When an au pair or nanny writes ‘I was wondering if I could talk to you this evening,’ it is rarely good news. At best, it is to ask for a pay rise; at worst, to give notice of a departure. ‘I’d like to go to Madrid,’ said our beloved au pair one evening, confirming our worst fears, and so began the quest for a new live-in nanny.
We decided not to confront her with this discovery, and she proved a superb au pair
Finding a good au pair or nanny is so fraught with peril that specialist agencies exist to reduce the burden, with some charging thousands of pounds for the service. Even with an agency, the family will need to meet the prospective recruit for an interview. Sometimes, a character flaw is obvious from the outset. On one occasion, I invited an au pair for an interview. As she needed to travel by train, I offered to pay for the ticket.
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