You are not a slave

Don’t be afraid to say no

• Don’t say OK to everything

• Be clear of the exact title of the position and your hours

• You are worthy of respect

My first experience as an au pair started 3 years ago in London. With an Indian family with 2 and a half months old twins. We had a skype interview and they seemed lovely, the job seemed pretty easy and they liked me too. So I said yes, a week later I was heading to London on an airplane.

The first 2 or 3 weeks was easy. The mom took the twins to her parents’ house almost everyday. So I stayed home with her mother-in-law who lived with them. But they never mentioned during Skype calls… Never mind, she was the nicest lady I’ve ever known.

After two weeks they started to ask me to do little things. I always said yes. I shouldn’t have…

I had to do different type of chores everyday. On Monday I had to iron, next day clean the bathroom etc. Plus, I had to empy the bin and dishwasher every morning, wash the kids’ clothes, tidy up after EVERYBODY not just the kids. Make their food, change nappies as the mother would not do that…

The kids’ room had to be always spotless, they had a seperate bathtub. I had to clean it every day and change their bedding like 4-5 times a week even if it was clean.

I had to help with the shopping, cleaning, keeping the house tidy, putting the dishes into the dishwasher, changing the bin bags, leaving the kitchen spotless end of the day. Sometimes I started my day at 6:40 and went to bed around 11 at night. I had no break during a day. I was more than exahusted.

And the twins were growing, they slept less and less during the day, started to eat solids and we started to take them to a class once a week. I always had to be a step before the mum so she had everything ready for the next activity for me.

I only had one day off per week, but if I stayed home they ask me to help with the bath or feeding. Sometimes they ask me to work on my day off and I never get that day back or never got more money.

I never thought that is not normal, I came here to help and that’s what they ask. But then I started to talk to other people, other au pairs about my situation. They have opened up my eyes. I was treated like a maid 24/7.

So after four months I sat down with the mum and told her it’s not good for me how they treat me . She did not agree with me so later we sat down three of us, the mum, her husband and me. The husband agreed with me. The mum was so upset but she said she is going to change the things. The only thing that changed was that I could finish my day at 7:30 pm.

But that last month was hell. She told me if they have guest I should go to my room and not to come out until the guests are gone (My room was tiny, I couldn’t do anything in it). Or I can’t tell my opinion about anything because I am just an au pair there or when I have my day off I shouldn't be around. . I cried a lot. So two weeks before I left I told her I’m going home and I wont come back.

A months later I found a new family in Nottingham. I stayed with them almost two years. They called me back and I said yes happily. They are like my family. So not everyone is like this.

Klaudia S.

If you wish to submit a Real Story, please contact us at aupairwithcare@gmail.com.