Health- Avoid the ER and save some money.  There is an additional ER deductible for visits not deemed “emergencies”.  **Note there are several plans with differing deductibles.  Visit http://aupairinamerica.com/resources/life_in_the_us/insurance_3.asp for full details. If you are not feeling well, but it is not an emergency try to visit a local walk-in health care clinic. There are several clinics in our area including those located inside the Southbury CVS, and Walgreens. There is also an urgent care clinic in Southbury and one near Newtown in Monroe. Please contact me if you need to see a healthcare professional and have trouble finding a clinic near you.

Wow!  Can you believe it?  Most of the school kids around the country are heading back to school over the next couple of weeks!  At this time of year the schedule changes for many host families and au pairs.  It would be a good idea to send a note to your host families reminding them to sit down and talk through any changes to the au pair’s schedule and duties.

• Many au pairs have never experienced a school busing system; make sure they understand how it works and what to do
• Make sure au pairs know the car line rules
• If driving the children, new au pairs should know how much time it takes to get to the school and the directions
• Pack a healthy lunch, ask your host families to review what that is… an au pair once packed a can of tuna
• School children come home with lots of notes and letters, designate a place in the house for this important information so no-one misses it
• Au pairs and host families should discuss what is expected of the au pair regarding homework.

Downsizing your portions. How much you eat is as important as what you eat.  The US is known for its “supersizing”, especially in restaurants.  It is Ok to ask for a to-go box and take home that food you couldn’t finish at the restaurant.