The Au Pair in America team recently sat down to chat with Shawn and Meri Anderson from West Bridgewater, Massachusetts to learn more about their experience as a host family with our program. The couple were deeply appreciative of the flexibility and reliability that came with hosting an au pair and would certainly recommend it to family and friends.
Read on to hear their perspective on how having an au pair broadens your childcare options and changes your life for the better.
Q: Can you please introduce yourselves and tell us a bit about your family?
S: Hi, my name’s Shawn.
M: My name’s Meri. We are from West Bridgewater, Massachusetts. We have three kids – a daughter and twin boys.
When we found out we were pregnant with twins, we were definitely nervous about childcare. I started talking to other professional women in the area, and one woman in particular who had hosted au pairs in the past had such a great experience that it really convinced us to look into the program. We have been very happy with it and have been hosting au pairs since 2014.
Q: What types of challenges do parents face when looking for childcare options?
M: Oh, my goodness! We tried a lot of different childcare options. The most important thing for us was reliability and flexibility with our schedules, which fluctuate throughout the year. Having an au pair that could meet our schedule and be part of our household definitely changed the game for us. Initially, we relied on family, but the flexibility and reliability that our work schedules demanded really wasn’t fair to the rest of our family members. So, we explored the Au Pair in America opportunity. We were really focused on the flexibility and reliability as that’s what our needs were, and the program has been fantastic for that.
Q: What is something you and your family have learned from your au pair?
M: The cultural exchange is really interesting. Meeting these strong and independent women from other countries, who come to America to speak English and learn the American way of life, has been amazing. They are trusting an American family to move in with and become a part of their family. We have learned a lot about different traditions and holidays, and we have kept some of these celebrations as part of our festivities during the year even after the au pair has moved on.
It’s been amazing. The cultural exchanges have significantly impacted our family’s life. You have to imagine how strong and independent a person needs to be to pack up their things, leave their family, and move to the United States to live with a family they don’t know, and help care for their most prized possessions, their children. It’s an amazing experience to have a young woman who trusts you that much. You can only respect and trust them back. They become part of your family and traditions. It’s a really exceptional type of relationship.
Q: How has your family welcomed au pairs and made them feel like a true member of the family?
M: We try to include the girls in different meals and holiday celebrations. On weekends, sometimes we plan different activities. Some au pairs prefer their independence and going out with their friends, which we fully support. Others want more of the American family experience and spend weekends with us, participating in family activities like touring Boston. We have fun. We also like to take them around and introduce them to the rest of our family.
Q: If you met a family who was thinking about hosting but hasn’t taken the leap to apply yet, what would you tell them?
M: If I meet a family that’s interested in the program, I would tell them to hurry up and apply! I’ve referred many families to the Au Pair in America program and can’t say enough good things about it. So if I do meet someone who is contemplating the idea, I would tell them to hurry up, jump in, and not look back.
Q: If you had to describe your experience hosting an au pair in one word, what would it be?
M: If I had to describe the experience of the Au Pair in America program, I would have to say ‘empowerment’ for multiple reasons. It’s been empowering for me and my career to know that I have reliable childcare. I have the flexible schedule that I need. I have someone who also cares about our kids and is willing and able to be there to support.
It’s also empowering to see these individuals come to the United States, trust a host family, and want to enjoy the experience. So empowerment is absolutely the word I would use for the Au Pair in America program.
Like the Andersons in Massachusetts, your family deserves flexible and dependable childcare with an international flair.
Learn more about hosting an au pair with Au Pair in America.
