A Mother’s Helper works for a family to provide full-time or part-time child care and domestic help for families in which one parent is home most of the time. May be left in charge of the children for brief periods of time. May or may not have previous child care experience. (I.N.A.)

One parent will be at home for much of the time.

You will not be in charge of a young child under three months and will only supervise children under two for short periods or no more than two hours.

A Mother’s helper is not normally a formally qualified nanny

Your duties might include washing, ironing, light house-work (vacuuming, dusting, washing dishes), meal preparation, taking children to and from play-group/school, and otherwise helping with the children (feeding, bathing, creative activities, homework). As an au pair you can work for up to 25 hours per week, usually 5 hours per day, with usually two days per week completely free. You can work up to 30 hours per week.

Your family will give you a timetable and the total number of hours they expect you to work. Traditionally your work is at least 60% child related, so any variation on this needs to be discussed and agreed with you in advance. If you will be the only person doing most of the weekly housework, or if the job involves little or no childcare, you should tell us. You should not be asked to mow the lawn, do gardening, clean cars either inside or out or to clean outside windows, except by prior agreement.

You will receive $120 per week or more depending on the location, and you will get free lodgings and meals.