9 months is often desirable because it would put you at the end of summer when there's a LOT more APs wanting to match!!

14:26 here. Missed the 9 months in the subject! But I still don't think she'll have an issue. She might want to offer also being available for 6 months because that would align with someone who needs help for the rest of the school year but not for the summer.

Op here. Yes, she can only extend 9 months because she has to resume school by a specific date or lose some of her earned credits. Our LCC said that she should be able to find a family because some people are trying to get on a specific schedule or just don't mind.

Anonymous wrote:It would be easier for her to find a new family if she committted for an entire year.

Maybe I missed it, but where does she say she can't? But that said, I don't necessarily think that's true. A lot of the benefit of extension au pairs is for families who don't want to or don't need to commit for a year, which you can't find for first year au pairs.

It would be easier for her to find a new family if she committted for an entire year.

My current au pair, Ana, completes her year with our family at the end of January.

I chose not to extend with her only because my preschool son's special needs became apparent since I first matched with Ana, and we've now decided that at the end of her year that our son would benefit from someone with more specialized experience. We decided to enter the Au Pair Extraordinaire program and selected a preschool teacher with one-on-one tutoring experience for children with special needs.

Ana is 25 years old and from Brazil. She has been a lovely addition to our family and is very responsible, sweet and affectionate. Ana had nanny/babysitting experience before coming to us and has now spent the year with us taking care of my twin 4 year old boys.

Ana drives them to school, takes the kids to their appointments, plays with them, does their laundry, organizes their closets, cooks meals for them etc. She is very clean and conscientious about keeping things neat (certainly more than me) and she loves to cook creative meals for the kids.

Ana has adapted really well to the program and has made some good friends in the DC area. She only wishes to extend if she can remain in the area.

If you are enrolled with APIA and looking, you can check out her profile at: G5217

If you would like to chat about Ana or get her direct contact info, feel free to reach me at jennifer dot horowitz at gmail dot com.