I go to a school with other Au Pairs. So naturally, we like to get together afterwards and "discuss" (complain) about the drags of being an Au Pair.
"My boy calls me names"
"My girl thinks she can get away with everything"
"The mom makes me clean up after the whole family"
Sure, I can vent about how Jonas doesn't like to wear his slippers around the house, or how Lucile is always leaving her books everywhere, but that's just normal kid stuff. In reality, I don't have much to complain about.
After having two friends that terminated their contracts with their family early due to disputes and it overall not working out, I was able to look at my job from a new perspective.
I found my family online. If that doesn't already make you weary, then the fact that I didn't even talk to the mother and communicated only with the father might. We skyped twice and during those calls I only said hi to the children, and that was all. The dad and I emailed extensively and he was kind enough to answer all my questions, but really, I was already hired when he contacted me the first time, the rest was working out the details. Naturally, this made my mom a little nervous...ok a lot. But, I was never worried. Maybe I should have been, after all I was about to go live with a family I had never met, but I felt calm about it.
What did I know about these people? Nothing. The mom was named Mariette, the dad was named Gilles. They had two kids, Lucile and Jonas. The parents know English, but rarely speak it and the kids don't speak it at all. They live in Lyon, France. Of course, through email I learned more and more about them, don't think I just jumped on a plane without a second thought, but it's still not the same as meeting them in person, you know?
This could have been a disaster. I could have arrived and realized that they were nudists (yes, I did find a family looking for an Au Pair who were a nudist family...my guess is that they are still looking for one), or that the kids were a total nightmare. They could have forced me into slave labor or not treated me right. I was taking a huge chance here.
But thank heavens that is not how it turned out. In fact I couldn't have imagined it turning out better than this. I really lucked out. I got a WONDERFUL family and I am so grateful.
They provided me with my own apartment and furnished it too. I have dishes, blankets, cleaning supplies, toilet paper and towels. When my bathroom flooded, they came over every day to change out the towels until they had someone to come fix it. When my lights when out they changed the bulbs.
They have so graciously included me in everything they do from visiting their grandparents house for the weekend, going out with friends and even taking me to a relaxing spa day, their treat. They even planned a trip to Paris for me so I spend a weekend in that wonderful city.
Anything I need from the store I just have to add to the grocery list. Whether it be a baguette or shampoo. They make sure I have enough money for lunch after school, and that my Metro pass and my phone bill is paid every month.
As for household chores, I'm expected to pull my weight. I don't feel like I do anymore work that I would if I were another teenage girl living at home. I empty the dishwasher, do the laundry, wash dishes and occasionally vacuum the floor. They never make me scrub the place from head to toe nor do they expect me to clean up after the children. As Mariette told me once: "Au Pair is not cheap labor."
They are always extremely nice and kind. Whenever I go out of my way to do something extra they always thank me for it.
And they take time to get to know me. They are always asking how my family is, how Connor is and even how are my friends from school and church. They ask about my hobbies and interests and make me feel a part of the family. I tell them about my day at dinner and I get teased when it's no surprise I choose the chocolate moose for dessert (they don't even ask me what I want any more) or when Gilles has to pull all of the long blonde hair out of the vacuum brush.
They help me with my French and are willing to learn some English. They are patient when I try to tell stories and I don't exactly know how to say it in French. The kids laugh at me when I can't pronounce "cuillère" or "accueil."
When I have friends come to stay with me they are very accommodating and welcome them into their home. And Gilles helped me plan out my next trip to Paris in April. Mariette and I talk fashion and go on shopping trips, Gilles and I watch "How I Met Your Mother" after the kids go to bed. Sometimes on the weekend we play Wii or board games.
So when me and the others get together over coffee (or hot chocolate) it's nice to let off steam about how sometimes our kids drive us crazy, but really I am very lucky. Some of these girls and quitting because their experience is so bad. But not mine, I can't believe how awesome my family is.
