au pairs than with domestic childcare providers, though have discovered that a local grad school with a child-ed program has a lot of good grad students willing to help - if you can deal with high-turnover, the quality of care is often extraordinary.
I think you get a better sense for someone and their strengths and weaknesses when you live with them.
On the hours thing, the agencies can be pretty strict and monitor (though some agencies less so), but you'll quickly get into a network of au pairs and ex au pairs where there will be others available to help out with spare babysitting. (Lot's of au pairs find a way to stick around, much to the delight of any number of 25 year old American males).
