Returning to work - au pairs?
Discussion
I guess the title got your attention, and I fully expect a PH roasting.
My situation in a nutshell. 41. 2 kids, youngest just started school. Wife in full time employment, breadwinner, prospects for promotion and will have additional workload in the near future. I have been a stay at home dad for 3 years, although I found the time to complete a self build 7 bed house which is finished so I have made myself effectively redundant.
Worked in IT roles (IT manager/support) for the 10 years until 2007 for various companies, London Business School, Laings, Design Council, start up cash machine co and Inchcape.
I can't rely on the wife at all with any childcare and have no other close relatives. There is a before and after school club, and the school is 5 minutes walk from the house. My house has a basement with 2 large bedrooms, ensuite, and a lounge and kitchen. Separate access to the house too. Whilst the school clubs will accommodate the kids it doesn't help with holidays.
The thought of an au pair came to mind, we are just outside of London in the country with good transport links so I think we may be able to find someone half decent. This would allow me to go back to work full time, if I can find a job of course!
So how hard is it to find a reliable au pair?
My situation in a nutshell. 41. 2 kids, youngest just started school. Wife in full time employment, breadwinner, prospects for promotion and will have additional workload in the near future. I have been a stay at home dad for 3 years, although I found the time to complete a self build 7 bed house which is finished so I have made myself effectively redundant.
Worked in IT roles (IT manager/support) for the 10 years until 2007 for various companies, London Business School, Laings, Design Council, start up cash machine co and Inchcape.
I can't rely on the wife at all with any childcare and have no other close relatives. There is a before and after school club, and the school is 5 minutes walk from the house. My house has a basement with 2 large bedrooms, ensuite, and a lounge and kitchen. Separate access to the house too. Whilst the school clubs will accommodate the kids it doesn't help with holidays.
The thought of an au pair came to mind, we are just outside of London in the country with good transport links so I think we may be able to find someone half decent. This would allow me to go back to work full time, if I can find a job of course!
So how hard is it to find a reliable au pair?
Our experience has been 100% positive and we have been lucky that things have worked out well for everyone concerned. My wife did the recruiting (no surprises there) but it was all done through word of mouth locally rather than using an agency. We are lucky in that there seem to be lots of au pairs in the area (W. Kent) and invariably they supplement their income with cleaning/ironing/babysitting so sooner or later someone will know someone looking for a job. Asking other mums at school is a good place to start looking.
It sounds as if you have the space at home to cope with having someone else living under your roof as you are invariably going to lose a bit of privacy which is the only real downside. I would certainly recommend looking for someone already in the UK as they will be far more settled and already have their own social network. The biggest bonus is that with the extra cleaning/ironing/babysitting going on, your quality of life (and particularly your wife's) will improve hugely. Our au pairs have all been Czech as they seem to have a great attitude to working and family life, but also seem to adapt to life here easily with generally reasonable English and it's easy to get cheap flights for return trips.
Trickiest bit so far has been agreeing to the au pair driving (a car of yours, with the kids) which is a tough one.
It sounds as if you have the space at home to cope with having someone else living under your roof as you are invariably going to lose a bit of privacy which is the only real downside. I would certainly recommend looking for someone already in the UK as they will be far more settled and already have their own social network. The biggest bonus is that with the extra cleaning/ironing/babysitting going on, your quality of life (and particularly your wife's) will improve hugely. Our au pairs have all been Czech as they seem to have a great attitude to working and family life, but also seem to adapt to life here easily with generally reasonable English and it's easy to get cheap flights for return trips.
Trickiest bit so far has been agreeing to the au pair driving (a car of yours, with the kids) which is a tough one.
sisters just done it using an agency, loads of applicants many of whom didn't match the profile she requested which was frustrating for her.
Has had a nice guy! now for a few months. Seems dirt cheap in comparison to child care and preps meals for her return. Bonus is my niece learning french.
echo the car comment, they've got him a cheap runaround but is still has to be safe.
Has had a nice guy! now for a few months. Seems dirt cheap in comparison to child care and preps meals for her return. Bonus is my niece learning french.
echo the car comment, they've got him a cheap runaround but is still has to be safe.
AndyAudi said:
sisters just done it using an agency, loads of applicants many of whom didn't match the profile she requested which was frustrating for her.
Has had a nice guy! now for a few months. Seems dirt cheap in comparison to child care and preps meals for her return. Bonus is my niece learning french.
echo the car comment, they've got him a cheap runaround but is still has to be safe.
Andy Has had a nice guy! now for a few months. Seems dirt cheap in comparison to child care and preps meals for her return. Bonus is my niece learning french.
echo the car comment, they've got him a cheap runaround but is still has to be safe.
Could you let me know which agency? Also she found a male au pair?, fairly unusual I would have thought!
aupairworld.net, seems you can search through profiles & pics and pick one.
(Probably crash in a minute as PH'rs try to find the "best profile")
sisters probs were down to her staying in the middle of nowhere and requiring a driver, despite puting this on her profile many applied stating on their profile that they couldn't drive & wanted to stay in a big city like London!
they cost about £60week for up to 35hrs!
(Probably crash in a minute as PH'rs try to find the "best profile")
sisters probs were down to her staying in the middle of nowhere and requiring a driver, despite puting this on her profile many applied stating on their profile that they couldn't drive & wanted to stay in a big city like London!
they cost about £60week for up to 35hrs!
Edited by AndyAudi on Wednesday 10th November 18:19
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