What I Do

I am an Au Paire

Simple enough, but is that even something a lot of people know about? Do I even need to elaborate? 

Well anyway, an Au Pair is a girl (or boy, they do exist) who travels overseas to live with a foreign family and take care of their children. 

I am NOT a babysitter and I am NOT a nanny.

A babysitter looks after children usually at the children's home once or twice a week, usually in the evenings and get paid each time. Duties would usually include playing with the children, preparing a light meal and perhaps bedtime as well. 

A Nanny has a set schedule drafted with the parents. She is expected to look after the children at this time, on this day, for X number of hours. Their duties often expand more than a babysitter and they may be required to drive the kids to extracurricular activites, help with homework and do some light housework. 

As an Au Pair, you live with the family (or in the apartment next door in my case), eat with the family, travel with the family etc. Basically, you are family. A lot more is asked of you though. As part of the family, I am asked to partake in a lot of the household chores too. I cook and clean and do laundry like any teenager would be expected to do in their household. On top of that, I tend the kids everyday. 

Generally an Au Pair is someone from a different country. Why parents choose this over a nanny or babysitter is because they want their kids to learn the language of the Au Pair's country. It's a pretty sweet gig actually. I get my own apartment, they pay for my food, bus/metro pass, any activity I do with the kids. I get to go with they family anywhere they travel and I still get paid monthly!! 

My schedule consists of: going to school in the mornings, having the afternoons free to roam the city, take a nap or do housework, then I pick up the kids from school and watch them for 3-4 hours until the parents come home and we have dinner, put the kids to bed and the rest of the night is mine. Really, it's my kind of job.

Ok....So maybe I am a babysitter and a nanny too....there is a fine line. Call me whatever you want, I'm in France and you are not, so there :)