1. once you have someone in your account, email them right away. ask them how much the company has told them about you. chances are nothing. my au pair told me she had NO access to our schedule/questionaire or are au pair letter. Forward it to them / C. R# d( P8 ]" `
* f7 I8 Q+ h# \& m2. Be 100% honest with them about your needs, family style and expectations - from alcohol, diet, church and parenting style; if you do not want the "family experience" say so meaning if when the au pair has time off and you want alone time from them say so. many girls come here wanting to be part of their new family, but in the same token there are many that want to be left alone when off. for me personally i wanted someone who was going to be social with us.
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8 A7 `' \. V# U2 N3. formulate questions that are important to you and allow them to ask questions about you; remember they are choosing you as much as you are choosing them ; {2 a- L9 i6 d
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4. set up snapfish or other photo sharing site, so that you can show them the kids, the house the area in which you live 6 e! _$ L( e( P3 C1 {
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5. once I had chosen the au pair I was interested in, we emailed back and forth for about 4 weeks. i would write about our life, what we did that day ' Y, l W" }0 L- ~
and what we were going to do 1 O* i- F4 v. k1 A) `6 o ^. {
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6. allow for time off to help au pair adjust, take her to pick out items for her room or space; doens't have to be pricey, but show you want to make her comfortable & }( ^. L$ g* n- z6 X5 \4 E
( O3 O3 P' [3 l) i7. establish immedialty the rules of the house - curfew, car usage and allotment of spending money for the kids. what worked for us, is i got a gas card, extra credit card that could be used for grocery's and nessicities for the kids. the boundaries have never been broken. if not comfortable with this then get a visa card with certain amount on it $ M* }8 P& [& ]% l( @# ^1 h
, I9 k% o* q, @- M0 u0 Y! P8. help them to open a bank account, get social security card, call you local driving school for clearance on driving, short money to make everyone happy and safe. take them to registry to get license, makes travelling easier - do this within 3 weeks of arrival as many countries have reciprosity.
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