Wall Street Journal Writer Hosts Au Pair
A few months ago, a Wall Street Journal blogger, John Edwards III, announced that he and his wife were thinking about hosting an au pair. Then, after doing some basic research, they announced, "My wife and I have made a momentous child-care decision: We’re switching from a full-time babysitter to an au pair."
He listed all the wonderful advantages, including the affordable cost, the international and cultural experience and exposure the kids would have and the built-in flexibility that both he and his working-outside-of-the-home wife would have (and need). He chose Au Pair in America as his agency and started looking for a match.
He continues to update his readers on his blog, which is part of The Juggle, a Wall Street Journal blog that comments on choices and tradeoffs people make as they juggle work and family.
The word from Wall Street Journal Blogger/Host Dad: She's no Mary Poppins but all is going great!
John Edwards III recently posted an important update - his South African au pair has arrived and he gives his readers the inside scoop on her progress in the past 2 months. Things don't always go well, but part of the problem, as he so graciously admits, is his fault, as he and his wife didn't leave specific instructions with the au pair regarding what to do with the kiddies during down time (as a result, the "kids were bored.").
However, overall, he seems to enjoy his au pair and remains excited and positive! He basically tells his readers that the switch from a full time babysitter (usually, a private babysitter can make anywhere from $18.00 an hour to $25 an hour, where an average cost for an au pair is around $7!) was a matter of cost, and that switching over to an au pair saved them significant dollars.
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Comments
Wall Street Journal Host Dad
I have been reading his blog about his new au pair and his agency - it is nice to know that prestigious professionals, like journalists, are using au pairs, it gives the au pair agency industry legitimacy.
When professionals (who are doing the research and then deciding the cultural exchange program is good enough, safe enough to try) are writing about the program, it sends a message to other parents, "This program is legit and great!"
I am sure new parents will find his blog and positive statements about hosting an au pair very reassuring!