Has anyone moved with an Au Pair

[Anonymous]

We are relocating this summer for my husband's job to Seattle. We've never lived there and don't have a support system. Our kids are 4.5, 2 and 3 months. Would it be weird to get an au pair starting in the spring to help with the kids and then move with us cross country? We've moved cross county before so I know how hard it can be (even without kids).

[Anonymous]

I don't think it's weird, but you obviously need to be very upfront about this move. It is a year long commitment, so its not just someone to help with the move.

You might want to have her arrive a couple of months before the move so she and your family can become comfortable with each other before the stress and activity surrounding the move start to really build.

[Anonymous]

Yep! We did and it was great. She extended with us, and a big part of that was because she got to live it two places. Just be up front about it. She was a great help during the process!!

[Anonymous]

We are military and have done it with almost every single AP. It's been great and as long as the AP has the right personality type, they fair very well. They are hugely helpful (the goods ones at least) We are about to do it again next month and our current AP seems very excited. She's been with us since July and already seen most of what the northeast has to offer (NYC, DC, Baltimore, Niagra, Boston, Philly) and now can't wait to start in Colorado. I got her contact info early for her new cluster and between that and FB, she already has plans for when we get there.

As long as you are upbeat and excited about the move, there is no reason she shouldn't be as well.

[Anonymous]

We unexpectedly moved in the last third of our au pair's year from DC to Belgium. We gave her the choice of coming with us, which she did. It was a great experience all around. We were very open with the agency (Cultural Care) and the au pair and got great support from everyone, even though it involved creative thinking and an unusual situation.

[Anonymous]

Moving is a major upheaval on anyone's life and it is not a part of an au pair's job to help you move.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Moving is a major upheaval on anyone's life and it is not a part of an au pair's job to help you move.

Troll or disgruntled AP (or nanny). We nearly moved to CO a few years back. AP was over the moon about being able to live in two states Was probably most sad when DH declined job at end of process.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Moving is a major upheaval on anyone's life and it is not a part of an au pair's job to help you move.

APs are free to request a rematch if they don't like it. Their loss.

AND BTW, there "job" as with any employee, is to do whatever they are asked to do within the confines of the rules that govern the program or quit if they don't want to. So yes, helping me with my kids and their stuff (packing their clothes, toys, etc) is part of their job, if I say so.

[Anonymous]

THEIR job, 06:25, is to take care of children and child related chotes bit this does not include packing for a major move. You prove my belief that au pairs are treated like indentured servants, "if you say so." Asshole.

[Anonymous]

We moved with our AP (although it was just a few streets away). She had never moved before (her family has always lived in the same house). She thought it was very exciting and was fascinated by the staging, marketing and sale process. She was excited to help move (and excited to have a better room in the new place). I don't think she saw it as "indentured servitude" at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We moved with our AP (although it was just a few streets away). She had never moved before (her family has always lived in the same house). She thought it was very exciting and was fascinated by the staging,

marketing and sale process. She was excited to help move (and excited to have a better room in the new place). I don't think she saw it as "indentured servitude" at all.

Well, you would say this, wouldn't you?

[Anonymous]

We have moved with an au pair and it was fine. They adjust quickly and are able to make friends in the new area. A lot of them like the moving because they want to see various areas of the united states and experience new things. Not weird at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We moved with our AP (although it was just a few streets away). She had never moved before (her family has always lived in the same house). She thought it was very exciting and was fascinated by the staging,

marketing and sale process. She was excited to help move (and excited to have a better room in the new place). I don't think she saw it as "indentured servitude" at all.

Well, you would say this, wouldn't you?

Well, yes, i would since I did say it. She would, too. She was literally jumping up and down with excitement on moving day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We unexpectedly moved in the last third of our au pair's year from DC to Belgium. We gave her the choice of coming with us, which she did. It was a great experience all around. We were very open with the agency (Cultural Care) and the au pair and got great support from everyone, even though it involved creative thinking and an unusual situation.

How were you able to get around the fact that CC doesn't place APs in Belgium?

[Anonymous]

We almost did, and with the right AP I'm sure it would have been just fine. We knew we'd be moving about two months after an AP's arrival, and we were very up-front about it in the interview process. Most APs we talked to were pretty excited at the thought of living in two different cities in the U.S. (our first city was "better" than our second in most APs' eyes, so I think most of the ones we interviewed were excited to get to live in the first city even if for a short time). It didn't end up happening in the end because we rematched with the AP who would have moved with us before the move happened, and our new AP started with us in the new city. Part of the reason for rematch was that we knew this AP just was not up to the task of shepherding our kids around a new city; she could barely wrap her head around the job in the first city. And we knew we would need someone who could hit the ground running, since we'd have to focus on the move, new jobs, etc. and needed an AP who could jump in and just take over childcare and learning a new city with minimal guidance and supervision.