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[quote=Anonymous]I'm having trouble deciding whether to extend with our current AP.  The extension would be for 6 months.

Pros:
Continuity - no immediate need to search, train, etc. a new AP for the moment
Schedule - a 6month extension would get us to a June "turnover" month (better from an Xmas/winter vacation standpoint)

Cons:
Enthusiasm Decline? - I have already seen a decline in enthusiasm for AP's core duty of taking care of the kids.  Maybe this was summer slump, maybe normal progression in AP year.  Should I expect the decline to continue further if we extend?
New AP role of the dice - no guarantees on who a new AP will turn out - should we hang on to a "fine but not fantastic" AP?

Our current AP is responsible, punctual, and does everything "required" and explicitly asked of her.  Our children like her and are comfortable with her.  She is a good driver.  She is flexible on working hours and schedule.  She helps with specific household chores. She rarely takes initiative, perhaps also because she is young (19).  She tends not to contribute to dinner table conversation unless she is asked a question; it is extremely rare for her to contribute to a discussion about current events, our daily life, etc unless specifically asked.  If we would not ask her questions at dinner, she would pass the meal in silence. She has made an impression - particularly on DH - that she finds taking care of the kids a "chore" and that she is bored by it all; however, she does appear to care about them and does work with them to get homework done, etc, even if it's not easy.  She generally schedules playdates at her own convenience (eg, with the children of her AP friends rather than asking our children who they'd like to play with.  luckily our kids are pretty flexible most of the time).

I'm afraid of a Catch 22 here: if we say no, will her enthusiasm plummet (much further than we have experienced)?  Or will this also happen if we decide to extend?

Thoughts on finding the best path forward much appreciated![/quote]

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