to watch our children. We are considering going the au pair route to find someone to stay with us and help the Olethlings[sup]TM[/sup] in their Mom’s native language. Would like to hear from anyone who has done anything like this, how did you find someone, did you use a services, what your experiences were, etc.
thanks!
I was a nanny in New York for about eight months. I finally left becuase the mother the family went insane and didn’t really need a nanny anyway. I ended up running all her erronds for her, which is not what I was there for. My Sister is doing it too, but her family is much better then mine was and she decided to stay longer. We were through an agency which was very careful about who they choose. Both families and nannies were screened. I would recommend going the agency route because you are less likely to get someone who is crazy. Plus the agency I was with required the nannies have perfect driving recards, credit records and no crimminal histroy. Be for warned though, nannies are Very expensive. I made 400 dollars a week plus room and board, car insurance and health insurance. I was also givin the oppertunity to take classes at the local community college and a gym membership. Those last things aren’t required though. Neither is the health insurance, but I personally would not have gone with a family that didn’t offer it. I am sure that other nannies would feel the same way. Hope this helps:)
Big ditto on the screening.
One of my nuemerous sisters volunteers as a support person for foreign au Pairs, to help them get established in this culture and to give them a friendly face about their own age. She’s got horror stories 'a plenty about au pairs & nannies that were poorly suited to the role, either tempermentally, or maturity-wise. A good agency will do most of the screening for you, but don’t forget to screen the agency yourself. Better Business bureau is a good place to start.
That said, her stories about wonderful caregivers are even more numerous. Be prepared for some serious ‘sticker-shock’: It’s not cheap!
Ooohh!!! Ooohhh!!! Meeee!! Meeee!!
[sub]Wait, he needs a nanny, not a mistress…[/sub]
Damn.
I am sure I can find a nice position for you somewhere, wouldn’t pay much, but you might appreciate the fringe benefits.
Say, my friend just went through this. They signed up with an au pair agency and finally selected a young woman from, aw shoot, I can’t remember what country. Mali? Anyway, she let a bunch of us in on the selection process (had us help her bounce around reactions to the applicants, etc.). It was a hard decision–and a fascinating process. One of the things she did to help her decide what was important was solicit comments/advice from her other friends who’d gotten au pairs in the past, and boy was that interesting. I’ll see if she’s got those emails still and would be willing to let me pass them on. She archives everything, so I’ll bet I could get my mitts on them. Email me, would you, if you’re interested? That way I won’t forget.
In her case, it’s worked out wonderfully. She really likes the young woman.
Just one position? Awww…come on Shibb, I thought you were more creative than that.
Off the top of my head I can think of at least 10 that look interesting.
Bless you, Cranky, that’s exactly what I am looking for. I’ll send you an e-mail.