Live-in Nanny/Au pair - Would You??

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myfullhouse Members Profile Find Members Posts Senior Member Joined: 29 July 2007 Location: West Auckland Points: 2944	Post Options Post Reply Quote myfullhouse Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 30 January 2011 at 8:03pm
	Forget that question, I just went and looked at the website.
	Lindsey

kiwisj Members Profile Find Members Posts Senior Member Joined: 02 June 2008 Points: 2434	Post Options Post Reply Quote kiwisj Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 31 January 2011 at 2:55pm
	I haven't read all the replies and our situation is slightly different because we're not in NZ But we have live in, unqualified domestic help here in Singapore. The things I was worried about before we hired M were - lack of privacy (for us and her), communication issue as english would be her 2nd language (not such an issue for you if you're getting a German au pair), different expectations and the huge responsibility on OUR part - we are required to pay a bond to the government here in case M runs away or gets pregnant It's worked out GREAT so far, I'm so glad we did it! We have a babysitter available so DH and I can have time to ourselves, help with housework and cooking, help getting C to bed when DH works late .... the list goes on! The privacy thing hasn't really been an issue as we have a two storey house and our rooms are upstairs and M's room is downstairs with her own bathroom. I wrote EVERYTHING down in the beginning to avoid confusion/misunderstandings and tried to be really clear about the things I knew would get on my nerves .. ie I would ask for help if I needed it with the kids (I'm a SAHM), break times, days off, rules around having guests here etc etc. It's not perfect of course, I have to repeat myself fairly frequently and things I think are obvious and common sense are clearly NOT obvious to M sometimes But she works hard and is great with the kids when I need her to be so I try not to complain too much!
	SJ Callum - Dec 2008 Daniel - Oct 2010

Mikaela Members Profile Find Members Posts Senior Member Joined: 29 November 2006 Points: 513	Post Options Post Reply Quote Mikaela Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 19 February 2011 at 9:18pm
	I'm really interested in this topic at the moment. My DH is in the navy and if he goes away on a long deployment again I think I would look seriously into getting an au pair. I don't have any family close by and I do struggle a bit on my own. But here's my question - is there such a thing as a male au pair? My kids are both boys and with Daddy away they really miss their 'man time' with him. They both go to kindy/preschool a couple of mornings a week but all the teachers there are women, so it would be really nice to have a guy around for them. But maybe all au pairs are girls?


Jessica Members Profile Find Members Posts Senior Member Joined: 26 March 2007 Location: Oamaru Points: 896	Post Options Post Reply Quote Jessica Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 20 February 2011 at 9:31am
	Hey Mikaela, I know that there is some male au pairs here with au pair link, for the same sort of reason, and our educator said it works really well for the families.
	Our con-joined boys 20 wk

Anonymous55 Members Profile Find Members Posts Senior Member Joined: 28 January 2010 Points: 1138	Post Options Post Reply Quote Anonymous55 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 20 February 2011 at 2:08pm
	Au pairs are generally female but there are a few male ones. I think some of the male ones do it because they want to go on and study early childhood education or similar after their OE and this way they can combine the two. A lot of people would never consider a guy, I suppose it's looked upon as weird. So much to equality!

Anonymous55 Members Profile Find Members Posts Senior Member Joined: 28 January 2010 Points: 1138	Post Options Post Reply Quote Anonymous55 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 20 February 2011 at 2:09pm
	This is how I got to NZ!

busymum Members Profile Find Members Posts Senior Member Joined: 01 January 1900 Location: New Zealand Points: 12236	Post Options Post Reply Quote busymum Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 20 February 2011 at 8:24pm
	We have exchange students, not au pairs. It means we get paid instead of them LOL. But seriously, it means they become like big sisters to our girls and can babysit if we/they want, provide some exposure to different culture/language, do household chores, and they still have their own schedule (school etc) so that I don't feel like my space is crowded. I don't really understand why a single toilet is an issue, not sure if I should ask? In saying that, we have more than one toilet so that's probably why I don't get it. Edited by busymum


Anonymous55 Members Profile Find Members Posts Senior Member Joined: 28 January 2010 Points: 1138	Post Options Post Reply Quote Anonymous55 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 21 February 2011 at 4:56am
	Well, a toilet isn't a deal braker but it would seem more comfortable to be able to provider the au pair with a private bathroom/toilet. When I was an au pair my host family had only one bathroom/toilet and it was all a bit rush rush in the mornings an at night and trying to fit around their 'bathroom schedule' with two kids and both having to get ready for work was a bit stressful if I myself had to be ready for 'work' when they left for work, IYKWIM?? An exchange student sounds like a good idea if you don't need someone full time.

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