Pair Per

Pair Per

Au Pairs and host families - Great Expectations

Au pairs have high expectations when entering the United States. However, many subscribe to their au pairs cultural exchange year abroad with very different expectations compared to the expectations of the American host family. This difference between family and expectations of au pair can lead to revenge, au pairs leaving families in the middle of the night, the financial loss to the host parents and the general discontent and disappointment with the au pair industry-wide.

Au pairs are courted by the au pair agencies bright, colorful brochures that represent interesting opportunities for travel and adventure full of fun. The foam material on the components of child care. Many couples come au imagine a life made easy "help" foster parents relaxed with your children good and in his spare time exploring the country and a lot of American friends. They dream of visiting the exciting cities and sights of the United States illustrates in glossy brochures and look forward to traveling to New York, Washington, DC and the Grand Canyon.

"I could not wait until I came to the United States. The material sent by the agency sounded very good and promised a fun, educational and full year of foreign travel. My friends in Germany were so envious! When I reached my family, I was not prepared for the long hours of child care every day in a development away from other au pairs in my city. I've never traveled anywhere outside of Maryland and I was so nostalgic and sad I cried for a month before he retired and returned home. "Tanya, Germany

Au pairs will soon discover that your job is not easy as described in the brochures and the agents who recruit them! The hours are long, ranging from 8 to 10 hours a day, and if they are run by very young children, the work can be physically draining bathing, diapering, and entertaining to 3.5 children. Au pairs left in charge of older children should be conducted several times a day, escorting them to school, sports, religious classes, while waiting for hours until the children finish. They drive home only to unpack the letters from school, start dinner, the brothers referee fights, tidying the house and help with the task.

Watching the children all day can isolate an au pair who can become bored, frustrated and lonely. Instead of traveling and making new friends found the whole experience overwhelming and exhausting. Carers come home after a long, hard day, cosmetic surgery of children in the bed and sneak away to find quiet time, further isolating the au pair to wait all day just to talk to another adult.

"I was so tired at the end of the day I did not have the energy to leave, but my host parents gave me a car. Their house was small and had to mind three restless, hyperactive children who soiled the house and refused to listen to me. I never did see the Grand Canyon or New York and my family never took me to dinner or summer vacation to California. They said they could not afford the extra expense. "Marie, Austria

Families are waiting for a mature and responsible babysitter to provide 45 hours child care for about $ 7 an hour. They expect the au pair to start running and often leave them in full charge after the first weekend comes the au pair! The caregivers are busy and do not want to spend hours talking and hanging out with his au pair and weekends, prefer to spend quality time with their spouse and children. Au pairs often are left behind when the family goes to the beach, lake or summer home. The au pair can be left to the sole charge of the house, including the family pets (to save Kennel major expenses) and a list of "do" the tasks if they feel that the au pair hours they should be left from the 45 they paid.

Families feel attracted by the program for two main reasons: the built-in coverage and cost. Au pairs live with them and parents often change their schedule at a time another, from one meeting or a spur of the moment for an adult invitation "only" part Superbowl. Host mothers particularly appreciate the fact of the au pair are available and were in control of your schedule and time keeps families coming back year after year for more au pairs. If the child becomes ill and is set to house the school, the au pair must cover (even if class) and the foster mother can easily call the au pair of his office to send the au pair errands, such as buying food, picking up dry cleaning, remind you to put out the recycling and walking the family dog.

If your current au pair leaves, they expect and demand a replacement. The au pair agencies are rushing to replace an au pair, but the real problem and lack of communication is due to differing expectations, both au pairs and host families have on cultural exchange programs.

Au pair agencies often do not fully explain to the au pair what to expect when arrive at their door. When the orientation of new foster families, agencies often forget to emphasize the importance place au pairs to improve their English skills, expectations of travel and educational opportunities au pairs wait and wait.

"Our counselor said something about the girl goes to school. I have not read all the material and when I complained about the au pair not to discuss the payment of a philosophy class he wanted to take, I was very surprised. The au pair expects me to sit with her and plan your schedule around your class and pay with my credit card. I called the agency and confirmed that this rule. I think the director should have explained this more detail. Our family crazy schedule did not allow for the au pair to attend a regularly scheduled class at night and we had to replace it with another au pair that wanted to take classes. She was not as bright or attentive to our children as an au pair in the first place, but it fit our work hours. "Susan, Au Pair in America

Because many au pair agencies do not do their due diligence and fully explain the expectations au pair and host family for both parties, there a general misunderstanding and tension between the two. Au pairs forward to a fun-filled holiday with some babysitting in the minor. Host families come to pay good money for professional care and supervision of their homes when they are at work. Au pairs are in no way professional nannies, but they are young, inexperienced experience with children with little or none. American families expect much of their au pairs and nannies often resent the extra work to be carried out also of his nurse.

Do not expect your au pair to be a trained professional Mary Poppins, but do not expect a young, fresh face who hopes to become a part of his family to help you around the house and be there when things get out of control. She hopes to make lasting friendships with you and your children and other American teenagers, do some traveling and taking a course or two exciting at the local university.

Understanding what your au pair expected and explain the real work at hand (and before hiring it), will help clarify any misunderstandings and unrealistic expectations on both sides of the pond!

About the Author

I have worked in the au pair industry for over 10 years. When I retired, I left with many years of experience working with au pairs from over 40 countries and with over 200 host families.

I decided to start a website to help host families find the best agency and the best au pair for their families. I know all the mistakes host families can make and these mistakes can be costly, time consuming and most importantly, harmful to their children.

Our mission at www.AuPairClearinghouse is to help families avoid these mistakes so they can have the best au pair experience. I worked with so many wonderful au pairs from all over the world and their host families loved them, and treated the girls as if they were part of their family.

I also worked with au pairs who came to the USA for all the wrong reasons or they were running away from problems at home or they had mental health issues.

We are the only national consumer based information site that reports and reviews the au pair industry.

In my free time, I enjoy my little farm in Virginia with my husband and three children where we garden and raise chickens and horses.