In keeping with the definition of what an Au Pair is, What is an Au Pair?, please keep in mind the girl you hire from abroad is not an employee and should not be treated like one!

So, you ask - what can she actually do?

Her duties can include very helpful family chores:

• preparing meals for the children - and cleaning the meal prep up;
• making the children's beds;
• doing the children's laundry;
• picking up after the children;
• driving them to school, play dates, sporting events, lessons, errands, etc.
• she is also expected to keep her room and her bathroom clean and tidy and to do her own laundry

She will expect to be treated like an extended family member - do not
plan to treat her like a "paid" stranger in your home.  She is not on-call 24 hours a day or when you travel from home overnight. The agencies have USA government restrictions on over-night travel - read the fine print carefully if you are a pilot, nurse or if you plan to jet set across the continent, leaving your brood with the au pair for extended lengths of time.

The au pair is not responsible, nor should she ever be asked, to do heavy housework or raking or digging in the garden, or dragging garbage cans to and from the street. 

She is not your housekeeper or dog walker - she may do these things if she likes the dog (or you) but don't expect her to work around the house

when the kids are in school. She is there for the children and is not responsible for all those weekend chores you never seem to have time for.

Your au pair will expect a car - she will need to drive to school, to visit other au pairs, her counselor and, most importantly, to shop at our American malls (she has been looking forward to this for quite some time - just try and stop her!).

She needs to have an active and on-going social life throughout her year in the States - please ensure she does if you want a well-adjusted and happy young woman caring for your children. 

Most counselors that we interviewed said over and over to us:

"I tell my host parents 'keep your au pair happy and content and everything flows from there - if you have a happy au pair - your children will be happy - if you have happy children - you and your spouse will be happy' and when they listen, they are usually satisfied consumers and parents."

We think this is good, solid advice that should not be ignored!  A happy au pair is key to a successful match!

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