The Art of Self-Invention: One Woman's Trek to a Job as Household Manager

An au pair is a helper from a foreign country working for, and living as part of, a host family. Typically, au pairs take on a share of the family's responsibility for childcare as well as some housework, and receive a monetary allowance or stipend for personal use.

But 27-year old Tessa Reed of Kansas City, MO, refers to herself as "an additional paid family member" or a Household (Estate) Manager.

By six a.m. every weekday, she is already at her workplace in a five-bedroom home in affluent South Plaza Kansas City doing the work of a butler or nanny combined with home management chores. The support staff for two busy doctors and their two children combined cook, clean, book appointments, take care of home repairs, and manages the doctors' lives in sync with their very busy schedules.

She comes in early, stays late, and is basically a "paid third-party parent" for the five- and seven-year-olds that she is in charge of. But before she took the job, she asked pertinent questions about parenting styles, schedules, religious backgrounds, and about expectations for her role, including being flexible enough to stay home with sick children, or stay overnight, if need be. (She does not live in). Besides that, for added value, she also manages other staff and does the hiring when additional help is needed.

To avoid micro-managing personal aspects and to gain their trust, she understands collaborating with her bosses and the parents of the children about matters that are out of her control.

Says Reed "...I think they're very fortunate to have a good team of people around them that love them," and says she loves them as if they are her own.

How much do they pay her? 

The BIG BUCKS at a whopping $45k a year, plus fringies to include a car, car insurance, and private health insurance; and as can be expected, she cooks, so she eats for free. She also gets a credit card for family and home purchases and budgets, including holiday decorating and co-hosting parties; ... and a cost-of-living raise during annual evaluations.

If you're interested in becoming a HOUSEHOLD MANAGER or are looking for work in this field, check out this resource: Au Pair America.