Au Pair

I am prepared to commit.
It was a surprising challenge to find a place to start actually.

The Google search.
Agencies.
"La la la la, we're the best agency and will match you with the best fit for your family."
However, the $800 fee seems excessive.

More google. Nothing that seems particularly obvious.


Now, I'm not in need of full time child care, or help. My needs reflect support with children for my mental sanity. And my overwhelming need to get this awful stench of indoor vegan dog and smelly man out of my granny flat. It's a potent combination. Be gone.

I learned that my needs reflect what is called a "demi pair". Offer room and board in exchange for 15-20 hours of childcare and light housekeeping duties. In my head, it sounds so perfect.

An hour in the morning to help with breakfast and getting ready for school. An hour or two in the afternoon so I can make dinner without a 2 year old climbing through the cupboard and pulling knives off the bench top. Complete the package with a few other hours sprinkled in here and there to let me have a dinner date, or go to the shop on my own. Or run. Or walk. Or lay on the beach and look at stars after the kids bedtime.

Anyway. It all sounds lovely.

As previously mentioned, I process by conversation bouncing. And it came back to Facebook. And Facebook groups. The social media mogul strikes again.
Two days later, I get accepted to one of the host family groups and can pull through old comments and found the real site recommendation.

Au Pair World, it's called.
Adventure begins.