Tell me what your au pair does please

[Anonymous]

We have had au pairs for a few years now. Our situation is slightly changing and we don’t need her to do as much driving anymore, which was our primary reason for getting an au pair. The focus of the job we need her to do will change in the fall and I want to make sure my expectations are reasonable. What child care related shores do you have your au pair do?

[Anonymous]

Kid laundry
Kid breakfast/lunch/snacks
Kid hair styling
Kid sunblock before camp
Pack and unpack kid bags
Drive kids to and from camp/school/activities
Watch kids on days there is no camp/school/activities
Watch kids after camp/school
Help kids keep rooms clean
Supervise kid showers

[Anonymous]

Just standard kids laundry, keeping their play area/rooms organized, basic breakfast and lunches for kids

[Anonymous]

1. Kid laundry - including weeding out outgrown clothes
2. Organizing books/art supplies - getting rid of old ones, etc
3. Directing kids to clean rooms and playrooms. I don’t want my AP to do it herself, but make sure the kids do it
4. Kid lunches
5. Also, something to not forget, use them for date nights

[Anonymous]

Ours is different in that our au pair watches our 2 young kids during the work day.

Kids Laundry 1x week
Make kids lunches daily
take kids to events/activities during the day
drive to preschool/school and pick up from it.
organize/pick events to do (library, park, splash park, pool, farm, etc).
Help the kids clean up their play room/ bedroom.

After family dinner together and we all clean up- so we ask our au pair to do that with us, but it's pretty quick with 3 adults involved.

[Anonymous]

My husband’s brother, apparently. Yuck

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My husband’s brother, apparently. Yuck

😂😂😢

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My husband’s brother, apparently. Yuck

"What child care related chores do you have your au pair do?" Presumably she wasn't asked to do that... and I don't see how it would be a child-related chore...

Kid food (shop/put away kid groceries, make breakfast, pack lunches, prep snack)
Load/unload kid dishes from dishwasher
Kid laundry (including washing, drying and having kids take care of after folding; also includes bedding and towels)
Pull any stained or torn clothing for oversight
Pull outgrown clothes from clean laundry to bag for donation (when informed that it needs to be done; no closet purge or rotation)
Pack activity bags and backpacks (or prompt kids) and stage in mud room
Pack and unpack suitcases (vacation) and trunks (camp); have children help as age appropriate
Take kid/AP car for oil change and regular maintenance (no decision required; AP doesn't do anything beyond oil and regular maintenance)
Prompt kids to tidy kid/AP car, vacuum kid/AP car, gas up car
Tidy/clean kid areas (organize and have kids tidy their bedrooms, bathrooms and playroom; vacuum their bedrooms and playroom; wipe down toilet seat/side, sink and mirror; spot mop bathroom floor as necessary; rinse bathtub after bathing kids or have kids do it)
Clean up (or prompt kids to clean up) any messes made while in charge of children (common areas like mud room, kitchen, living room, etc.)
Research local activities, crafts and experiments, playgroups, playgrounds for time with kids
Keep basic art and school/homework supplies stocked and organized (pencils, loose leaf paper, computer paper, crayons, etc.)
Inform parent if children are low on clothing, supplies for activities, non-basic art and school/homework supplies (binders, construction paper, etc.) need to purchased

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My husband’s brother, apparently. Yuck

"What child care related chores do you have your au pair do?" Presumably she wasn't asked to do that... and I don't see how it would be a child-related chore...

Kid food (shop/put away kid groceries, make breakfast, pack lunches, prep snack)
Load/unload kid dishes from dishwasher
Kid laundry (including washing, drying and having kids take care of after folding; also includes bedding and towels)
Pull any stained or torn clothing for oversight
Pull outgrown clothes from clean laundry to bag for donation (when informed that it needs to be done; no closet purge or rotation)
Pack activity bags and backpacks (or prompt kids) and stage in mud room
Pack and unpack suitcases (vacation) and trunks (camp); have children help as age appropriate
Take kid/AP car for oil change and regular maintenance (no decision required; AP doesn't do anything beyond oil and regular maintenance)
Prompt kids to tidy kid/AP car, vacuum kid/AP car, gas up car
Tidy/clean kid areas (organize and have kids tidy their bedrooms, bathrooms and playroom; vacuum their bedrooms and playroom; wipe down toilet seat/side, sink and mirror; spot mop bathroom floor as necessary; rinse bathtub after bathing kids or have kids do it)
Clean up (or prompt kids to clean up) any messes made while in charge of children (common areas like mud room, kitchen, living room, etc.)
Research local activities, crafts and experiments, playgroups, playgrounds for time with kids
Keep basic art and school/homework supplies stocked and organized (pencils, loose leaf paper, computer paper, crayons, etc.)
Inform parent if children are low on clothing, supplies for activities, non-basic art and school/homework supplies (binders, construction paper, etc.) need to purchased

Wow this is a lot for an au pair. I hope she has lots of added perks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My husband’s brother, apparently. Yuck

"What child care related chores do you have your au pair do?" Presumably she wasn't asked to do that... and I don't see how it would be a child-related chore...

Kid food (shop/put away kid groceries, make breakfast, pack lunches, prep snack)
Load/unload kid dishes from dishwasher
Kid laundry (including washing, drying and having kids take care of after folding; also includes bedding and towels)
Pull any stained or torn clothing for oversight
Pull outgrown clothes from clean laundry to bag for donation (when informed that it needs to be done; no closet purge or rotation)
Pack activity bags and backpacks (or prompt kids) and stage in mud room
Pack and unpack suitcases (vacation) and trunks (camp); have children help as age appropriate
Take kid/AP car for oil change and regular maintenance (no decision required; AP doesn't do anything beyond oil and regular maintenance)
Prompt kids to tidy kid/AP car, vacuum kid/AP car, gas up car
Tidy/clean kid areas (organize and have kids tidy their bedrooms, bathrooms and playroom; vacuum their bedrooms and playroom; wipe down toilet seat/side, sink and mirror; spot mop bathroom floor as necessary; rinse bathtub after bathing kids or have kids do it)
Clean up (or prompt kids to clean up) any messes made while in charge of children (common areas like mud room, kitchen, living room, etc.)
Research local activities, crafts and experiments, playgroups, playgrounds for time with kids
Keep basic art and school/homework supplies stocked and organized (pencils, loose leaf paper, computer paper, crayons, etc.)
Inform parent if children are low on clothing, supplies for activities, non-basic art and school/homework supplies (binders, construction paper, etc.) need to purchased

Wow this is a lot for an au pair. I hope she has lots of added perks.

Seriously. Can you explain how the shopping and putting away kid groceries works? Do you not shop for your kids’ food when you get regular groceries?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My husband’s brother, apparently. Yuck

"What child care related chores do you have your au pair do?" Presumably she wasn't asked to do that... and I don't see how it would be a child-related chore...

Kid food (shop/put away kid groceries, make breakfast, pack lunches, prep snack)
Load/unload kid dishes from dishwasher
Kid laundry (including washing, drying and having kids take care of after folding; also includes bedding and towels)
Pull any stained or torn clothing for oversight
Pull outgrown clothes from clean laundry to bag for donation (when informed that it needs to be done; no closet purge or rotation)
Pack activity bags and backpacks (or prompt kids) and stage in mud room
Pack and unpack suitcases (vacation) and trunks (camp); have children help as age appropriate
Take kid/AP car for oil change and regular maintenance (no decision required; AP doesn't do anything beyond oil and regular maintenance)
Prompt kids to tidy kid/AP car, vacuum kid/AP car, gas up car
Tidy/clean kid areas (organize and have kids tidy their bedrooms, bathrooms and playroom; vacuum their bedrooms and playroom; wipe down toilet seat/side, sink and mirror; spot mop bathroom floor as necessary; rinse bathtub after bathing kids or have kids do it)
Clean up (or prompt kids to clean up) any messes made while in charge of children (common areas like mud room, kitchen, living room, etc.)
Research local activities, crafts and experiments, playgroups, playgrounds for time with kids
Keep basic art and school/homework supplies stocked and organized (pencils, loose leaf paper, computer paper, crayons, etc.)
Inform parent if children are low on clothing, supplies for activities, non-basic art and school/homework supplies (binders, construction paper, etc.) need to purchased

Wow this is a lot for an au pair. I hope she has lots of added perks.

Seriously. Can you explain how the shopping and putting away kid groceries works? Do you not shop for your kids’ food when you get regular groceries?

And unloading ONLY kid dishes from the dishwasher? Do you have a dedicated "kid dishwasher"?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Kid laundry
Kid breakfast/lunch/snacks
Kid hair styling
Kid sunblock before camp
Pack and unpack kid bags
Drive kids to and from camp/school/activities
Watch kids on days there is no camp/school/activities
Watch kids after camp/school
Help kids keep rooms clean
Supervise kid showers

Do you do anything for your children? Au pairs aren't surrogate mothers!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My husband’s brother, apparently. Yuck

"What child care related chores do you have your au pair do?" Presumably she wasn't asked to do that... and I don't see how it would be a child-related chore...

Kid food (shop/put away kid groceries, make breakfast, pack lunches, prep snack)
Load/unload kid dishes from dishwasher
Kid laundry (including washing, drying and having kids take care of after folding; also includes bedding and towels)
Pull any stained or torn clothing for oversight
Pull outgrown clothes from clean laundry to bag for donation (when informed that it needs to be done; no closet purge or rotation)
Pack activity bags and backpacks (or prompt kids) and stage in mud room
Pack and unpack suitcases (vacation) and trunks (camp); have children help as age appropriate
Take kid/AP car for oil change and regular maintenance (no decision required; AP doesn't do anything beyond oil and regular maintenance)
Prompt kids to tidy kid/AP car, vacuum kid/AP car, gas up car
Tidy/clean kid areas (organize and have kids tidy their bedrooms, bathrooms and playroom; vacuum their bedrooms and playroom; wipe down toilet seat/side, sink and mirror; spot mop bathroom floor as necessary; rinse bathtub after bathing kids or have kids do it)
Clean up (or prompt kids to clean up) any messes made while in charge of children (common areas like mud room, kitchen, living room, etc.)
Research local activities, crafts and experiments, playgroups, playgrounds for time with kids
Keep basic art and school/homework supplies stocked and organized (pencils, loose leaf paper, computer paper, crayons, etc.)
Inform parent if children are low on clothing, supplies for activities, non-basic art and school/homework supplies (binders, construction paper, etc.) need to purchased

You are treating her like a servant and I hope her
au pair friends clue her in so she can ask for a new host family. This has outrageous.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ours is different in that our au pair watches our 2 young kids during the work day.

Kids Laundry 1x week
Make kids lunches daily
take kids to events/activities during the day
drive to preschool/school and pick up from it.
organize/pick events to do (library, park, splash park, pool, farm, etc).
Help the kids clean up their play room/ bedroom.

After family dinner together and we all clean up- so we ask our au pair to do that with us, but it's pretty quick with 3 adults involved.

Are you impinging on her "off the clock" time to clean your kitchen?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ours is different in that our au pair watches our 2 young kids during the work day.

Kids Laundry 1x week
Make kids lunches daily
take kids to events/activities during the day
drive to preschool/school and pick up from it.
organize/pick events to do (library, park, splash park, pool, farm, etc).
Help the kids clean up their play room/ bedroom.

After family dinner together and we all clean up- so we ask our au pair to do that with us, but it's pretty quick with 3 adults involved.

Are you impinging on her "off the clock" time to clean your kitchen?

Au pairs are supposed to be "part of the family" In my family (no au pair though...) everyone clears the dishes from the table (Usually their own dish and cup plus maybe one serving dish), one person wipes the table, another person may wipe the kitchen counters and the third person may load the extra dishes into the dishwashwer. Takes very little time and is ok per the cultural care guidelines _ falls under "all things that everyone does in the house" :

https://culturalcare.com/blog/au-pairs-and-household-help-what-and-how-much-is-ok/