is an
Au Pair life for you?
By Olivia Wilson
I
’ve thought about hiring an au pair for a long time. We work longer hours than we have before, and the children need to be taken here, there and everywhere. Working, organising activities, school runs, sports, appointments and keeping the house clean, meant I was drained. Childfree time is non-existent for us, so to have someone at home who could babysit would be a godsend. With no family around to offer assistance, an au pair seemed like the perfect option. We had the room, and had agreed as a family that we should give it a go. I decided to bite the bullet and hire someone to help us out.
The only requests were: “She has to be like a big sister” and “She has to like Minecraft” … I, on the other hand was looking for someone to help with homework, do a few school drop offs and pick-ups, and possibly take over the afternoon trips to play parks. It was essential for me to find the right person for them, but also the right person for me too. Our au pair was going to be living in our home after all. Hiring an au pair isn’t an easy task. We were lucky to know someone who has worked as an au pair in Sydney and she led us through the process. Interviews were setup via Facebook groups. Doing it this way saved on agency fees, and we had someone who came personally recommended. continued next page.....
26
Peninsula Kids – Summer 2018/19