Enriching our lives with an Au Pair | Rowan Family Tree

Thos of you that have been following our blog for a while know that we have had many, many exchange students over the years. We love that we get to learn about another culture, and love the diversity a foreign teen brings. And we love seeing them grow up later. Our ?kids? are now accountants, computer programmers, university students?

Well, after the moms retreat I was thinking about time and kids. I want to spend more focused time?with my husband and children but I?realized that there isn?t really anything more that I want to drop. I mean, I?ve already delved out much of my volunteering, such as organizing events for Families With Children from Africa and running the AFABC Coffee Chat adoptive parent sessions. (Thank you to those who took it over!) I?ve said ?no? countless times in the last few months when people have asked me to do things. But work (necessity), the few businesses I run, spending 15+ hours a week on Vulnerable Children, connecting with our friends and family? well, these are all mandatory to who I am. I need more hours in the day!

I went through the humbling experience of getting a disability accommodation last year. (Yes ? I am officially disabled now. I don?t feel more or less gibbled, just more official.) The upswing is that I got a Teaching Assistant for the first time, just to help with some marking and computer data entry. Well, for the first time is YEARS I did not have a flare at marking time. (Thank you thank you to my employer and my awesome?TA!) Usually, each marking season,?I would have raging pain in my hands, which would compromise my immune system, and I would get the flu or a massive cold or some kind of infection. This was every December and April. This semester ? nothing. It was a miracle.

So I thought: ?Self?-?you need a personal assistant.? I need someone to help with all the zillion things I do ? and the best would be helping with things that are necessary but not important, such as cooking, running errands, cleaning,?zipping the kids around, etc.

My husband is thankfully almost finished leaving me for weeks at a time, but after that he?s working 11 hour days all summer, so I won?t?get a ton of extra help from him?either. My friend J recently invited a string of au pairs out to her farm to experience Canadian life (room and board in exchange for help) and I thought ? I love exchange students anyway ? why not see if there are some willing souls out there? Anyone want to au pair for us?

Well, 120+ applications later ? there are lots of people who would love a Canadian family experience in exchange for helping me out. After the first day and 80+ applications, I ran it by my husband (you may think this is a little backward? but I don?t bring him ideas?unless?I?ve done some feasibility research) and he thought it was a good idea.

So?we have a lovely young lady from Iceland on her way to come live with us next week! And then a few candidates vying for the position for the fall. I?m excited ? it will be lovely to have an international young person with us again, and I?m certainly looking forward to a clean house, help with my zillion things, and a date night with my husband each week!

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