At 18 (or even 17) I would have been fully up to the task. It's probably because I have a good work ethic and babysat plenty. Why on god's green earth could an 18/19 yr old not be capable of caring for an infant?

There is a world of difference between leaving 3 children with an older teen, one of which is an infant vs 2 kids.

You need your head checked of you are leaving an AP with an infant. It never ceases to amaze me where parents will skimp to save a buck, even at the detriment of their infants.

Dear nannies in search of a job or wealthy host moms who are proud of doing better for their kids than the rest of us, butt out please.

I have four kids also, and had an au pair last summer when youngest was 1, the rest were 5, 9 and 11, and the summer before, when they were 6 months old, 4, 8, and 10. Guess what, both of these au pairs did well, didn't rematch, completed my term with us, and the one who was here last summer even extended and is completing her extension term.

Moreover, my oldest was in the neighborhood summer swim team, and the au pair daily spent all morning in the pool until middle of july, with all four kids. She did their laundry, prepared their meals, and cleaned after the meals.

Each summer two oldest kids were in daycamp maybe a week, and also the third one was in day camp for a week, but a different week. Also I think one week two of them spent with my parents.

It can be done. Moms do it. Teachers do it. Camp counselors do it. A qualified and hard working au pair can do it. My new au pair is coming June 30 this year, and she will do it too, and will have lots of fun.

The key to success is to structure summer activities. I give my au pair library website, addresses of local parks, sites with lists of kiddie activities around here, farmers markets, free matinee kiddie movies, concerts, etc...
I ask her to make a schedule for every week with at least one outside activity every day. Also regular activities with other friends of my kids who are home for the summer...
With our membership and involvement in summer pool (swim team for one kid, lessons for one more...) this works.

Good luck to you.

I've always found that au pairs like the summer. Personally, I don't structure the day beyond the fact that the oldest has swim team in the morning-- but the rest of the day is for them to explore. We have a 2 year old and a 7 year old. They go to the swimming pool, go to the playground, go on bike rides (probably not possible in your case) and spend time just relaxing. You might want to check out a drop in camp for your oldest, as they are very low cost and can keep the oldest one busy (here is the AA Co site: http://www.aacounty.org/departments/recreation-parks/recreation/forms-and-publications/summer-fun-centers.pdf). Don't worry-- summer is fun and it's a great bonding experience for the kids and au pair. I wouldn't give her too tight a schedule, unless she wants one.

Thanks 17:45 Agree - just ignoring the a*s and taking the good advice from the sincere posters. We are going into the program with our eyes wide open, I know there are plenty of times things don't work out, but we are going to try our best and hope we chose an au pair that will also try her best.

It's obvious many posters aren't host moms or APs.
The play date would be where another AP and her kids came over to play. It wouldn't be a drop off playdate.
Also, my APs have successfully done park playdates with my 4 kids and other APs with their kids.
It's not rocket science. just stick to smaller parks or play places where the kids are well contained and you can keep an eye on them all.
OP- ignore the trolls.

Anonymous wrote:Mb here. I agree with others that given one of the three is a young infant and entertaining the oldest without camp requires serious logistical planning that this is a hard job and you should reconsider it.

Seriously would you take all of these kids on your own to the pool? I would not and therefore in no way would expect an AP to. Also how could an AP do a good job with the Okay dates you expect which would make it 4 kids in the house?

Good luck but I do not expect success here unless you've found someone outstanding and highly motivated.

Play dates not okay dates. Sorry.

Mb here. I agree with others that given one of the three is a young infant and entertaining the oldest without camp requires serious logistical planning that this is a hard job and you should reconsider it.

Seriously would you take all of these kids on your own to the pool? I would not and therefore in no way would expect an AP to. Also how could an AP do a good job with the Okay dates you expect which would make it 4 kids in the house?

Good luck but I do not expect success here unless you've found someone outstanding and highly motivated.

as others have said - try not to pay too much mind to the seriously negative responses and predictions of rematch.

we have 3 kids (5 year old twins and 1 year old) and our AP has been so up to the challenge. amazing really.

i think all you can do is put your best foot forward - try to support her best you can - and hope it works out.

we had 1 AP who was a teacher and used to dealing with young children for a full day/ 5 days a week. and she lasted 3 months with us and went home.

our current AP didn't have our past AP's experience, but we had a good feeling about her.

point is, do what you can without totally bending over backwards to help her, and hope she's keeper.

Anonymous wrote:OP here again - thanks again. I like this schedule. I do have something similar in the handbook (with meal and snack ideas) but I can flesh out more details and I like the idea of hanging it in the kitchen. And I did look around for some more local camp activities and will sign up the older kids for 1-2 each (still waiting to hear back regarding openings so not sure what's available yet). I do think the older ones will be mostly fine with playing at home or the pool or with friends or at the park (they were home last summer with a full day babysitter but the camps may just help break up the summer and give the au pair a break. And thank you to the other moms who have similar au pair care needs! We know we are not the easiest gig, but we signed up for this knowing our expectations and needs were on par with other families and in the boundaries of the program. We want her to have a great, fun year and want to help support her as much as possible.

Please do repost when you are thinking about heading into transition.

The agencies are not transparent about how many APS go into transition and the profile of the famiky. Sorry to say, bit in reading many transition documents, you seem ripe for the fall. It might help another doe eyed family like yours and spare the kids the horrible care.

OP here again - thanks again. I like this schedule. I do have something similar in the handbook (with meal and snack ideas) but I can flesh out more details and I like the idea of hanging it in the kitchen. And I did look around for some more local camp activities and will sign up the older kids for 1-2 each (still waiting to hear back regarding openings so not sure what's available yet). I do think the older ones will be mostly fine with playing at home or the pool or with friends or at the park (they were home last summer with a full day babysitter but the camps may just help break up the summer and give the au pair a break. And thank you to the other moms who have similar au pair care needs! We know we are not the easiest gig, but we signed up for this knowing our expectations and needs were on par with other families and in the boundaries of the program. We want her to have a great, fun year and want to help support her as much as possible.

Yep just a troll, because no one else would think it's crazy to leave 3 kids including a newborn with a 18-22 year old for the summer with no camps. Op sounds like the troll!

^^^These are terrible posts. Trolls. An AP who agrees to watch 3 kids should be able to watch 3 kids. No problem. Ignore these prior posters. Obviously bored AP's with nothing to do on a Friday night.

I hope you're a fan of CIO because that's what your baby is going to be doing all day since this was the best option for "the price" while the AP is running after all the kids. Post back in August about your rematch woes.

What a terrible job for an aupair. Put the oldest in camp, seriously how cheap are you?