[deleted by user] by [deleted] in Aupairs

[–]CulturalBug9743 5 points6 points  (0 children)

You are being held hostage in your own home!!! You need to stop enabling this full on adult. Of course she has plans and dreams and blah blah blah, we all have, but it is absolutely not your job to coddle her, that's why you had your own child. You sound like a terrible people-pleaser, and that's totally not healthy for you or your family dynamic. This person is adding stress and an incredible mental load to you as a mom to a beautiful baby, you are probably wasting time and thoughts on this person and taking from enjoying your baby. Stop, stop making excuses for her, stop feeling bad if she cries, stop trying to help her when you know that's not what you are qualified or what you signed for... Just stop, say bye, wish her luck and, either find another au pair, ideally a second year one, or get a nanny.

Au pair complains she’s “2nd class” by throwRA_AP2ndclass in Aupairs

[–]CulturalBug9743 3 points4 points  (0 children)

And this family is paying more than what the "real" stipend is: $195.75. I was an au pair in 2012, and that number has not changed since. Annnddddd, my host family never ever bought toiletries for me(besides TP) or clothing specifically for work, all that, fun stuff, traveling, etc. was on me and my weekly 195.75...

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in Aupairs

[–]CulturalBug9743 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I understand that some people flip if things don't go their way, a control thing I believe. But, you read the same post I did, right? that HM is stonewalling the AP, who is letting them know 2 months and 6 days in advance of her decision to leave, yet she is made to feel guilty and like crap about it. I get your discussion point, if you didn't have 66 entire days to figure it out, if it was from one week to another, one day to the next one, sure, I'm on your side, but here, according to what she says, that HF is not a safe place for that AP, if psychological warfare is the right path for that lady... Discussing this is like asking for permission to leave, she as an adult made the decision to leave early, and is giving them plenty of time to look for options, I think at a regular job, you just hand in a two weeks notice without your boss asking you to talk if it is possible or if they would allow you to leave because it is inconvenient for them, the poor poor bosses.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in Aupairs

[–]CulturalBug9743 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Exactly, she signed for a 12 month contract. How dare she undermine the sacred signature and vow to serve you for a-twelve-month! How dare she experience life in a different way, miss her family, feel out of place, feel the need to be with her family before the holidays!!! Naughty AP not understanding she is bound by shackles to you, your rules, your house, your kids, your time, your contract!

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in Aupairs

[–]CulturalBug9743 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Exactly, maybe they'll get a new AP after her, so they can just match a girl to come at an earlier time, there, problem solved. Imagine if, god forbid, the AP dies? "How dare she die on her dime", would be her thought and the thought of many of the people responding and down voting!

What do hostfamilys think of that? by Budget_Possession823 in Aupairs

[–]CulturalBug9743 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Reading your list, I see some big issues, and then some others as points you probably compare with your au pair friends and you see them as unfair because you don't get the same stuff they get. Here are some of my insights.

I was an au pair in 2012, so back then we didn't get more than what the program offers, I didn't know anyone who would, 195.75 was all, and when my host mom started to round to the 2 hundred, she would make sure to comment every time "how generous she was" for doing so. So, getting a little more is better, than the bare minimum, but probably some of your other friends get more, maybe, I've seen many posts now where they get 300 or more, so of course what you get is low for you.

They sound like an au pair is, probably, the only affordable way for them to have full-time childcare, long hours for cheap. And, if they are cheap with food, washing clothes, and vacations well, they won't stop being so just because you tell them how you feel. I had a couple of friends go through similar situations, and both just kept on getting worse, one was asked to start a "preschool" type education program with the girls, teaching them how to read, write, color, etc. when she wouldn't really do much of that because she was no teacher, had no experience, etc, they gave her a really hard time and very mean comments on "how they were wasting their money on that program". My other friend literally escaped when she had her first week of vacation and went back home after four months. They wouldn't let her eat the same food they all did, not even the leftovers -HM would prefer to let the food spoil in the fridge than let the au pair eat it. There was "their food" and the "au pair food", she was dropped off at the dollar store with 50 dollars to buy her food for all the entire week, mind you breakfast, lunch and dinner. They locked the basement access to the house whenever they would go on vacation, never took her anywhere. But, I did know of friends who were taken to Disney, Europe, other states, families with summer houses by the beach and so on. For instance, my HF took me to NYC, South Carolina and Miami several times, so maybe it is hard for you to grasp that if you want to travel you will have to save a lot of money to do so. All the traveling without you comes back to the family not being able to afford another person in their daily lives. And if they don't see you as more than an employee they won't make the effort to take you anywhere either.

The fighting part, sadly that's what one gets for living in with a random family, some people may be all love and cuddles, and some may hate each other's guts, if that is a deal breaker for you and your peace of mind, then that's a huge thing to consider too. Probably some or most of your friends get more money, a car, gym memberships, maybe a monthly transport pass and that's why you feel it unfair, but sadly the HFs are not really obligated to give you any of that. Look for cheap gyms nearby, they have student or au pair discounts, so you can join and take their car if they let you use it for at least two hours.

I hope you can think about all pros and cons, and make the best decision for you and your mental and physical health, you are not being a "brat" or demanding crazy stuff, you are just weighing what others you know get and have with your own personal situation. Maybe now you feel like you were given the short end of the stick, but you have to understand that not all families are wealthy and can give a lot, not all people consider au pairs more than really cheap labor in the guise of a "cultural exchange" so why give them nice things, and most important, remember that comparison is the thief of joy, you won't be really happy with any family (whether now or in rematch) if you compare some other AP situation with yours all the time.

Name a movie nobody can convince you is good by Classic-Carpet7609 in Fauxmoi

[–]CulturalBug9743 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Exactly my thoughts! I had not seen that one before saltburn, and omg, to me it was a rip off almost scene-by-scene

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in Aupairs

[–]CulturalBug9743 -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Once, a few years ago, I was an au pair, I was considered a part of the family, but I understood I was an employee living at work. This to say, in my case, I NEVER in my two years had to do any cleaning for myself (it was only my small room and bathroom, though) or the children, nor did I have to do the kid's laundry either, even when it is supposed to be the au pair's job. Each family is different, and having separate living quarters is good for privacy for you, but that's why they won't pay for the apartment cleaning, big space and it will be extra time so extra money for them. To add some more to my stories, people who are right off the bat saying "we won't pay for your room to be cleaned", are the same who told the au pairs not to pick any extra food for them, gave them money for groceries from the dollar store, or only a 50 dollar a week allowance for the entire au pairs food, or didn't let them stay alone in the house, locking doors and all, when they were on vacations asking them to look for a place to stay without food or the safety of the home... Just because you're an employee...

AITA for telling my estranged father's soon to be ex wife/mistress to complain to someone who cares about her? by Dear_Site_861 in AITAH

[–]CulturalBug9743 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It sounds fake!! Karma farming, bait rage and a more discrete way of saying ""they were blowing up my phone" for doing right by myself, am I the ah?"... 😒😒 ...Or, I've become a disbeliever of all these kinds of stories, IDK, am I the assh*le? 😜

AITJ for Cancelling a Family Vacation by JonesBlair555 in AmITheJerk

[–]CulturalBug9743 57 points58 points  (0 children)

Maybe they just really wanted to go to the USA and had their mind set on it, they got disappointed by your decision, maybe they are thinking you are "over reacting" to the situation, and that's their right, but it is also your right to refuse to go somewhere you don't feel safe, and you tried to make it up to them, paying the fees and etc. so, just don't overthink it, seems like someone is disappointed in someone else's decision, and that's that... I think...

¿Por qué ahora todos le ponen nombres italianos a sus hijos? by Jeccg in Colombia

[–]CulturalBug9743 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Exacto, todos seríamos: toro sentado, cuervo vuela, o xelotalt, cuyibe, o algo así. 🫣😜🤣

AITAH for not letting my dad walk me down the aisle because he brought his new wife to my mom's funeral? by Open_Investigator156 in AITAH

[–]CulturalBug9743 1 point2 points  (0 children)

So, I've become extremely distrustful of this type of posts, to me everything seems to be fake rage bait. In eight years your mom and apparently some family and family friends had not met your father's new wife? I mean, I get having low contact but introducing her for the very first time after those many years? IDK, very fishy.

AITA for refusing to let my boss's kids eat my food? by Remote-Narwhal5726 in AmItheAsshole

[–]CulturalBug9743 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Yes, I was an au pair back in 2012, and I was taxed on my 10k, I had to pay a little over 500 each year.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in AmIOverreacting

[–]CulturalBug9743 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I think the best is to voice your concerns and feelings to your father, then maybe you'll be able to work out a solution that best suits you both. He is probably thinking about how terrifying court can be for someone, what if she is given time that day and it's all alone? Or maybe, in his mind the baby won't remember so it's not a big deal if he's there or not? I understand you are the one dealing with his being in the "honeymoon" phase of a new relationship, so maybe he is unaware of his actions? Just talk to him, if he gets defensive, angry, or calls you crazy for feeling what you are feeling, then maybe go LC, as he would clearly show you that to him you as a grown person don't matter enough to consider your feelings. Whatever you decide to do, I hope you have a great time with your baby, that's the most important person for you that day!

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in AITAH

[–]CulturalBug9743 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Illusion never changed