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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I kind of disagree with the PP, but I think the issue may be partly determined by what your particular AP job looks like.

If you have older kids, and primarily need an AP to help with homework, shuttle kids to after-school activities, and be an adult presence in the house -- I bet there are plenty of good, organized APs (that may want to work in law, business, etc.) who can fill that role well.

I think if you have multiple (or even one?) small children in the house, where nonsensical crying over wearing shoes is a part of your life -- then EXTREME patience and a real love of children makes a better bet.  Not to say you couldn't have successful APs of both types.

When I started in the AP program, my kids were 3 and 5.   I then had a third child.  Our best au pairs have all been people interested in doing child care/teaching long term.  But I do think as my kids have gotten older (oldest are now 7 and 9) the job changes.  Moreso now, I need someone who can "manage" things  (drive, shuttle, get homework done).  But there is less of a need for the unique kind of patience that is needed by toddlers and young kids.[/quote]

I'm the PP you kind of disagree with, and I think you make a good point for sure.  Anecdotally, however (i.e. from our personal experience with APs), our two greatest APs DID work a full 45 hours with small children, and they were not specially trained to work with small children, nor did they plan to go into childcare or teaching.  Our very greatest AP was with us for two years, beginning when my children were 2 and an infant.  She was amazing, had amazing patience, creativity, and genuinely loved our children and it shined through in everything she did.  Our next best AP was with us for a year when my children were 3 and 5.  She also has no interest in teaching or childcare as a career, but is also extremely patient and seems to have a special knack for understanding and working with the irrational beings that children of that age are.

The way I see it, there are many great mothers out there - many of whom become stay-at-home moms, spending all day with small children - who have no childcare experience or desire to work with children other than their own.  They learned the hands-on childcare skills "on the job," and the instincts and personality traits that make good caregivers for very young children are either pre-possessed, or developed through hard work and determination.

I guess the point from our exchange is that you can get great APs no matter their experience or future career interests; but perhaps you have a greater chance of getting the best APs if you focus on those who have a demonstrated interest in childcare or teaching in addition to the qualities that make a great AP generally, so maybe your odds improve if that is your focus.

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