Can two introvert parents successfully tolerate au pair?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. We are going to register with an AP program and see what we find. Wish us luck!

See you 8n a few months bitching about your AP and here mere existence.

[Anonymous]

me and DH are introverts. On our 3rd AP. All of ours have been pretty independent (we look for that) and tend to want to socialize and go out with their friends or watch shows that are different than we are interested in, etc. We basically all 'retire' to our areas of the house when then the kids are down for the night - (or she retires or goes out when we put kids to bed). It's a good child care situation for us - with flexible hours etc. and they bond with the kids.

[Anonymous]

Being an introvert just means that you need alone time to recharge. It doesn't mean you're a misanthrope, as some of the PPs seem to think. Screen for some one who's personality seems enjoyable to you, and I don't see why you'd resent her presence.

You can host an au pair, maintain quite a bit of down time for yourself, and still tend to the start-up duties of getting AP settled in. IME, engaging with AP during meal time and family activities is less demanding than engaging with my own children, so I really feel like her presence is not that taxing. We set the parameters of the house rules, ie - she buses her own plates, and generally picks up after herself, so it's just not the same kind of stress you might have with hosting relatives or having a roommate who you're continually trying to negotiate dish policy with.