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Au Pairs and host families - Great Expectations

In pairs have high expectations when entering the United States. However, numerous subscribe their au pair cultural exchange year abroad with very different expectations from the expectations of the host family U.S.. This difference between family and peer expectations may lead to revenge, leaving families at par in the middle of the night, the financial loss for foster parents and the general discontent and disappointment with the au pair industry-wide.

In pairs are courted au pair agencies by bright, colorful brochures that represent attractive opportunities for travel and adventure full of fun. The material foam on the components of child care. Many couples come to think of an easy life "help" foster parents relaxed with your children about good and his free time to explore the country and many American friends. They dream to visit the interesting towns and sites in the United States illustrates brochures glossy paper and I look forward to traveling to New York, Washington, DC and the Grand Canyon.

"I could not wait until I came to USA. The material sent by the agency seemed very good and promised a fun, educational and full year of foreign travel. My friends in Germany were so jealous! When I got my family, I was not prepared for long hours of child care every day in a development apart 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 retiring and returning home. "Tanya, Germany

In pairs will soon discover that your work 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 directed by very young children, the work can be physically exhausting bathroom, changing diapers and entertaining to 3.5 children. au pairs that are borne older children should be performed several times a day to escort them to school, sports, religion classes, waiting for hours until the children finish. They drive home only to unpack the letters from the school dinner beginning, brothers referee fighting, cleaning the house and help with homework.

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

"I was so tired at the end of the day I had no energy to do, but my host parents gave me a car. Their house was small and had in mind three restless hyperactive children who soiled the house and refused to listen. I've never seen the Grand Canyon or New York and my family has never been in the restaurant or summer vacation in California. I said they could not afford the extra expense. "Mary, Austria

Families are waiting for a baby-sitter mature and responsible 45 hours to provide 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 is the au pair! Caregivers are occupied and do not want to spend hours talking and spending time with his au pair and on weekends, prefer to spend time with their spouse and children. In pairs are often ignored by the family goes to the beach, lake or summer residence. The au pair can be left in sole charge of the house, including pets (to save costs kennel major) and a list of "do" tasks if they believe that the hours together, they should be left in 45 they paid for.

Families are attracted by the program for two main reasons: the high-coverage and costs. In pairs live with them and parents often change their schedules at a time other, a meeting or a whim an invitation for adults "that party "Superbowl. home mothers particularly appreciate the fact of the au pair are available and have been in control of your schedule and time keeps families coming back year after year even more. If the child falls ill and is attached to the house of the school, au pair must cover (even if the class) and the adoptive mother can easily call the au pair of his office to send the au pair races as buying food, picking up dry cleaning, to remember to put out the recycling and walking the family dog.

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

au pair agencies often explain not entirely au pair what to expect when they arrive at their door. When the orientation of new foster families, agencies often fail to emphasize the importance pairs instead of improving their English skills, expectations pairs travel and opportunities education to wait and wait.

"Our consultant has mentioned something about the girl goes to school. I have not read all the material and when I complained to the peer does not discuss the payment of a philosophy class he wanted to, I was 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 it more details. Our crazy family schedules do not allow the au pair to attend a regular course of night and we had to replace it with another au pair wanted to take that course. It was not as bright or listening our children as an au pair in the first place, but to meet our working hours. "Susan, Au Pair in America

Because many au pair agencies do not exercise due diligence and explain the expectations and even family home for both parties, there is a general misunderstanding and tension between the two. In pairs holiday fun with some babysitting the infant. Foster families are to pay lots of money for professional care and monitoring of their home when they are at work. Au pairs are in no way professional nannies, but they are young, experience experience with children with little or none. American families have high expectations of their au pairs and nannies trying to do extra work as his nurse.

Do not expect the pair to 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 in the house and be there when things get out of control. She hopes to make lasting friendships with you and your children and other teens U.S. travel a bit and take a course or two exciting at the local university.

Understand that your au pair and explain the expected real job at hand (and before hiring one), will help clarify 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.