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Reply to "What do you wish you had been stricter about at the beginning? What SYSTEMS/checklists have helped?"

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[quote=Anonymous]Obviously, it is always easier to let up on rules and standards than it is to impose them after the fact. Are there any rules or standards which you wish, in hindsight, you had started with? And, similarly, what SYSTEMS have you found helpful in running the household and managing an au pair (checklists? I know some like handbooks... and weekly meetings... what else?)

I'm particularly interested in those standards and practices as they pertain to tidiness and cleanliness, either as part of the general household contribution or specific child-related delineated responsibilities. I'm interested in everything else, too, but that's the part that I have the least confidence in. Like other than putting expectations in the handbook, are there appropriate ways to ensure responsibilities are completed? (All my kids are very young, so not much help yet. And tidiness is very important to me.)

I have a lot of experience managing other people through my work, and past domestic workers, but this is my first foray into having an au pair. I do wonder how the family dynamic (of her being somewhat a family member) might actually make it harder to manage her work. Like, at work, I'm far less hesitant to be a dick, just tell someone they're doing it all wrong or slacking off, and in my industry that's very acceptable. So I am hoping to balance out the need to be more civilized and kinder with some systems and best practices.

Thanks for your thoughts!

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