bethsaupairjourney @bethaupairinamerica - Tumblr Blog

The holiday blues are starting to kick in 😔 wish I could do this to whole adventure again! @trekamerica #trektour #westernwonder #adventuretime #travel

#adventuretime #trektour #travel #westernwonder

Au Pair play date in the snow 😊❄️ @interexchange

today was fun ☃ #snowday #blizzard2016 #newjersey #aupairusa

#blizzard2016 #snowday #aupairusa #newjersey

first snow of the year ❄️🎿 #newjersey #blizzard2016 #aupairusa (at Montclair/Glen Ridge New Jersey)

#blizzard2016 #aupairusa #newjersey

when the snow is up to your knees 🙈❄️ #newjersey #blizzard2016 #aupairusa (at Montclair/Glen Ridge New Jersey)

#blizzard2016 #aupairusa #newjersey

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❄️ #newjersey #blizzard2016 #aupairusa (at Montclair/Glen Ridge New Jersey)

#blizzard2016 #aupairusa #newjersey

A little overdue...

So I just realised that I never actually explained why I left my old host family, and that was 5 months ago near enough! Reasons -Lack of communication - I never had a written schedule, it was always discussed the night before or through text which drove me crazy since I’m a planner addict and I need to know what is happening with my life haha. -Working 12/13 hour days. This happened numerous times, and even a couple of times a week at some point. I never ever had an extra thank you, and they just didn’t care. -I felt like I was constantly cleaning, the host mom had really high expectations of how to keep the house, which was near enough impossible with 6 lazy children. This also meant that I didn’t actually spend time with the kids and play. I was also made to feel bad for not being busy and just sitting and playing with the kids! -Not being able to plan ahead of time activities to do with the children or take them anywhere and make memories. Sounds cheesy but I never once took the children anywhere. Not to the park, not for a play date. Just school and activities. This was also due to a very overprotective mom. -Our au pair agreement stated that the children would help clean up after themselves, help with chores etc but it never happened. They were SO lazy! -I wasn’t told that the other nanny was having a baby until I arrived with family. They didn’t hire a replacement for her, and there was never any discussion of my responsibilities changing or my hours changing. It was just expected and there was no thank you for doing twice as much work. -I also did a lot of non childcare related jobs. For example getting tires put on the car, running errands like going to the post office, and getting car washed -And finally, the host mom used to let the kids play on the Xbox right outside my bedroom at 7:30am in the morning on my only day off, which of course woke me up because they used to argue and shout.

#AuPair #aupairinamerica #aupairusa #aupairlife

Lessons Learned

Here are some of the lessons I learned Au Pairing the first time around (and my that I mean with my first host family before rematch!)

1. Never ever choose to work with 6 kids unless there is another nanny/help! I went to my first host family under the pretense that there was another nanny who worked full time, and I would only be working afternoons/evenings and some weekends. However when I got there, the nanny was 6 months pregnant which I was not told about during interviews and the host family would not be hiring a replacement. 2. Communication. Talk to your host family about any issues. This is something I wish I had done, instead I was just scared of conflict so I avoided it which lead to numerous problems. 3. Make sure the host family and yourself are complying with ALL the regulations set by the agency and the department of state. The regulations are in place to protect au pairs and ensure that we are not overworked or mistreated. 4. Utilise your agency. They are there to help. Even if you have a small question that may seem stupid to you, they are there to answer you. If you choose to rematch because of the family or the situation and you haven’t done anything wrong, they will support you 100%. 5. On a lighter note, make the most of your time! Use every opportunity to go and explore, try new things and meet new people. Having a lazy day off every now and then doesn’t hurt, but don’t be sitting around every weekend wishing you were out somewhere or with someone - just go out and do it! 6. And finally, push yourself out of your comfort zone. What’s the worst that can happen? You actually have fun… Make an effort to meet new people and try new things. This is something I wish I had done more of.

#AuPair #aupairintheusa #aupairinamerica #aupairlife

bethaupairinamerica

Worst Au Pair blogger of the year award goes to me 🙋🙋

I am useless

bethaupairinamerica

This is sadly still true!!

bethaupairinamerica

9 Things to see/do in Chicago

Millennium Park (and of course ‘the bean’)

The hub of Chicago tourists, with a pretty clear reason why. There is SO MANY things to do here! Who wouldn’t want to take an obnoxious mirror selfie at cloud gate? Or watch movies in the park? Or attend many of the amazing festivals Chicago has to offer? I really wish I had more time to check out all of the sites at Millennium Park but here are a few snaps from what I did see!