Solymar, an au pair from Panama, recently created a memorable birthday for one of her host children, a little girl turning 6!
Solymar created a wonderful balloon display in the little girls room so when she woke up in the morning she would be greeted with a magical sight! This is just one example of the love and care our au pairs have for their host kids!
Driving in the snow and ice can be a challenge even for experienced drivers. If you don’t have to go out in bad weather, stay home. If you do have to go out, here are some tips from AAA. Check out the full article on the AAA website. 
Tips for driving in the snow:
Accelerate and decelerate slowly…
Drive slowly…
The normal dry pavement following distance of three to four seconds should be increased to eight to ten seconds…
Know your brakes…
Don’t stop if you can avoid it…
Don’t power up hills…
Don’t stop going up a hill….
Stay home.
Photo: Steve Pisano (Flickr)
Article: Christine Connally
Homesickness can be a problem during the holidays, even if it hasn’t been at any other time of the year. Au pairs often miss their friends and family, familiar places and their own traditions and customs. The holiday activities in the United States seem, and may actually be, different just at a time when an au pair would welcome something familiar.
It is common for au pairs’ emotions to be close to the surface during the holidays. Her highs are higher, her lows are lower. The enormity of what she has done–actually living in another country (which is an amazing thing when you think about it!)–hits her and throws her into a self-protective mode.
Host parents can help her through this unfamiliar territory by talking to her about what your specific family activities will be (gifts, meals, visitors, religious services, in-home traditions, or none of these, as the case may be.) In the spirit of cultural exchange, ask her if she has any favorite holiday traditions or foods that you might be able to incorporate into your family’s celebration of the season. Let her know what you will be doing, when you will be doing it, and what she can expect. Talk to her about what has to be accomplished and get her involved and interested. Don’t expect her to just “know” what needs to be done. Give her some clear, agreed upon assignments. Make her feel a part of things. And, let her know her contribution is needed and appreciated.
Photo: Sheila Sund (Flickr)
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.
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.
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.
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)
Kayleigh hails from South Africa and has been an au pair in Maryland for almost two years now! She shared some reflections on the impact of her time in the United States.
“I’ve grown a lot since the beginning of my adventure I’ve grown spiritually, physically and emotionally so I guess that’s what I’m taking with me when I’m done.
The skunk experience was my funniest experience! I have never smelled skunk before so it was interesting. Now whenever I drive and the skunk smell enters I’m like, it’s awful but if it wasn’t for America I’d still be nose blind to the smell of Skunk.
The strangest thing might be that people here interact differently most people don’t talk to people they don’t know which in most cases is sad because it’s hard to start a friendship with someone who won’t talk to you. This has impacted me in so many ways; before this I had just lost my grandmother so I was dealing with life without her so I wasn’t sure I’d ever overcome it, but being here I’ve learnt to appreciate the time I had with her rather then mourn the loss of her.
It has shaped my future, yes, given me the strength to do something I’ve always wanted to do which is travel the world, be a better person and let people know that there is still good in this world. Social Working has always been where my heart has been, but until this adventure I wasn’t sure if I would actually do it so until now I’ve been on the fence with it. Teaching has always been a big part of who I am and I’m so glad I could teach my host family and my American friends more about me and my home country.
“You will never be completely home again, because part of you will always be elsewhere. That is the price you pay for loving and knowing people in more than one place!” – Former Southern Maryland au pair
Recently, one of my previous au pairs returned to Southern Maryland to visit her host family. As part of a whirlwind, fun and exciting visit, they had a family portrait done on the beach. The host family, the current au pair and their previous au pair – all one big, unique family.
This relationship (and others they have formed with au pairs over the years) idealizes the true spirit of the Au Pair in America program – cultural exchange. The cultural exchange of joining two families for a common goal. With each placement, we have the opportunity to share all that is great about America, and in turn, learn what is great about their country.
Childcare is the obvious reason that a family chooses this type of relationship, but the bigger picture of cultural exchange for them and their children is, and should be, right up there too. The most successful matches between a host family and an au pair are the ones where both sides embrace the whole spirit of the program. Where the host family believes in learning not just about the au pair’s culture but about her and her family, where they welcome her and treat her as a part of their extended family, where they encourage the au pair to have the American experience, where they offer support and guidance, but also opportunity. That is the host family who is going to have the best experience.
The au pair who arrives full of excitement and plans for an amazing experience, who is open to sharing her culture, language, foods, customs. The au pair who is diligent in her childcare duties, who eagerly becomes a part of the family and the community, looking for ways to be engaged and helpful not just at home, but in the community as well, embracing the opportunities she can have in 52 weeks… that is the au pair who is going to succeed and have the best experience.
52 weeks to change the life of a child, a parent, an au pair. 52 weeks to make a real connection between countries and cultures. 52 weeks can become a lifelong relationship. The choice is yours. How will you spend your 52 weeks?
Photo: Blancastella
St. Patrick’s Day is almost here! Looking for some ideas for some fun and merriment to do with your host kids? Check out the Au Pair In American (APIA) Pinterest Board – St. Patrick’s Day Shenanigans for some great ideas! I can’t wait to hear about what kinds of fun you came up with!
Dedicated to ages 10-15 this serves as a reminder of the insecurity of young adolescents. Help the young adolescents you care for to recognize their abilities. Help to make home a safe and comfortable place where it is okay to learn from mistakes. Help them to learn about the adult values of hard work, family and discipline.
Even though kids this age are typically pretty independent and may seem like they don’t need or want much interaction from an au pair, this is not completely true. They still enjoy when you take an interest in their activities. Find ways to connect with them through shared interests or let them introduce you to things they care about.
This is a hard time for many young people, lots of changes, lots of challenges, feelings and emotions. Some days that awesome kid isn’t so awesome. Some days, ok, lots of days, may not be great days for them and they may seem preoccupied, moody, distant and they may even say things that aren’t always nice. Remember to keep your cool, be consistent, even if they are emotionally all over the place. Keep trying to connect, but also give them space.
Photo: Marlon Dias
