Global warming, global economy….we are indeed one world. Have you thought about an au pair? You’ll experience a unique global experience and get quality childcare for your children at the same time! Think about it – you’ll enrich your family by welcoming an energetic and enthusiastic young person from another part of the world into your home and enjoy many advantages at the same time.
Every American family is different; every au pair is different; every experience is different – but what an amazing opportunity for your family to get excellent childcare. Au pairs are not only carefully selected and screened childcare givers, they are also very eager to become part of an American family and learn about our customs and culture.
Think about some of these possibilities that might present real problems in your life: you have to go to work but your youngest child wakes up with a cold; your older child feels a little left out since the birth of your newest family member; you’re running late at work or encounter traffic problems and would be late to pick up at daycare; you really need someone home when the children get home from school; you need to get your child to his piano lesson or orthodontist appointment; you’ve just had twins – or triplets – and there are never enough hands to go around. Enter an au pair!
An au pair may work ten hours a day (no more than 45 hours a week) and is there to fit into your schedule, whether fixed or flexible, whether you’re a working parent or not. She bonds with your children and becomes that big sister we all wish we had! She brings her culture with her – depending on her own interests and the ages of your children, she may show your children how to make origami hats or how to sing a children’s song from her native land. She follows your discipline patterns and interacts with your children. While you’re at work, she’ll prepare those lunches, keep the children’s laundry and rooms in order, and supervise homework, allowing you to spend your available time with activities with your children that are meaningful and fun.
Au pairs come for a year and if both parties agree, they may extend for six or twelve months. While they are here, they are required to get the equivalent of six semester hours at an accredited post-secondary school; this not only improves their English, if needed, but also exposes them to more of our culture and can connect them with potential friends of their own age. Au pairs have their own health insurance and may be added to your own automobile insurance if needed to drive your children.
There’s a certain dichotomy in the relationship between the host family and the au pair: not only is she an employee, she is also part of your family. Because she is a young adult, she brings a lot of energy and enthusiasm into her work. Of course there could be problems; she IS a young adult. Every organization has community counselors that help the au pair overcome homesickness or other anxieties; she or he can give advice to host families and help work out differences should they arise. A community counselor meets with the au pair each month and helps her to meet other au pairs in the area as well. Most relationships are so successful that the au pair continues her friendship with her host family for many years after her return to her home country.
It’s not easy to balance work, home, and children. Community daycare centers vary in quality and can’t help but expose children to all sorts of germs and sometimes even the negative behavior of others. Having an au pair might be something you’ve never thought of; consider adding an au pair to your family. Not only will she provide quality care for your children but also expand your world and hers! As Walt Disney so well said, “It’s a small world, after all”!