Most people find that they absolutely love the time spent with their live in au pair. They learn lots of things about different cultures, they even pick up a different language, and most importantly; they get much needed help with their housework and childcare.
Nonetheless, there is no denying the fact that sometimes it simply doesn’t work out. This is a notion that rings true in all walks of life. It is no fault of your own, no fault of the au pair; you just don’t feel like the situation suits you. And, that is completely fine. But, what do you do about it?
If you are experiencing difficulties during the beginning period of your au pair moving in then the first thing to do is give it time. Yes, it sounds like a cliché, but it is very true.
If you have never had an au pair before then the situation is going to be completely new. It may even be different from what you expected. And, sometimes different scares people. However, once you give it a few weeks to a month you will be in a better position to make a thorough judgement as to whether things are going well.
It is highly inadvisable to chuck in the towel after a mere week or two. Plus, are you being reasonable? You need to be honest. You can’t expect your au pair to take care of all veterinary care requirements if she is allergic to dogs or scared of them. That’s not the job description.
You need to remember that this is a massive thing; you are welcoming someone entirely new into your home. But it is also even scarier for the au pair because they are walking into a new family and they are doing it alone. It will take a little bit of time for them to adjust to who you are as people and how the household operates. Let them have that time before you make any rash decisions.
If you still feel like things are not working sit down and talk to your live in au pair. Ask them how they feel about the situation. Ask them whether there is anything you could do to make their life easier at home. Perhaps they cannot remember all of the tasks you set them and would prefer a written itinerary. Make them feel welcome. It may simply be that they are homesick. You could ask what food they eat in their native country and cook a dish based on this.
But, if you feel like this is a situation that cannot be resolved then you can do something about it. You can contact your agency and tell them about the situation. They will do their best to find you a new au pair and they will seek a new household for the au pair you have at present. If you decide that you do not want an au pair at all then be reasonable and make sure you give your au pair the time to book flights home and make arrangements.
If you feel like the situation between you and your live in au pair is not ideal then use this guide to help you resolve the situation as smoothly as possible.
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