We are a young family with 2 boys, both energetic and friendly.
Our eldest is 8yrs old, and our youngest is 6yrs old.
We also have 2 cats, so please do not apply if you have severe allergies.
There is good amount of space in our home, and the Au Pair would have her own room & full washroom, and closet/storage space. We try to be as generous as we can with what we allow and provide, as we want to make sure the Au Pair is happy - so that she can keep all of us happy too.
We are always willing to talk and listen, especially to make sure the relationship remains strong.
We live an hour north of Toronto (in Ontario, Canada), in a smaller city... but public transit is readily available and great! To compensate for being further away from the heart of the city, we provide our Au Pair with a Public Transit Pass - part of the perks of the job. This way, traveling is much easier!
We are also next to a large shopping mall, and near buses/trains that can take you anywhere you need.
We have had several Au Pairs before, from different countries, and have made many friendships and bonds.
We find the best experiences are those where an Au Pair can spend her time with us in family activities and hanging out at home. Someone who is unafraid of new experiences and challenges. She should be willing to stretch and seek out new opportunities. Our hope is that we can bond well and she can fit in nicely. It is tough to find a good match, but when we do we are all very happy.
The reasons why we continually seek a great Au-pair:
- we both work full time, and we are overwhelmed! At times, like after school and on weekends, the kids can really tire us out! We want the Au Pair to be another adult in the house, to be there for the kids, and for the parents.
- to prepare the kids for the day in the morning, and to prep for their return in the evening (meals, games and ideas and activities)
- to be a big sister to the two boys; play with them, interact with them, treat them like you would your own, but also show them the right from the wrong. Help us to grow them into terrific human beings.
We also want help running the household, as we work a lot during the daytime and are often not around as much, so cleaning up becomes a problem. We would expect help performing household chores, and keeping the place tidy. A strong focus on cleaning would be appreciated and would be something that would make you stand out!
Lastly, a closed-door approach is not our style, as we like to be able to interact and communicate really well!
Most importantly, we really want the Au Pair to fit in and feel like part of the family. Someone we can trust, count on, and also have fun with too. We do not wish to see the Au Pair locked in her room with the door closed - it's no fun for anyone!
We want to feel comfortable in our home, and we want our Au Pair to feel the same way. Be able to be flexible with our needs, and how you can assist.

Right now, our criteria is:
- eligibility (to travel to Canada)
- timeframe (does it work for us both)
- age, maturity, experience
- drive/desire to get the position, willingness/eagerness of the applicant
- communication (how often we communicate and how we stay in touch)
- english language skills (the more the easier it will be to integrate)
- familiarity with household chores, cleaning, and managing time/schedule, as well as equipment (dishwasher and laundry machines)
- willingness to travel and see sights alone, or with family/friends
- no homesickness or drama (be prepared mentally to be away from home)
- cooking skills are appreciated, and sometimes we'll ask!
- the hours / sleep cycle will take time to get used to but we need you fully functional in the morning and evening, with plenty of time to rest during the day