Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anyone else feel like agencies and LCCs are just brushing you off (HFs) even more in the COVID era. Going through a difficult situation now (dramatic au pair who lies alot), and all we got was "if you want to leave the program, here is what you will get back. or if you want to rematch, here it is". No, sorry it didn't work out. No, yes this puts you in a bind. I am ready to say bye to this.

You know they’re basically volunteers?

Then don’t volunteer.

Anonymous wrote:Anyone else feel like agencies and LCCs are just brushing you off (HFs) even more in the COVID era. Going through a difficult situation now (dramatic au pair who lies alot), and all we got was "if you want to leave the program, here is what you will get back. or if you want to rematch, here it is". No, sorry it didn't work out. No, yes this puts you in a bind. I am ready to say bye to this.

You know they’re basically volunteers?

My LCC with APIA in Bethesda has been wonderful too. Responsive and caring. She is supportive of the girls and of the host families. We feel lucky to have her!

Postcards and goody bags are a great idea! I wish our LCC had thought of that or given me some ideas that didnt take too much time to keep things going/pleasant/exciting at home. Of course it means something different to receive from someone other than HF.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In the Potomac cluster over here with APIA and the LCC has been nothing but fantastic. Very responsive, making goody bags for the girls for Christmas, making sure they have random cards in the mail to open, held a "make up artist" online event for them. She has been wonderful. I'm sorry you are going through that with your au pair and LCC.

That sounds amazing!!!!

This is our LCC too, she is amazing.

Our LCC has been ok, just ok. We had a rematch a few months ago and it was an it is what it is type situation. I just wonder how many rematches they've had to deal with at this point so it's more of a "meh". My good friend is also an LCC and she said between you and me, don't get an AP now. Too many loosey goosey messages about COVID from agencies.

Anonymous wrote:In the Potomac cluster over here with APIA and the LCC has been nothing but fantastic. Very responsive, making goody bags for the girls for Christmas, making sure they have random cards in the mail to open, held a "make up artist" online event for them. She has been wonderful. I'm sorry you are going through that with your au pair and LCC.

That sounds amazing!!!!

In the Potomac cluster over here with APIA and the LCC has been nothing but fantastic. Very responsive, making goody bags for the girls for Christmas, making sure they have random cards in the mail to open, held a "make up artist" online event for them. She has been wonderful. I'm sorry you are going through that with your au pair and LCC.

Not at all. If anything our lcc is more available and more helpful. She’s usually pretty great - she’s a senior citizen who hosted au pairs when she had kids - and basically like a surrogate grandma for the au pairs in her cluster and incredibly kind to host families. I’m sorry you’re getting the brush off, I’d take it to higher management if I were you.

I am sorry you have a problematic AP. Maybe the LCC is trying to communicate the dynamic of the current situation. Unfortunately, APs can rematch in a heartbeat... So, unfortunately, the reality of the situation is that your AP is unlikely to change. She will just rematch. So the question for you: Is her behavior a deal breaker and what will you do without childcare. Sorry, again. This is just a bad situation for HFs.

Anyone else feel like agencies and LCCs are just brushing you off (HFs) even more in the COVID era. Going through a difficult situation now (dramatic au pair who lies alot), and all we got was "if you want to leave the program, here is what you will get back. or if you want to rematch, here it is". No, sorry it didn't work out. No, yes this puts you in a bind. I am ready to say bye to this.