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[quote=Anonymous]OP, as PP has noted, people come to this board when they have issues (and they want advice). When things go well, there is no need to post, so you are getting a skewed picture from this board.

We love the program. We are still relatively new (on AP #3), but so far it has been wonderful. We got to know three wonderful young women, who enriched our lives and who took great care of our kids.

We love the energy that these young women bring to our house. We love watching them mature and experiencing this country.

We love the flexibility. Although our schedule typically does not vary much from week to week, it is nice to have the option to change it if you need to (like for snow days, etc.).

Lessons learned: 
Communication is very important. Be open and upfront with your expectations. Spend some time on your AP Handbook. Know what's important and what to let go.
Have reasonable expectations: you are not hiring a professional. Your AP will need much more hand-holding. I like the "niece" analogy. Think of the AP as your niece (from an estranged sibling), who came to live with you for a year while she is sorting out what she wants to do next. In exchange for room and board, she is taking care of your kids. If this is an ok scenario for you, then go with an au pair. However, if you are looking for a professional, who won't be participating in your family life, then the program is not the right choice.

Taking care of an infant is hard. It may take some time to find the right person, who will be up for a challenge. Also keep in mind, that if both of you work full-time (out of the house), you will likely need backup child care on one day a week.[/quote]

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