The end of the year is steaming toward us and usually at this time parents get jittery as holiday plans start to be made. As an au pair I am never too sure what the plans are until maybe the day before, however it is always a good idea to plan ahead in order to enjoy the holiday just as much as the kids will. How can we do this? Well always make sure that your plans are sorted. Now i will admit that I am one to change my plans a lot but even if you do not have an exact plan you can plan an exact date to take your leave. Parents if you are going away set a date, pick a date and stick to it. Then you must pre-warn your children. If there is one thing i have learnt over the last few years as an au pair, its that CHILDREN NEVER FORGET! If i tell my kids that we will watch a movie on friday, they will remind me every hour.
Therefore if you tell them that you will be working until this date and then you will take a week off to do your admin, then you will have time as a family. I believe that the balance between doing what you need to do and what your kids want to do is so important to build healthy relationships among a family. No parent or au pair wants their children to dictate their schedule, therefore be honest and open about what the plans are and then you are will all enjoy the holidays equally.
Monday, October 25, 2010
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Know how to stay sane while keeping your children busy!
Now it is quite common for us moms and au pairs to just get fed up. Day in and day out life is rather hectic, what with bills and errands and admin. Well if you can manage your children while still having time for yourself then you have it waxed :)
What i suggest is this... sit down with your children and chat about their interests and have them make you a fun list of things they love doing and things that bore them. Voila!!! You now have your ammunition. If you suggest one of the activities that are on the list you are bound to get a good response and not only will you have saved yourself time thinking up stuff to do with them but you will be sure that they will be having fun.
This advice comes from many a holiday worrying about what to do next and always wondering if the kids were having fun.
Make sure that their list includes inside and outside activities, creative, educational and fun activities too.
Try it and let me know what works for you :)
Keep smiling friends
What i suggest is this... sit down with your children and chat about their interests and have them make you a fun list of things they love doing and things that bore them. Voila!!! You now have your ammunition. If you suggest one of the activities that are on the list you are bound to get a good response and not only will you have saved yourself time thinking up stuff to do with them but you will be sure that they will be having fun.
This advice comes from many a holiday worrying about what to do next and always wondering if the kids were having fun.
Make sure that their list includes inside and outside activities, creative, educational and fun activities too.
Try it and let me know what works for you :)
Keep smiling friends
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Know how to be a friend and discipliner
As the first of the posts I have decided that we should approach this topic with caution. As an au pair it is hard not to overstep the boundry of knowing your place in the family. It becomes so easy to befriend your children and then feling bad when rules come into play.
Consitency, Consistency, Consistency!!!! One very important word to kep with you throughout this journey. Wether you are a parent or an au pair this will be a great test of character. Here is a simple example: Set the rules first, so if you use a glass take it to the sink after you have finished. Then even if you have been watching a movie together or playing sharades, you wont feel bad when reminding them to take their glasses to the kitchen. Simle as that. Yes there will be more tricky situations but if you remain consistent in your discipline and rules then your children will respect you and you will have no difficulty balancing friendship and discipline.Try it out, sit your children down and together make a star chart of rules and ways to achieve rewards. This is a great tool to love them while affirmng your role in their lives.
Consitency, Consistency, Consistency!!!! One very important word to kep with you throughout this journey. Wether you are a parent or an au pair this will be a great test of character. Here is a simple example: Set the rules first, so if you use a glass take it to the sink after you have finished. Then even if you have been watching a movie together or playing sharades, you wont feel bad when reminding them to take their glasses to the kitchen. Simle as that. Yes there will be more tricky situations but if you remain consistent in your discipline and rules then your children will respect you and you will have no difficulty balancing friendship and discipline.Try it out, sit your children down and together make a star chart of rules and ways to achieve rewards. This is a great tool to love them while affirmng your role in their lives.
Welcome to the world of...
Have you ever wondered how parents do it, or just how they know EVERYTHING! Throughout my life i have wondered, even at age 4 I said that one day my husband would do the shopping because I had no clue how to work out change. Ha ha anyway as time goes by we learn and this is one of the greatest qualities that we inherit. This blog is an adventure of the things I have learnt from being an au pair. 4 years and 3 families later I can share the many wonders of packing healthy lunches to sewing on name labels. Enjoy it, learn from it and respond to it :)
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