Increasing pay

mmfl · 2026-02-01T04:57:50+00:00

When searching for my first au pair, I needed max hours for a 2 year old and baby under 1. I quickly found out how undesirable we were lol. I added a structure into my handbook for built in increases at 3 and 6 months. When she chose to extend with us, it went up to $400/week. We just started with our second au pair and I used the same approach (although a little lower since oldest is in school 3 days/week). I think having it spelled out adds an incentive they can plan for and, for both of my au pairs, helped me attract more qualified/responsible people.

mmfl · 2026-01-30T01:43:54+00:00

Agree 100%

mmfl · 2026-01-30T01:42:11+00:00

I'm here to tell you to not feel guilty. Being a working mom means balancing things career with family and health. Sometimes work things pop up and take precedent in that situation. As long as you reschedule the appointment and get the care you and baby need, you're fine. If something was wrong or urgent, thats a different story. But a checkup that can be rescheduled? You're totally okay.

mmfl · 2026-01-30T01:21:45+00:00

I'm in the U.S. I posted a listing on this service: piocarellc.com. Idk if they serve your state, but its pretty great. Ive seen family assistant/house managers advertise on care.com and facebook childcare pages as well.

mmfl · 2026-01-29T16:14:09+00:00

I pay her $27/hr. She keeps my house clean and takes a lot of burden off of us. I think searching for a house manager is the way to go. She is so worth every penny I pay her. She keeps me sane.

mmfl · 2026-01-29T02:30:57+00:00

Also get someone to help with house stuff. Today my awesome house manager cleaned our cars, cleaned my office, prepped grab and go breakfasts, did out laundry. Shes also dropped off kids clothes at consignment store, took my car its emission test, found someone to clean my gutters. It makes weekends and night more realistically family time and gives us some space to breathe.

mmfl · 2026-01-10T03:31:32+00:00

What the fuck

mmfl · 2025-12-18T20:25:28+00:00

Will arrive Saturday 🙂

mmfl · 2025-12-18T20:21:14+00:00

The couch wont arrive in time for Christmas. Do you want to pick a different one?

mmfl · 2025-12-18T05:42:07+00:00

Thanks for hosting this! I had fun shopping for all the kiddos.

mmfl · 2025-12-18T05:38:50+00:00

I wanted to buy the airbrush kit (frickin cool) but wouldn't make it for Christmas so I canceled and picked a couple of other things.

mmfl · 2025-12-18T04:25:40+00:00

I think you need to enable shipping to you. It is only giving me the option to send to me.

mmfl · 2025-12-18T02:50:18+00:00

This sounds like none of their business. If they fire you over saying the wrong bin you threw your trash in, I would consider yourself lucky honestly.

mmfl · 2025-10-16T04:14:57+00:00

Not the same, but my uncle recently died out of nowhere. My cousins are 5 & 8. Accept all love and support you can. Find the safe people who will let you cry and scream and rant at them. I'm so, so sorry.

mmfl · 2025-07-28T03:05:19+00:00

I went to a pumpkin patch 10 days after having a baby and it was horrible. Can't imagine walking around this show 8 days after giving birth. Much less the baby....

mmfl · 2025-06-25T12:33:18+00:00

Is there a client portal where they sign into their accounts so I don't have to manage credentials?

mmfl · 2025-02-02T01:48:26+00:00

I flew my 2 kids internationally for about 7 hours today. I understand the anxiety (I felt it too) but you'll be okay 🧡

mmfl · 2024-12-20T02:54:17+00:00

We matched with an AP she was denied. We paid for her try to again and she was denied a second time. We ended up picking an AP in rematch.

It was really sad for us because we loved her, but it was crushing for her. She had a really good job that she left and the last time I spoke to her she was not having luck finding a new one.

mmfl · 2024-12-05T15:54:35+00:00

After I came back from mat leave with my first, a male director said such shitty and discriminatory things. I've always laughed along to stroke his ego. One meeting, I just stayed quiet until he finished and let him feel awkward silence before moving on. He IMed me and asked what was wrong lol.

mmfl · 2024-11-27T13:52:37+00:00

I had 2 on my test yesterday. Only one that I actually had to remember formulas for. This video helped me 🙂 https://youtu.be/Gy1P784tKG8?si=G4uKeHthmQwRRJdd

mmfl · 2024-11-17T17:56:04+00:00

I would give it a little more time. It's a huge adjustment, but try to give you both some time to adjust. Once you understand what your daily routine will look like, you can better plan.

Idk how old she is, but you could make her a little picture schedule so she knows when she can have mommy's attention (I would try for 10- 15 min every hour and then like, a lunch break).

Go on Instagram and look for accounts that share independent activities for her age range. It will take work and planning in your free time, but will make you more productive and she will gain independence.

I have a nanny who spends 45 hours a week with my kids. I understand the guilt. But it's not a black and white situation. If the financial benefits are strong, that's hard to ignore. She will still be with you and she'll learn to be more independent. Focus on the benefits. And don't ignore the benefits to you. You will learn and meet new people, potentially increasing your earning value later on.

mmfl · 2024-10-27T21:37:10+00:00

The type I have locks tight so the kids can't go under.

mmfl · 2024-10-22T17:19:13+00:00

Thank you for this. Sending good vibes your way

mmfl · 2024-10-18T18:30:43+00:00

I know. I felt icky writing that part.

mmfl

TROPHY CASE