u/LittlePaintingparty

This might be a stupid question and a dumb thing to complain about but is it okay to be asking the au pair to go grocery shopping every day for groceries over $100 each time. I’m glad to be helpful and do whatever I can to make things easier but it’s starting to feel like I have no time to myself during the day. I work Monday to Saturday and every day involves a trip to the grocery store. On top of that I do not have a credit card and am responsible for having the money in my own bank account and having them Zelle me afterwards. I’m hoping that having $100 zelled to me everyday also won’t make me look suspicious on top of all this. What is the rule with grocery shopping or is there a way I can communicate this to my host parents while still being in the right to do so?

I’ve currently rematched with a new host family. They’re amazing and make me feel like my old host family genuinely misused me. They’re super appreciative and show me a lot of respect and compared to the previous host family are super generous with my weekly stipend- but now I know why.

My schedule is grazing just over 10 hours a day. I work late nights and early mornings, Monday to Saturday every week and I’m already starting to feel exhausted. The problem is that I know I need to bring this to their attention because I can’t be expected to work this much but they’re so great and I don’t want to mess this up.

Friends of the previous au pair have been messaging me and warning me that they’d kicked the previous au pair out and from my understanding it was a rematch because she had been skipping red lights and had zero interest in the kids.

I’m still super new here so definitely would appreciate any advice for me to know how to fix this early.

I have a friend who fell and broke her three front teeth, she is situated in Long Island New York and is an au pair so only earns $225 a week. Dental care is more expensive back home and going back home is not an option for her. Are there any good dental school or other places to recommend? She might need 1 (if not 3 on all teeth affected) root canals but definitely could not afford crowns right now. What could her options be for now that’s the most cost effective and best so she also doesn’t risk losing her teeth. I have referred her to a dental school but they only have appointments for July.

I’m finishing up my first au pair year and extending with another family this week. I feel like my current host family have never liked me as much as their old au pairs as their old au pairs had a goodbye dinner and all I’m getting is a “Maybe we’ll see you to say goodbye when you move out.”

I feel like from the beginning I had some big shoes to fill and always went above and beyond to get them to like me but I’ve always fallen short.

My birthday they abandoned me and left me all alone and hardly even acknowledged me, never invited me out with them for dinner or invited me to join with activities.

When I had financial troubles/ an emergency they didn’t even offer to help out/ even emotionally support me. When I was sick and didn’t sleep for two nights and burst into tears they gave me a tissue and said I made them uncomfortable and that crying wouldn’t solve anything. I was meant to make gas stretch for longer than a month even though I ONLY drive for work no personal activities because she makes me so stressed about gas.

Now I’m leaving and feel like I do not want to even bother with a goodbye gift because I know I’m not getting one in return. Maybe that’s wrong but I’m so excited to be leaving them I couldn’t care less. It sucks that it couldn’t have been better but I’m really feeling excited and hopeful for my next family. Hoping for the best!

Calling all host dads, what’s the best birthday gift you ever received from an au pair/ what would you think a good gift from an au pair would be?