Changing start date/extensions

[Anonymous]

Sadly our current au pair doesn't want to extend because she's been accepted into a university program. I get it and understand, but I'm a bit disappointed because she's great and also we were hoping she would stay 6 or 9 months more so we could get off our current early September start which is a big challenge for us. Current AP's last work day is the first day of school and the transition last year (also first day of school!) was really tough. IF we keep losing a week we'll end up in late August which is also bad as we usually are traveling then.
Has anyone had luck getting an extension (6 or 9 months) au pair to "reset" their start date? I don't really see us not having someone in the fall, we need an ap, but I'd love to find someone who would stay 18-21 months but I expect that's impossible to plan from the start.

[Anonymous]

You are more likely to find someone that wants to stay 2 years if she's already studied before coming to the US.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You are more likely to find someone that wants to stay 2 years if she's already studied before coming to the US.

See, all of our au pairs have already studied before coming here, but they all are going back for more studies (college in Europe is different than the US). But I will keep screening for that (of course, I don't want a full 2 years...)

[Anonymous]

I saw several 2nd year APs who wanted to stay for 9 months. Would that work?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I saw several 2nd year APs who wanted to stay for 9 months. Would that work?

Yes, if they were the right fit personality and timing wise. Thanks

[Anonymous]

You could also look at extension au pairs who list 12 months and ask if they would be willing to consider 6 or 9. My understanding from my current au pair (who is looking to extend in CA (of course!)) is that most LCCs will tell au pairs that it is hard to find an extension unless you say you are willing to commit to the full 12 months, so most will list 12 months, even if they would be fine with a shorter time (and even if they are thinking they will quit early if they don't really like the family). Again, according to my au pair, the only ones who actually list a shorter time are those who have future commitments that would prevent them from going beyond 6 or 9.

[Anonymous]

Better off looking for a rematch who can reset your date than a perfect timing extension.

But, good luck with it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Better off looking for a rematch who can reset your date than a perfect timing extension.

But, good luck with it.

I’ve never considered rematch candidates because I’m pretty wary of the reasons they’re in rematch and have heard too many horror stories. I’d definitely consider the right one, the problem is they wouldn’t be known until really close to our transition time and that’s even less certain than an extension or getting a 12-month new app to extend for 6-9 months.

I’ll definitely look at 12-month extension aps. We aren’t in California but are in nyc so usually we have a few options with the “regular” pool.

I’ll never understand why every ap wants to go to California.

[Anonymous]

Quick.
On cultural care there’s an au pair that wants to extend 9 months from Sept 3. Maybe you can grab her!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You could also look at extension au pairs who list 12 months and ask if they would be willing to consider 6 or 9. My understanding from my current au pair (who is looking to extend in CA (of course!)) is that most LCCs will tell au pairs that it is hard to find an extension unless you say you are willing to commit to the full 12 months, so most will list 12 months, even if they would be fine with a shorter time (and even if they are thinking they will quit early if they don't really like the family). Again, according to my au pair, the only ones who actually list a shorter time are those who have future commitments that would prevent them from going beyond 6 or 9.

I found a 6 month extension AP and she was great. I contacted a few other extension APs and asked if they wanted to extend for only 6 months (instead of 12) and none wanted. If I was you I will look into extension and rematch aps and I will also look across agencies. My previous AP had rematched before extending and she was a great one. So don't be afraid look for the right AP who timeframe matches what you are looking for.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Quick.
On cultural care there’s an au pair that wants to extend 9 months from Sept 3. Maybe you can grab her!

Yep, I’ve already contacted her.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Better off looking for a rematch who can reset your date than a perfect timing extension.

But, good luck with it.

I’ve never considered rematch candidates because I’m pretty wary of the reasons they’re in rematch and have heard too many horror stories. I’d definitely consider the right one, the problem is they wouldn’t be known until really close to our transition time and that’s even less certain than an extension or getting a 12-month new app to extend for 6-9 months.

I’ll definitely look at 12-month extension aps. We aren’t in California but are in nyc so usually we have a few options with the “regular” pool.

I’ll never understand why every ap wants to go to California.

This is a bit counterargument.

I took a GREAT rematch candidate. There are good/bad APs and HF's.
I second the idea of looking at multiple agencies.

There are plenty of extensions arriving at the end of August/Sept. you just have to be a bit more patient.

Frankly, I like au pairs that come after the summer finishes. Summer is hard arrival. My kids are older and we travel and are more likely able to bond after the school routine has started, vs during the summer when it's busy with travel, camps, swim team and lazier days. They flourish on routine and it's a much easier transition to a routine than flexible lazy days with a routine and schedule changes of the summer.

To each his own.

[Anonymous]

I’d rather not have a summer start either, because our summer schedule is super varied and different. I agree that routine is good, but having a new ap start the same week the kids start school has been really challenging. I think winter/early spring is ideal for us because the kids will still be in their routines and will have them established but summer is a few months away.
Our youngest had a very hard time last year when our former au pair who he adored left on his first day of school and our new au pair (who he now loves of course) came the next day. He was barely 4 and it was confusing and made him have difficulty transitioning at school. Next year he will be starting kindergarten and we’d really like it to go well for him. I now know we will need at least one more transition in the fall so I’m preparing for that and then trying to figure out how to move our start date going forward.