Anonymous
04/24/2013 22:46
Subject: Re:Is pitching in with after dinner cleaning "on the clock"?
I think clean-up should be on the clock.
Anonymous
04/19/2013 22:17
Subject: Is pitching in with after dinner cleaning "on the clock"?
Anonymous wrote:Why don't you just give her the chance to volunteer to help on her own? That way you haven't told her to do it, and aren't having to even ponder this question. I think most people with a decent home training realize that adults, especially the ones who didn't cook, pitch in to help clean up. If your AP doesn't naturally offer to help when she joins you, address it then.
All our APS except the last one always pitched in after the meal. I usually shooed them away after they cleared the table, etc. But the last one (before our current) NEVER pitched in. She basically treated us as she must her own parents. She really wanted to be the third child. So, so glad she is no longer in our lives.
Anonymous
03/15/2013 12:42
Subject: Is pitching in with after dinner cleaning "on the clock"?
Why don't you just give her the chance to volunteer to help on her own? That way you haven't told her to do it, and aren't having to even ponder this question. I think most people with a decent home training realize that adults, especially the ones who didn't cook, pitch in to help clean up. If your AP doesn't naturally offer to help when she joins you, address it then.
Anonymous
03/15/2013 12:34
Subject: Is pitching in with after dinner cleaning "on the clock"?
Pp...don't feed the troll.
Anonymous
03/14/2013 21:05
Subject: Is pitching in with after dinner cleaning "on the clock"?
With an attitude like that, 23:13, she likely wouldn't be in any AP program.
She's a member of the family and it is reasonable for her to model good manners and pitch in at clean up time. Off the clock. Good. Manners.
She's a member of the family and it is reasonable for her to model good manners and pitch in at clean up time. Off the clock. Good. Manners.
Anonymous
03/13/2013 23:31
Subject: Is pitching in with after dinner cleaning "on the clock"?
Anonymous wrote:She should definitely clean her own mess. However, you can't make her clean your childrens mess off the clock for free. She should offer however.
Yes. She should say, "Please, dear host mom, I long to wait on you and your brats. Please let me
cook all meals, clean kitchen, scrub your toilets. Please. I am your indentured servant." No way in hell she should clean up after anyone but herself.
Anonymous
03/13/2013 11:30
Subject: Is pitching in with after dinner cleaning "on the clock"?
She should definitely clean her own mess. However, you can't make her clean your childrens mess off the clock for free. She should offer however.
Anonymous
03/12/2013 13:15
Subject: Re:Is pitching in with after dinner cleaning "on the clock"?
Anonymous wrote:Not on the clock!
Interesting how many APs don't eat with the family. We are on AP#2 and she eats every meal with us, as did AP#1. She is not "required" to do so. However, I would find it strange if she were home and chose to make her own meal separate from the family. She usually does not eat breakfast with us on weekends (she sleeps in). Only meals she really skips are when she's out with friends, typically on Fri or weekend night. Often misses weekend lunch as well because she's out and about. If she's at home, she eats with us.
Never had to ask either AP to help clean up after dinner. Both did this naturally. Often AP loads dishes (not just her own) in dishwasher but typically we take care of pots/pans.
This is the way it should be! AP's eat with the family when home like a member of the family and helps clean up like one.
Anonymous
03/12/2013 12:00
Subject: Re:Is pitching in with after dinner cleaning "on the clock"?
Not on the clock!
Interesting how many APs don't eat with the family. We are on AP#2 and she eats every meal with us, as did AP#1. She is not "required" to do so. However, I would find it strange if she were home and chose to make her own meal separate from the family. She usually does not eat breakfast with us on weekends (she sleeps in). Only meals she really skips are when she's out with friends, typically on Fri or weekend night. Often misses weekend lunch as well because she's out and about. If she's at home, she eats with us.
Never had to ask either AP to help clean up after dinner. Both did this naturally. Often AP loads dishes (not just her own) in dishwasher but typically we take care of pots/pans.
Interesting how many APs don't eat with the family. We are on AP#2 and she eats every meal with us, as did AP#1. She is not "required" to do so. However, I would find it strange if she were home and chose to make her own meal separate from the family. She usually does not eat breakfast with us on weekends (she sleeps in). Only meals she really skips are when she's out with friends, typically on Fri or weekend night. Often misses weekend lunch as well because she's out and about. If she's at home, she eats with us.
Never had to ask either AP to help clean up after dinner. Both did this naturally. Often AP loads dishes (not just her own) in dishwasher but typically we take care of pots/pans.
Anonymous
03/10/2013 14:20
Subject: Re:Is pitching in with after dinner cleaning "on the clock"?
Your AP is not going to want to eat every meal with you.
It is contrary to the spirit of the AP program to think you have a "choice" of "inviting" your AP to have dinner. It should be an open invitation.
My AP only occasionally eats with us, and she does help us clean up, not on the clock.
It is contrary to the spirit of the AP program to think you have a "choice" of "inviting" your AP to have dinner. It should be an open invitation.
My AP only occasionally eats with us, and she does help us clean up, not on the clock.
Anonymous
03/09/2013 23:47
Subject: Is pitching in with after dinner cleaning "on the clock"?
If AP is cleaning of any sort or childcare of any sort, it should be on the clock. If she spends half hour cleaning table/kitchen, setting table, whatever in prep of meal, then this time adds up.
Anonymous
03/09/2013 21:07
Subject: Is pitching in with after dinner cleaning "on the clock"?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I disagree but then I would not dream of asking, or accepting an offer of help from my guests including visiting family members. If you require her to eat any meals with you then this is on the clock. Is there nothing HMs will not do to get free extra work out of your APs?
Lol. I guess people just can't stand not getting waited on every single second. OP should let her kids clean up. Period. What's wrong with that? Ok, if the kids are two and three, I understand.
What an odd post. But au pairs are not "guests" anyway, so your comparison is irrelevant. Can you imagine keeping up "house guest mode" with someone living in your house for an entire year? It is 100% reasonable to ask anyone living in your house to help with clean up after you cook them dinner. Even Most guests would happily volunteer to do a little something.
Anonymous
03/08/2013 23:01
Subject: Is pitching in with after dinner cleaning "on the clock"?
*SOME people
Anonymous
03/08/2013 22:59
Subject: Is pitching in with after dinner cleaning "on the clock"?
Anonymous wrote:I disagree but then I would not dream of asking, or accepting an offer of help from my guests including visiting family members. If you require her to eat any meals with you then this is on the clock. Is there nothing HMs will not do to get free extra work out of your APs?
Lol. I guess people just can't stand not getting waited on every single second. OP should let her kids clean up. Period. What's wrong with that? Ok, if the kids are two and three, I understand.