On Being an AuPair.

I should probably deticate a new blog to being an aupair for girls who were in my situation: very confused as to finiding a family, getting documents, packing lists, and eventually what to do once you are with that family. These are all concerns I have run into in the past few months and while I had some friends to help me, I would've loved a detailed first hand account.

I will post blogs to address the first three problems I ran into:finding a family, Visas, and packing lists, later, but right now I am addressing the position I am in with my specific working family.

This past weeks, for it has now been one week since I left Orange County, has been up and down as to my level of confidence with the children and my level of comfort with the position. When I first arrived, I was in general shock and awe. The flat I would be working in is beautiful and the kids received me with such warmth, all pulling me to show me their rooms and their toys. Right off the bat I wanted to start helping, but I was recieved more as a guest the first  night. I had dinner with them and when they asked to to somply put away some towels I was lost and confused because I didn't know where anything was. the first few days continued like that. I wanted to help, but wasn't exactly sure how. A couple of nights I have gone to bed feeling completely helpless because of one reason or another. Two would get in a fight, one would say "No!" to me and the mom would have to step in and intervene. In that respect it is very different from babysitting. If they don't like what you do, they will go to a higher authority. (It should be said that the higher authority normally agrees with you, but the whole process of the child asking in the first place makes you feel like you aren't doing your job because the child has ignored you and bugged the mom, which I am sure doesn't matter to her, but to you, it feels awful.)

But on other nights, like tonight, for example, you feel like you are starting to get the hang of it. I am getting used to the boys habits, who likes which foods, and who gets cranky when they are hungry and so on. The past two nights I have read the boys a bedtime story and got them ready for bed, which is quickly becoming routine. It is reassuring to have something solid that I can be sure of helping with. It is also a great feeling when I have done something before their mother gets the chance to, because I know that I am helping and she can feel it too.

That feeling, plus the three course dinner I had tonight, plus the apple I stole for a bedtime snack, plus an e-mail from my lover Kaitlyn and a post from my fiancée Sarah has made me very content.

p.s. It should be noted Kaitlyn is not my lover, nor is Sarah my fiancée, but they might as well be.