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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]We pay the stipend amount. 4 school age kids, 25-30 hrs/wk during school year, 45/week during summer. But, we’re also very respectful and kind to AP, cell phone paid for, Netflix available, car available for off duty use, we’re as flexible as possible with vacation requests and will often end up giving an extra week or two of vacation times depending on year.

Biggest factor is treating au pair decently. I could double the stipend and treat au pair like trash but I bet that would flip the happiness factor straight to misery. Well compensated misery I guess?[/quote]

I absolutely agree with this.  We will shortly start our 12th year of hosting.  We do not pay more than the stipend.  If a week is really taxing or required multiple changes, I will do a $20 gift card but not regularly enough that it's expected.  We also do paid iphone, Netflix, car available, and extra vacation provided it works with my work/travel schedule.  In addition, we make a point of telling our APs that we will treat them like adults - no curfew, their own car to use as they see fit, a credit card to use for household items/outings, and an open welcome for their friends to come over and stay over - as long as they act like adults.  I have no interest in policing AP behavior, so an AP who didn't act like an adult would go to another family, not get extra rules in place.  This hasn't happened in 11 years so I don't expect it to.  We have no problem attracting highly sought APs, even with our small house and shared (with one child) bathroom, because we are clear that we are interested in AP as a person, supportive of their growth during their year with us, and proactive about engaging and welcoming them.  9 of our previous APs stay in touch, and 8 have come back to visit, several multiple times.  I make sure I share the fact that we value our relationship with the AP in our introductory note, and we have no problem getting connections or matching when it's time.  I agree that all the money in the world doesn't make a miserable relationship worth it.  [b]Several of our APs' friends have lived in enormous mansions with their own wing and a Range Rover to drive, but they were treated like help and not welcomed, and they looked wistfully at our APs who had their favorite soups made for them for lunch when I have time to cook, even with their small bedroom, standard stipend, and Toyota Carolla[/b].[/quote]

You assume that APs at least get one or the other. As we’ve seen from many HFS here, a number of APs are stuck with the worst of both worlds: few/no perks, cramped living quarters, no car on weekends  *and* they are treated like the help,with maxed out hours, rigorous schedules, and curfews. [/quote]

There are a lot of moms on this board who get offended when people mention their better perks and like to pretend they’re the only warm, kind  family in the program even tho they pay the minimum and max out hours. It’s bizarre. [/quote]

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