Watching the kids...part of the family?

[Anonymous]

I would never do this unless it was an emergency and I do think it is a violation - that said, I would bet this is part of a bigger pattern of overstep as I can’t imagine this one instance would cause this big of a reaction. But these girls are also young and immature

[Anonymous]

Pay her some cash. She will be fone

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our AP was at an AP friend's house on Sunday watching movies. Host dad was out of town, older host kids (2 14 year old boys) weren't home, just 6 year old host kid and host mom. Host mom comes downstairs and tells AP that she needs to pop out for some groceries and that 6 year old is using the iPad but will AP be home to keep an eye on her? AP says yes but is very upset about this and our AP is all whipped up about it too. They want to report the family to the agency for making her work on her day off.

I guess HM was gone about 40 minutes and came back with all of the groceries for the week for the family. Host kid stayed on iPad the whole time and they just checked on her once. I think they are being ridiculous to think this is a violation of the program. I told our AP I thought it was a "part of the family" kind of task....someone needed to shop and it was easier and faster without a 6 year old in tow so she gave her the iPad and just wanted a warm body in the house to make sure she didn't get hurt or anything. Our AP kind of sees what I'm saying but is young and I think prone to drama.

What do you all think? I mean...it's not like she's an infant or toddler who needed entertainment and close supervision or that mom was gone for a super long time or for a personal errand. Isn't keeping an eye on a younger sibling a part of the family task? If her older brothers had been home that's what they would have done. I guess mom could have taken her to the store but if she's like my kid it doubles the shopping time to take her along. It's only slightly different from supervising kids while a host parent cooks dinner or cleans up the kitchen afterwards.

Entertaining kids while the parent cooks us work time. Helping cook dinner if she’s eating is not work time.
Watching tv with 6yo on the iPad when no other responsible party is home is work time. Watching tv while 6yo is on the iPad and knows to go to a parent who is in another room is not work time.
Being the responsible party while a baby or toddler sleeps is work time, even if someone else is home (as long as the AP is the person responsible for the child). Being allowed to leave the house for 2 hours (whether they leave or not) while the parents work and child sleeps is not work time; parents will handle anything that happens during that time.

Member of the family/member of the household is meant to divide up household tasks, ie. housekeeping. Babysitting is clearly spelled out as the crux of the position, so any babysitting (regardless of what the child does during that time) is work time.

[Anonymous]

While the mom was gone, AP was responsible for the child if there were an emergency. That's babysitting. Just because an emergency didn't happen, doesn't make the AP less responsible for the time in her care.

Labor law states that if you are on a break at work but your employer has you in a position that you are responsible for something at the workplace simultaneously, you must be paid for that break.

Same here. Mom should have given AP some cash for the favor. $20 if it were me.

And yes. Bored young girls like to cause drama so watch out.

[Anonymous]

I don't think families should do this, but I also don't think it's a big deal unless it happens repeatedly. If it happens repeatedly, fair enough, she can report it; if it doesn't, and this was a one time thing, an LCC will be thinking this AP is a drama llama.

[Anonymous]

Let her report and then send her home on the first flight when she does.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Let her report and then send her home on the first flight when she does.

They will just rematch her with another family - and then you get flagged as abusers of the system. Not worth it.

[Anonymous]

I would be worried about your own AP. If she isn't talking her friend down out of reporting it, you can be assured that if you do anything at all, even on accident, to your own AP that you will be reported as well.

If your AP is prone to drama, you have a problem on your hands too. Give the other host mom a heads up that the APs are circling and rematch them both.

Not worth it.

[Anonymous]

It is a violation of the contract. It is also being part of the family. I have taken my precious personal time to help AP in myriad ways. The fact that this is a thread here is what I dislike so, so much about the program. APs want to be "part of the family", as in get Christmas gifts and free gas. When it comes time to just help out because you're a good person ... SOS LCC

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It is a violation of the contract. It is also being part of the family. I have taken my precious personal time to help AP in myriad ways. The fact that this is a thread here is what I dislike so, so much about the program. APs want to be "part of the family", as in get Christmas gifts and free gas. When it comes time to just help out because you're a good person ... SOS LCC

This exactly. I spent so much time this past Christmas finding gifts for my AP that were from different regions of the US since she couldn't travel and she was sooo disappointed that she couldn't share her bling on instagram.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It is a violation of the contract. It is also being part of the family. I have taken my precious personal time to help AP in myriad ways. The fact that this is a thread here is what I dislike so, so much about the program. APs want to be "part of the family", as in get Christmas gifts and free gas. When it comes time to just help out because you're a good person ... SOS LCC

Helping out is things like switching over a load of laundry, dropping books off at the library, or picking up a gallon of milk on the way home from the cluster meeting. None of those are childcare, and any of them would be wonderful as a contribution to the household.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would be worried about your own AP. If she isn't talking her friend down out of reporting it, you can be assured that if you do anything at all, even on accident, to your own AP that you will be reported as well.

If your AP is prone to drama, you have a problem on your hands too. Give the other host mom a heads up that the APs are circling and rematch them both.

Not worth it.

Our last Au pair was completely brainwashed by her group of Au pair friends. One in particular. This was a girl who was intelligent snd caring abs then just turned on us. My kids are still confused by it all. I will be steering away from the Au Pair program for a while because if this

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would be worried about your own AP. If she isn't talking her friend down out of reporting it, you can be assured that if you do anything at all, even on accident, to your own AP that you will be reported as well.

If your AP is prone to drama, you have a problem on your hands too. Give the other host mom a heads up that the APs are circling and rematch them both.

Not worth it.

Our last Au pair was completely brainwashed by her group of Au pair friends. One in particular. This was a girl who was intelligent snd caring abs then just turned on us. My kids are still confused by it all. I will be steering away from the Au Pair program for a while because if this

We had one get pulled into the bad crowd. Brazilian in the DC area. The group of aupairs were toxic. The company didn't care, but knew it was happening.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would be worried about your own AP. If she isn't talking her friend down out of reporting it, you can be assured that if you do anything at all, even on accident, to your own AP that you will be reported as well.

If your AP is prone to drama, you have a problem on your hands too. Give the other host mom a heads up that the APs are circling and rematch them both.

Not worth it.

Our last Au pair was completely brainwashed by her group of Au pair friends. One in particular. This was a girl who was intelligent snd caring abs then just turned on us. My kids are still confused by it all. I will be steering away from the Au Pair program for a while because if this

We had one get pulled into the bad crowd. Brazilian in the DC area. The group of aupairs were toxic. The company didn't care, but knew it was happening.

Define "bad crowd"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Let her report and then send her home on the first flight when she does.

Aww, your baseless, wannabe power tripping is precious.

Childcare is still at a premium this summer. Her agency will have her rematched in no time. Good luck raising your own kids!