Tag Archives: Thanksgiving

Making Thanksgiving Memories Together

Thanksgiving is a public holiday celebrated on the fourth Thursday in November every year in the United States. It started as a harvest festival and has been celebrated nationally on and off since 1789.  The most important part of Thanksgiving for American families is to spend family time together.

Martin Cathrae

 “My favorite holiday was Thanksgiving. Firstly, it was my first holiday with the whole family in America. Secondly, the whole family came together. All aunts and uncles and their kids came to grandma’s. We played football with all of them, including grandma and grandpa. It was the first time I played it and it was so much fun for all. We had a great dinner with all the typical things you can imagine … it was deeeelicious! It was so great to be with such a big family and I really enjoyed that day. I will remember it my whole life, I hope.” – Swantje from Germany

Here are a few tips to help you have a terrific Thanksgiving experience.

Host Parents
Please plan to include your au pair in your Thanksgiving celebration, if at all possible. If you are traveling or will not be able to invite your au pair to join you for Thanksgiving, give her plenty of notice and help her make alternate plans. You don’t want to leave your au pair alone over the holiday.

Au Pairs
If you are invited to attend dinner, please let your family know within 5 days of the invitation, whether you are planning to attend, so they may make plans. If your host family is unable to include you in their Thanksgiving plans, please let me know if you have trouble making other plans, so I can assist.

Make sure to discuss time off during this holiday weekend. Many host families work the Friday after Thanksgiving so do not assume you have this day off or the entire weekend. Talk to your host family, BEFORE you make any plans.

Bonus Tip for the Kids
If you are looking for a fun recipe to make with your au pair, check out these turkey cookies. Find more fun activities and recipes on the Au Pair in America Fall Holidays pinboard.

 

Au Pairs & Host Families are Thankful!

The Au Pair in America Suffolk County Host Families have a lot to be grateful for to one another this year.  Here is what some of them told their Community Counselor, Cindy Garruba, when asked why they are thankful to each other this year:

Host Mom: We are thankful that she is so great with the kids!

Au Pair from Brazil: I am thankful to my host family this year because they treat me like family, they respect, they like me, and they let me feel in home being here. I love to stay with them, they mean a lot to me.

Host Mom & Dad: The list is long when it comes to gratitude for our au pair!   She keeps our house running, keeps our children entertained and learning, and they love her!

Au Pair from Brazil: I’m thankful for my family and friends! The people who are responsible for my happiness here! I’m thankful for my host family that always supports me in my decisions and always tries to make me comfortable! It has been an incredible year so far and I’m grateful for that!!

Host Mom: I am thankful for my au pair this year because she keeps my blood pressure from sky rocketing….

Au Pair from South Africa: I am thankful this year for my amazing host family that has welcomed me into their home with open arms and loving souls, my friends that I met along my journey, my Mom back home as she made this opportunity possible for me and for being able to experience so much in the USA this year.

Host Mom: Our au pair always has a smile and is so helpful with keeping us organized.  I know she will keep my daughters safe and that is so important to me.  I am thankful she really enjoys being with my girls and is always there for them.

Host Mom: I’m thankful for her kindness & flexibility. She’s so great!

Au Pair from Brazil: I am thankful for the respect they have with me and for giving me such an important opportunity for me.

Host Mom: I am grateful she is kind. She is very sweet and her kindness with the girls is wonderful. I think it is her kind heart that always her to be so patient with them. 

Au Pair from Croatia: I’m thankful to my host family this year because they gave me the opportunity to increase my knowledge in USA culture. I’m grateful because they treat me like part of family, because they’re acting more than nice to me, they are supporting me and trust my judgment. They believe in my dreams and they take my advice in consideration and they also provide me with advice which is very helpful. They encourage me to take care of my basic responsibilities and that increases my independence and self-esteem. To my host parents I would love to thank for the given trust when it comes to taking care of their amazing children, for being patient and for giving me opportunity to be part of their lovely family. My host kids are being more than friendly and helpful when it comes to improving my English, bringing fun in my life and making my life playful again. The whole family is truly bringing happiness and joy into my life.

Host Mom: I am thankful for a sweet, caring, genuine person as my children’s caregiver in our au pair.  Her smiles and tireless games of hide & seek, Barbies, Legos and anything they can dream up, never goes unnoticed or unappreciated.  Thank you to our au pair!

Au Pair from Thailand: I am thankful to my host family this year because this is the first time for me to come to America. I am thankful this year for my amazing host family that has welcomed me into their home. I’m grateful because they treat me like part of family. They are so nice to me. Their care of me makes me feel happy. I’m so glad that I can live with them in their warm and kindness, I love them! 

Host Dad: We are grateful that she brings joy and sparkle to our children.

Au Pair from Germany: I am thankful for having a host family that treats me like a real part of their family. A host family that is interested in my culture, that trusted me from the minute I entered their life and a host family that gives me hugs (and fist-bombs) when I need them. Thank you for all of that!

Host Mom: We are so thankful our au pair is part of our family. She is such a pleasure. She fits in so well and takes such great care of our baby!

Au Pair from Poland: I am thankful to my host family this year because I know that I can count on them in every situation. Their care of me makes me feel happier. I’m so glad that I can live with them in their warm and kindness, I love them! I am so thankful that I’m in your cluster. You are such a caring and loving person Cindy! Thanks for all your support. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving too!

Host Mom: I am grateful our au pair is so loving and caring with our kids.

Au Pair from Colombia: I am thankful for my life, and for being a healthy person. I am thankful for my family because they love me and always support me, and no matter the distance we can be apart, they are always there for me. I am thankful for my friends and for all the people who are around me. I am thankful for the opportunity to be here in the United States. I am so thankful for this experience of belonging to Au Pair in America. I have grown as a person and I have learned many things. I am thankful for the privilege to learn a second language such as English, which has helped me to see the world in a different way. I am very thankful for my host family because they made me feel like at home. I am thankful for my little host bly because he fills my life of joy with his love. I am so thankful for this year and all the things I have lived during it. Thank you for all your support Cindy.

Host Mom: I am thankful for my au pair and the abundance of love she shows to my children and the enormous smiles she puts on their faces every day. 

Host Dad: We are thankful for the love our au pair gives to our children.

Au Pair from Brazil: I am thankful to my host family this year because they always try to help me with everything I need, and because I can feel comfortable with them. 

Host Mom: While we have Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Grandparent’s Day and Teacher’s Day to celebrate all the people who have shaped and formed our children, we do not yet have an official holiday to recognize our Au Pair’s contribution to our kid’s happy childhood. There is a saying in Chinese that “happy children love to sing.”  Every night when we get home, we hear the laughter and singing from our two girls and our au pair. There is no better testimonial of her impact to the children than seeing how happy my kids are. She is not just our Au Pair, she is an integral part of our family. Without our au pair, we wouldn’t have the comfort of knowing that our children are being care for by their loving big sister while we devote our energy on our careers.  We are immensely thankful and blessed to have her on our team. 

Host Mom: I am thankful for the bond my au pair shares with my son…..for the fun, smiles & laughter he enjoys in her company.

Au Pair from Brazil: I am thankful for the choice I made this year with my heart and intuition that changed all my experience as an au pair and for sure my life. The choice was to be this special family’s au pair. They receive me with open arms and love to be part of their family. I am also thankful for my friends that I made in my journey as an au pair they are my family here.

Host Mom: I am thankful to my au pair this year because of her kindness and serenity she has brought into our family. We feel truly blessed and grateful to have her with us! 

Au Pair from Thailand: I am thankful to my host family this year because this is the first time for me to get out of my comfort zone and moved to America for the learning experience. Everything is so new which is an adjustment, is the most important for living and I am so lucky and appreciate to be a part of this family. They are a nice family that are full of lovely support and sincerity. Time flies when I am having a good time. The rest of time in the United States and living with my host family I will do my best to be Thankful.

Host Mom: I am thankful to my Au Pair because she loves our children and keeps them happy and safe. She is a true blessing to our family and we will hold her in our hearts forever. 

Host Mom: We are all thankful we have a wonderful young lady who cares for our children and to have peace of mind that they are well tended and safe.

Au Pair from South Africa: I am thankful for how my host family feels more like a family to me than my own family back home does, they welcomed me into the family with open arms and warm hearts. I am thankful too have two incredible little sisters in my host kids, which I get to spend time with every day they have taught me some very valuable lessons in the short 8 months I’ve been here! I am thankful for the opportunities that have come over my path and that I have grown so much this past year , never in my life did I think I will be able to “conquer the world” on my own. I am thankful for my host parents who has shown me what being kind really is and how easy it is to care about the people you surround yourself with. I am thankful that they chose me to be the Big sister for their incredible little girls and like they said to me when we matched: It’s like finding a wedding dress : When you know it’s the right one , you know…I am thankful for the life I have been living here in the US.

Host Mom: She is the best Au Pair ever! She really became a part of our family and like a big sister to our daughter, who had an especially rough past year with my illness. I don’t know what we would have done without her.

Au Pair from Germany: This year I’m thankful for is a question is so hard to answer in just a few sentences and especially in one letter. Of course I’m thankful for being healthy and knowing my whole family is too, I’m thankful for the life I have, everything I experience, every struggle I can learn of, every situation I can grow on, every new information I can learn and for every new day with new chances and opportunities. I’m here in your family a bit more than three months, and I could write a whole book about this time and the things I am thankful for! The most important would be: Thank you for giving me the opportunity of living in your family and including me in your daily life. I’m thankful that I really feel like I ́m home in your house and you share your traditions with me! I’m thankful for getting to know you as a family and working with your children, because most of the time it doesn’t feel like hard work but more like being an older sister for them. I’m thankful that you care about me too and I don’t feel lonely here. You always try to make things possible which I want to do or if I want to go somewhere. I’m thankful for the free time you give me and especially that you trust me (in driving, going somewhere or just planning the afternoons with the girls)! I am thankful that we have things to talk about and to laugh about. That we watch movies together or hear Christmas songs and make plans for the weekends! I’m thankful for the match we did a few months ago, because I could have never imagined that my year in America could be so great and you made it possible for me! Thank you that I have so many positive things to tell my family and friends about my life here and that I didn’t really feel homesick. I really wanted you to know that, how happy I am to live in your family and just one more time to say thank you!

5 Thanksgiving Tips for Au Pairs & Host Parents

Thanksgiving is celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November each year. Even though a few other countries also celebrate Thanksgiving, it’s still considered a uniquely American holiday, one that the au pairs look forward to experiencing. You can learn more about it here.

“I really enjoyed Thanksgiving with my host family. It was as I imagined! So much food to try. Everyone got dressed up and shared what they were thankful for. It was so warm and special. The next day we began to prepare for Christmas. It was magical.” Selina from Germany

Below you will find some tips to help you have a terrific Thanksgiving experience.

 

Host Parents

1.  Please plan to include your au pair in your Thanksgiving celebration, if at all possible. Thanksgiving with an au pair offers an opportunity to consider the relevance of the history and meaning of Thanksgiving as you compare the hospitality offered by the Native Americans to the recently arrived Pilgrims and the hospitality you offer your au pair.

2.  If you are traveling or will not be able to invite your au pair to join you for Thanksgiving, give her plenty of notice and help her make alternate plans. You don’t want to leave your au pair alone over the holiday.

Au Pairs

3.  If you are invited to attend dinner, please let your family know within 5 days of the invitation, whether you are planning to attend. It is considered rude in America to accept the invitation for dinner and then change your mind later in the month. Please be thoughtful.

4.  Make sure to discuss time off during this holiday weekend. Many host families work the Friday after Thanksgiving so do not assume you have this day off or the entire weekend. Talk to your host family, BEFORE you make any plans.

5.  If your host family is unable to include you in their Thanksgiving plans, please let me know if you have trouble making other plans. You may be able to join a friend and their host family for the holiday dinner.

Bonus Tip for the Kids

If you are looking for a fun recipe to make with your au pair, check out these turkey cupcakes. Find more fun activities and recipes on the Au Pair in America Fall Holidays pinboard.

Photo: Tim Sackton (Flickr)

Thankful Au Pairs & Host Families 2014

PhotoScan

Host Family says: We are extremely thankful for our wonderful au pair. We feel truly blessed to have gotten someone as wonderful as her for this important year as we are welcoming our 4th child in the spring.  Have a very Happy Thanksgiving!

Au Pair says: What I’m thankful for is that I got a second chance, that I can spend my year in a family where I feel comfortable and home in, that my host family respects me and helps me to feel home and I’m thankful that I get the chance to live a different life.

Au Pair says: I am thankful for being able to fulfill my dream of living abroad in a country that is as crazy as wonderful with all its characteristics. I also am thankful for meeting so many new and different people from all around the world, who are all in the same situation and who are all feeling the same feelings. Moreover I am thankful for feeling home and welcome by my host family and my Community Counselor, Cindy, so that I don’t even think about feeling homesick.

Host Family says: We are thankful for our au pair because she is so good with our girls. She is sweet, considerate, patient, understanding and helpful.  She has excellent communication skills and really enjoy sharing our lives with her.

Au Pair says: I am thankful for my au pair life in New York that made me had a good experience and a good time with everyone I saw. Thank you very much for my host family who I am stay with and made me good memories with them. Happy thanksgiving to you, too Cindy!

Host Family says: I am very thankful for our au pair because she is so determined (and not giving up) to make my wild children into polite, thoughtful, neat, respectful little human beings.  And also for being so supportive to her host mom.Au Pair says: I’m thankful for being part of a beautiful American Family, that supports me and include me as I am part of them. I’m thankful for the kids that I have, because they color my gray days

Host Family says: We are excited that our au pair will be able to spend Thanksgiving with us, and we are so thankful that she’s part of our family and that she loves our son so much. I know she had a great time at the Rockettes this weekend. Thank you so much for organizing that!

Au Pair says: I am thankful for this awesome experience and how much I’ve grown in the past 6 months. I’m very thankful to my host family for making me very comfortable and I’m thankful that I get to hang out with 2 awesome little boys all the time! Happy thanksgiving to you, too Cindy!!

Au Pair says: I can tell you that I am thankful for the au pair program, my host family, and you. Without all of this I wouldn’t be able to realize how much I am thankful for my family, friends and my culture. I appreciate you card and letter, and I’m excited for our December meeting.

Host Family says: We love our au pair and we are thankful to have such a hardworking Au pair that blends right into our family! I’m praying she stays for 2 years!!  To be completely at ease while my husband and I work and to know everything is taken care of and my children are loved, is such a blessing!  I hope you have a great Thanksgiving!

Au Pair says: Being an au pair has made me thankful for my great host family, that shows me that it’s possible to feel at home away from home” 🙂 I am grateful for this new experience and that all my loved ones are healthy. I think our health is one of the most important things in the world, just as Family and friends. I’m thankful that I am part of this host family and I am thankful for all the support from my family and friends at home in Germany and of course for all the new friends I met here on long Island:) and that I am in such a great cluster like this 🙂

Host Family says: This year we are thankful for everything we have including a home (with heat and food on the table), jobs (to pay for it all), our health (in spite of the aching backs) , our family (they are all healthy and reasonably happy), and an Au pair to share in the chaos that makes up what we are thankful for.

Au Pair says: I am thankful for being an au pair in such a great family. I’m so glad that I can have the experience being an au pair in this family. They are so kind and nice, they treat me like a family member and I can talk about everything with them and we laugh so much together and I am very thankful for that. Of course I’m very thankful for my family in Germany and I appreciate them so much more since I’m here. Long story short, I’m thankful for everything in my life!

Au Pair says:  I´m very, very thankful that my friends and family supported me and my plans to travel to the USA. I´m also very thankful that I found such a nice family, who offers me that much and that they give me the opportunity to stay here and let me be a part of their family for a year! This is such a great family!

Host Family says: All is well with us. I am thankful for our au pair because she is a part of our family and she loves our children. I already know that it will be incredibly difficult when she leaves to go home but my children will have a collection forever.

Au Pair says: This year I am thankful for so many things!!!!! I’m very thankful that I found such a great host family, I came to such a nice area and met so many nice and awesome people!! I’m thankful for everything I have, thankful for all the happiness and progress in my life 🙂

Host family says: We are thankful for our au pair’s good care of our daughter. Thank you

Au Pair says: I’m thankful for my host family because she gave me the feeling that I’m at home! My host parents help me and I can ask all the question I have. I’m also thankful for my family and my friends at home. They stand behind me and give me a lot of motivation and power!

Au Pair says: This year I am thankful for my kind and generous host family who shares their home with me and gives their best to be my new family and welcome me in their culture. I am also thankful for having such a nice community counselor who welcomed me when I didn’t know anybody and luckily was sympathetic from the very beginning so that I know that somebody “has my back” if I have a problem 🙂 I’m thankful for my family at home who misses me and thinks of me and, of course, for my friends at home who try to keep in touch as often as possible although it sometimes takes some time until I can answer. They make me feel like I never left home and I don’t miss anything while being here. But also, I am thankful for the new friends I found here who helped me exploring my new home and are a part of helping me feel not to be alone 🙂 I am very, very thankful that all my loved ones (and I) are healthy and happy and that my grandmother deals well with the death of my grandfather this summer. I am thankful that I could attend his funeral and see him a last time when he was very conscious and himself.

Au Pair say:  I am thankful that I could graduate this year with a satisfying result hand the support of my friends and family. I am so thankful that so many people believe in me, not only my friends and family but also the parents of the children I babysat for or tutored who always encouraged me to follow my dreams, as also my parents’ friends or people I actually barely know.  At last but not least I would like to express my thanks for my long gone great grandmother who made this year possible by inheriting me money for my future and always inspired me when I was little. And of course thank you APIA for helping me find a welcoming host family 🙂  Thank you Cindy for making me write this I would have never done it on my own but it was really nice to think about all the good thinks that are happening and to reconsider the developments in my life 🙂

Host Family says: We are so thankful we found our first au pair who so perfectly fits in with our family! We find the help from her wonderful and her contributions to our house are great. We are thankful for the memories she’s giving the children with our au pair experience!

Au Pair says: This year I am thankful for the opportunity to live the experience of being an Au Pair. I am thankful for sharing with a wonderful host family. I am Thankful for what I learn from them and from my hosts little girls. It has been the best experience of my life. Thanks therefore. Only once in life!!! Happy Thanksgiving!

Au Pair says: In this year I am so grateful with my new host family because they care about me, they trust in me and they love me as a part of their family and no just like an Au Pair. I am so grateful because I could visit so many places through this experience like Washington D.C, Miami, Los Angeles, Vancouver Canada, San Francisco, Seattle and NY. Being and Au pair is one of the best experience in my life because I enjoy taking care of kids and meeting new people around the world. I am so grateful to have 2 great women as a Counselor who always care about me in this experience out of my country because it was not easy at the beginning.

Au Pair says: This year I am thankful for my wonderful host family and their support and understanding in every situation. I am really happy to be part of this family. And I am glad that I already made lots of friends who I can talk about everything and have a very good time together. Also I want to say thank you to you Cindy. I really enjoy the APIA meetings and activities. It’s always fun. You are doing a great job. Happy Thanksgiving

Host Family says: We are thankful for our Au Pair from Germany who takes such good care of our daughter and dog too! We are happy to have her as our Au Pair!

Host Family says: I’m thankful for the health of my family and that our au pair cares so deeply for the children.

Au Pair says:  I AM THANKFUL FOR… the great Lord for giving me this fantastic opportunity to be an Au pair. My parents for being the awesome parents that they are, for being supportive, open minded and understanding me. My amazing host family. For au pair in America and all they have done for me. For my good health. My Family and friends that love and care for me. I’m thankful for all I have and everything I’m yet to receive and I am thankful and grateful for this wonderful life I have.

Host Family says: This year I am thankful for our au pair joining our family so seamlessly, so respectfully, and above all so lovingly. I am also thankful to be part of such an incredible family – inside and out.  There is so much to be said about being a mom, and for that, too, I am grateful!

Host Family says: This year we are thankful for the health of our family and the love and support we have around us.  We are grateful for our au pair’s calm approach to handling the kids and the love she has for them and them for her.

Host Family says: We are thankful for our au pair being so kind and patient in teaching the girls both Mandarin and emphasizing good social skills too. She’s a terrific addition to our family and greets every day with great humor and joyfulness!! Simply a delight to have our au pair be part of our household.

Au Pair Helps Others for Thanksgiving

2013-11-24_11.59.13 - CopyThe 5th annual Thanksgiving Basket Brigade,

By Jessica Klose, au pair with Au Pair in America.

“This basket of love and hope is for people in need.”

On Sunday, November 24, 2013 a group of helpers spent their Sunday evening in Stony Brook to prepare baskets for people in need. They prepared baskets for Thanksgiving.
A friend of me told me about the 5th annual Thanksgiving Basket Brigade and asked me if I want to help and spent some food, like some vegetables or stuffing. Something you need to have a Thanksgiving dinner. So we did. We went to the store with two more friends and bought food. On the Sunday morning we went to Stony Brook to help to prepare 40 baskets for 40 families. It wasn’t just us and her host family, their were a lot of more helpers. Some of them do it every year and it was nice to be a part of it this year. I was surprised to see how much food they got together. So we got to work. We started to fill the baskets with turkey, vegetables, pies, fruits, stuffing, mashed potatoes and more.
2013-11-24_11.55.17We wrapped them up and after 3 hours, I think, we were done with all 40 baskets.
Right after we prepared the baskets some of the helpers brought the basket to the families or to people who knew the families who could need the baskets.
I even had the chance to bring 3 baskets to a woman who knew families that need the support.

The 5th annual Thanksgiving Basket Brigade is entirely self funded and based on the support of friends, families and everyone who wants to help.2013-11-24_11.59.13

Happy Thanksgivukkah!

untitled (5)Hanukkah begins at sundown this evening, which means Thankgiving and Hanukkah are celebrated together this year.  A new term Thanksgivukkah is being used to honor both holidays!
The next time Thanksgivukkah will be celebrated is in 79,043 years from now, according to one estimate. Another suggests Thanksgivukkah will take place in 2070 and 2165.

For fun and educational activities for children go to http://www.apples4theteacher.com/holidays/hanukkah/

Directions to play the Dreidel game.  Play for Hershey kisses, a great way to have fun with the kids when they are home from school! http://www.apples4theteacher.com/holidays/hanukkah/dreidel-game.html

Happy Hanukkah!

So Thankful this Year!!

happy-thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is a holiday all Americans celebrate and the Au Pairs enjoy the holiday with their host families.  The Suffolk County Cluster of Au Pair in America took the time to express what they are grateful for this Thanksgiving.

2013 Au Pairs are Thankful for………………………..

Staying in America for a year and meeting new girls. I am thankful that my family and friends are healthy.

Being here in the USA and having a great family at home which helps me not getting too homesick.

Travel to the USA, being in Michigan and meeting awesome friends, awesome places, then travel to New York and finding a great host family.

My time here in the United States, the friends I’ve made and my host family has been so supportive.

All the wonderful people I have met thus far on my time in USA. My great host family and all the memories that will last me a lifetime.

All the people who love me.

My mom and my siblings, that they are there for me when I need them and that we help each other every time. I am thankful for the possibility to spend one year here in America.

My new host family, because the rematch was so hard and I feel so happy now in this host family. I can finally enjoy this new experience in America.

Having a lovely host family, the support from my family and friends at home, my strength to go through all this so far away from everything I know, all my possibilities her in the US., all the people I have gotten to know and will get to know…..

The supportive family and friends I left behind. The struggle it has taken to be here, the amazing host family I’ve come to know and the amazing friends I have made and have yet to make.

My host family – my friends and family who are at home – the opportunity to be here – my life and my health

Being here in America, for supportive, loving family and friends back home, to be able to travel and meet new people, to be blessed with such a great host family, to be healthy, etc.

Waking up every day and having the opportunity to learn something new. I am thankful for nature.

Au Pairs Prepare for the Holidays

Nov AP meeting 498Sunday, November 13 the Suffolk Cluster of Au Pair in America began preparing for the upcoming holiday season in the USA. 

Senior Community Counselor, Cindy Garruba began the meeting by discussing what holidays are celebrated in the USA.  She explained why we celebrate Thanksgiving and how important the holiday is for all Americans.  She then continued the discussion with conversations on the holidays their families may be celebrating, Hanakkuh, Christmas and New Year’s.  There was a discussion on childcare during this happy, but very hectic season. 

Nov AP meeting 497The au pairs divided into small groups to discuss childcare challenges by age group.  Then they came together to discuss the best ways to deal with these challenges.  Cindy emphasized using each other as resources for how to deal with situations.   Holiday childcare can bring on tired, over excited behaviors and it is important to minimize stress during this season with their host children.

Nov AP meeting 496We also discussed being homesick at this time of year, best ways to deal with missing family and friends.  Cindy encouraged the au pairs to bring some of their holiday traditions into their host families celebrations.  Then the au pairs decorated ornaments to be hung on a Au Pair in America Holiday Tree in Stony Brook Village Promenade of Trees.  The meeting concluded with pumpkin pie and apple cider.  The au pairs enjoyed the Thanksgiving dessert and spending time with each other.

Au Pairs and Host Families are Thankful for Each Other

On Sunday November 21 the Au Pairs in Suffolk County learned about the holiday season in the USA.  The discussion began with Thanksgiving and what we are grateful for this year.  Many of the host families had sent messages to their au pairs on what they are grateful to them for this year and the au pairs were very touched to see how much they are appreciated!  They expressed their gratitude as well.  The au pairs loved the pumpkin pie served at the meeting, too!

Here are some thanks from the Host Families:

Thankful Host Families

I am thankful to my au pair because she doesn’t leave us even though my children (especially my son) are very naughty and give her a hard time.

We are thankful for our Au Pair for the great care she takes of our daughter.  We are thankful that she is considerate and willing to always help out.

We are thankful to our au pair because she is flexible, friendly, honest and caring. She loves playing soccer with the kids and she is always having fun and hearty laugh with the boys. Thanks to her for joining our family.

We are grateful to our au pair because she is a lovely and kind person. She truly cares for our children and she is interested in everything that our family does. In just a few months, she has become an integral member of our family (much appreciated also by grandparents on both sides) and we cannot imagine being without her!!!

She hasn’t quit even though our children can be difficult and a bit bratty!

She eats well and keeps the junk food away from us!

We are thankful because she plays so nice with our son.  He LOVES her so much! I am very thankful for her because she is very flexible and accommodating with her schedule all the time. We appreciate her helping us out with our busy lives!! 🙂

We are grateful to our au pair because she takes such good care of our kids, and is a great cook and a terrific Spanish and salsa teacher.

 We are grateful to our au pair because she is more than just an au pair…she is the second best thing to mommy, a sister, a friend, an angel sent to our family…we love her so much!We are thankful beyond all reasonable expectations for the wonderful, thoughtful, kind, smart, funny and all around easy going yet amazing au pair.  We are lucky to have her in our lives and all five of us in our family feel the same way about her!

 

 We are grateful to our au pair because she has done so much to fit into our lives, while having to give up so much of hers.

 We are thankful for her kindness and creativity. She has also quickly assimilated into our family and we cannot imagine our lives without her.

 We are grateful to our au pair because she has become a wonderful addition to our family.  She takes wonderful care of our children and we know she loves them too.  That makes it so much easier for us to leave and go to work because we know our children are in such great hands.  Every mother should be blessed enough to have an au pair like ours.  We can’t thank her enough for all of her help and the wonderful things she does for our family.  The kids say “I is thankful because “she makes great brigadero and she has fun with me and my brother!”  The brother says, “I am because “she has fun with me!”  The baby says he is thankful because “aaaa!”

And thanks from the Au Pairs:

Thankful Au Pairs

I am thankful for the great year I’ve been spending in USA, for my awesome host family, lovely and fun children and for the great friends I’ve made here!

I am thankful for being happy here in the USA.  I’m having the biggest experience of my life.  That’s just amazing!  I love my host kids and I feel they love me back and that’s wonderful!

I am thankful for living here, for my host family being friendly with me and for knowing new people and visiting a lot of places.

I am thankful for my host family who are very very nice to me.

I am thankful for having a good host family and for because I’m here in the USA living this experience.

I am thankful for the support of my family because they supported my dream to come to America!

I am thankful for being in America and having a wonderful, caring and loving host family.

I am thankful for having the most awesome host family that anyone could wish for.  I am also over the top thankful for finding my   BIF (Best International Friend.  I know she’s going to be a friend for life! <3

 I am thankful for being a really great host family and staying in amazing country!

I am thankful for my great host family and that they treat me like a family member, taking me to all their activities.  I’m also very thankful to have found such a great friend!

I am thankful for a host family who makes me happy and gives me a good time in USA!

I am thankful for being an au pair in my host family, having a chance to stay in America, and having a good time with the kids and host parents, and meeting new friends from all over the world!

I am thankful for the great opportunity to spend one year in the USA and to live with a very interesting and nice host family.  I am very happy to meet everyone!

I am thankful for my whole year with my host family and friends.  I am thankful for having this opportunity.

I am thankful for the opportunity of being here and enjoying this great time with my host family and friends!

I am thankful for having this opportunity.  I am thankful for the babies I take care of and for all the friends I have.

I am thankful for having been here 9 months with one of the most great host families.  For the good friends and for this great experience in my life!  Dreams come true!