IRVINGTON, N.Y., Oct. 7 /PRNewswire/ -- Au Pairs are unaware of the responsibilities that the childcare job entails, says Judith S. Lederman, a lecturer, author and expert on the subject.
What the au pair agencies don't tell you is that au pairs are young, inexperienced and are brought to America on the pretense of being a foreign exchange student with a little babysitting to earn their keep, says Lederman, a working professional who has hired and fired many of the 24 caregivers who have watched her three children.
Many of them have no idea that parents in America see them as childcare professionals first, exchange students second. Her book "Searching for Mary Poppins: One Families Quest for Perfect Childcare" is to be published by Dove in 1998. The book offers advise on managing au pairs, nannies and daycare providers.
"The Nanny is a paid employee who is being entrusted with your children," says Lederman. "The au pair organizations bring them in as a member of the family. I always cite professional nanny Judith Abranovich and co-president of the National Association of Nannies who says, "As a professional nanny, I know that I am not being adopted by my employer, nor are they writing me into their wills. I work for them, plain and simple."
The ambiguity of the au pair relationship alone can cause problems, some of which end up in disaster -- like the Louise Woodward case. Here are some reasons why au pairs are often doomed from the start:
The Numbers Tell the Story -- According to statistics, up to 30% of Au Pair placements DO NOT work out. When you're paying a $4,000.00 usually non- refundable fee to the agency, you are really taking your chances. You may get lucky and fall into the 70% category, but it's a good idea during the interview to make it very clear to the interviewee that you expect childcare and that it isn't a joy ride.
45 Hour Weeks -- Reality Check! 45 hours is more than the average office worker puts in, however childcare necessitates a slightly longer day. Any agency that assumes that working parents only put in thirty-five hour work-weeks (with ten left for commuting), is sorely out of touch with America's workforce.
Exchange Student vs. Childcare Worker -- When recruiting Au Pairs, many overseas agencies, indeed, position the program as primarily a cultural one. The brochure given to European Au Pair prospects features young students on the Staten Island Ferry, gazing at the Statue of Liberty. In the U.S., when parents inquire, they are told that it's a terrific and inexpensive form of childcare. Their brochure features an exuberant, fresh-faced young girl hugging a couple of American children.
Underpaid/Overworked -- From an Au Pair's standpoint, I wouldn't want to be one. Imagine the shock you feel finding out that the intercultural "adventure" you had embarked on is really a job that pays considerably below the market rate that most childcare providers command. Even if you are willing to do the work, and the work is (presumably) only 45 hours, remuneration of $115-125 dollars per week to watch three children is virtual slavery. How can an Au Pair perform well when she is working hard and making next to nothing compared with her nanny counterparts. While parents are paying far more than $115 (the $4,000 fee goes to the agency), there is no reward system in place for the Au Pair.
About That Training Session -- The Au Pair is given a whirlwind lesson in CPR and other important childcare techniques to fulfill the 8-hour requirement as soon as she gets off the plane from where-ever. Can you imagine, a jet-lagged college kid from halfway around the world sitting pie- eyed through a quickie seminar in something as important as how to deal with the American culture and how to save your child in case of an emergency? Now how much can a person possibly absorb on lifesaving and childcare techniques when she is that burnt out? You call this training??? Hmm.
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