Author Archives: Victoria Paton

C’est La Vie – Au Pairs Celebrate France at Crêpes A Go Go

August 20, 2016 – 4:06 pm

An annual favorite, Au Pairs from Potomac all the way north to Frederick, MD gathered together to enjoy a variety of French crêpes at Crêpes A Go Go in the Kentlands.

Au Pairs who completed their year in July or August received their completion certificates and offered advise: “Communicate with your host family”, “Make lots of friends”, “Travel whenever you can”..

It was a scorching evening but the feelings of Au Pairs getting to know new friends and saying goodbye to old was warm.

A bientôt mes amies!

Spartan Race a Great Milestone for Au Pair from Poland

August 19, 2016 – 4:44 pm

Magda was 18 months into her 2nd year as an Au Pair, when she heard about the Spartan Race in Blue Mountain, PA from a friend.

Muddy crawl under wires.

She decided that would be a super goal and an accomplishment to aim for as she finishes her two years in Potomac, MD. So, Magda and her friend trained every day for at least half-a-year to be ready for the Race.

“It’s a 5-mile race total and it involved so many things: jumping walls, climbing ropes, monkey bars (I don’t think there is a word in Polish for these…). We had to go on our stomach in the mud under wires, and in the end we had to jump over fire!”

Hauling rocks up and down the hill.

When asked how long it took to complete the race, Magda replied “About 3 hours because it took a while to do some of the running: up and down one hill we had to have a big, wooden board on our backs. For another we had to fill a bucket with rocks and carry it up and down the hill.”

It was one of the best things she has ever done she announced. “It was so cool – I got a medal too! I want to participate in this in Poland also.”

Magda running over fire at the finish.

Victoria beams: “As a Counselor for more than 16 years, Au Pairs like Magda always makes me SO proud. I see Au Pairs reaching for the stars…setting goals and accomplishing them. I encourage my Au Pairs to create a Vision Board at the beginning of their year to pin-up their photos of their goals (academic, travel, athletic, social etc.), and the board can remind them what they came to America to achieve as the year unfolds.”

Magda is an all-around winner

Magda departs her current Host Family on Tuesday for a trip out-west before returning to Poland. Both her Host Family and her Counselor, get tearful thinking about saying goodbye. But Magda has goals, and we all know that wherever she is, she will achieve whatever she puts her mind to.

After 16 Years, Counselor and Au Pair (now Award-winning Film-maker) REUNITED!

August 15, 2016 – 2:22 pm

For years, Senior Community Counselor, Victoria Paton, had been trying to locate a former Au Pair from her first years as a CC…Heidi Brandenburg from Germany. Heidi was special to the Paton family because in the year 2000, Heidi lived temporarily in their Potomac home. (Her host mom had become ill and they needed a full time nanny to care for the family while the mother recovered so she was housed by CC until a new family could be found). Heidi had made an important impact on the Paton’s lives in those 2 weeks she stayed with them, but she didn’t know it, and Victoria was determined to thank her 🙂

The background: It was September 2000 and time for Victoria’s son’s 6th birthday pool-party. Heidi wanted to pitch in, so she made trays of cut up sausages and fruit on sticks- German-style. She walked to the Right Aid and purchased a large green poster board and made a marker/glitter sign “Happy 6th Birthday, Jai”. The party was great, and soon Heidi matched out of state and they all, sadly, lost touch.

Hari’s birthday with Jai standing 2006.

But that was not all…”That birthday poster became a special treasure for our family…EVERY year thereafter that poster was hung as part of the family’s ‘birthday throne’ and subsequently was in the background of EVERY photo of EVERY Paton family member’s birthday from that year forward age: 7,8,9…15, 16…20, 21. And not just for Jai but for his brother and me too. When we moved a few times, we always had to be sure that ‘The Birthday Sign’ was included.”

A wonderful Au Pair, Jasmin from 2014, helped Victoria find Heidi via Social Media…to our surprise Heidi was nearby – currently living in Silver Spring, MD (30 minutes away!!) And, in February of this year, Heidi and Victoria connected via text promising to meet soon not disclosing to Heidi about “The Birthday Poster”. Victoria wanted it to be a surprise!

Heidi Brandenburg, who is half Peruvian, had been living in the Peruvian jungle for many years after film school. She had since married and has two adorable daughters. Heidi has been very busy and created and filmed “When Two Worlds Collide” a documentary about the devastation of the Peruvian rain forest. The film won awards at Sundance and has made the documentary circuit around the world. It was recently shown at AFI Cinema and Tribeca in NYC.

Heidi on right receiving award for her film at Sundance.

On July 29th, Heidi and Victoria were able to hug in person: Heidi and her family, came as guests of honor to Victoria’s Cluster S’mores Party. Now in her 30’s, Heidi briefly spoke to the young Au Pairs about her life and film career.

Victoria had a surprise presentation for Heidi…

Victoria brought “The Birthday Poster” a bit worn with bits of miscellaneous tape all over the back from years of adhesion to walls.
Heidi received a montage of photos of Victoria’s sons celebrating a decade + of birthdays in front of the “The Birthday Poster”
Jai (now almost 22 years old, a rising-Senior at Pitzer College, living in CA, and 6’2″) emerged from the audience to greet Heidi in person

Victoria, Heidi and Jai (21) display “The Birthday Poster”…together at last!

It was a an emotional reunion, 16 years in the making…with a significant message: Au Pair in America “Brings the World Together”…and touches Host Families, Au Pairs and Community Counselors alike 🙂

Community Counselor Has Reunion with Au Pair in Italy

July 15, 2016 – 8:29 pm

Milan is a beautiful city, and that is where Victoria Paton, Senior Community Counselor in Maryland and Sara Canclini were reunited. Sara had recently finished her year in Victoria’s cluster and returned to her family and work in Milan. As Sara had been too busy saying goodbye to friends and her host family before her departure from the US, she had not had a chance to receive her completion certificate for her amazing year with a wonderful family in Avenel (Potomac) where she cared for 2 school-aged children.

Victoria, who was visiting Italy for work and pleasure, decided to present the certificate to Sara personally – in Italy..in the Piazza del Duomo So they arranged to meet on the steps of the Milan Cathedral and, in the company of Sara’s friend (and hundreds of on-lookers/tourists), acted out a formal certificate presentation.

How fun it was to catch-up over a cappuccino and to spend some time strolling the beautiful streets of Milan!

Au Pair in America places many Au Pairs from Italy. These young women excel in childcare, have strong English skills and are skilled drivers.

So it was a great treat to return to Milan and Florence to become more familiar with the culture and life of the Italian people…and her Au Pairs.

Senior Community Counselor Visits Panama

June 1, 2016 – 8:57 pm

“More and more fantastic Au Pairs are coming from Panama. I wanted to better undertanding of their country and the culture. I was lucky to have a chance to visit Panama City as well as the outlying islands, ” explained Victoria Paton, Au Pair in America’s Senior Community Counselor for Potomac, Bethesda, Cabin John and Glen Echo. In my 16 years as a Community Counselor, Au Pair in America has recruited an increasing number high-quality, childcare providers Latin America: Colombia, Ecuador, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Peru, Argentina, Chile, El Salvador, Mexico and, now, Panama.

Panama City was bussling with life from its Cathedral and Presidential Palace to the cozy piazzas for dining and music, and the famous Panama Canal.

I flew from Panama City to Bocas Del Toro, and from there, by boat from island to island amongst the indigenous peoples, cocoa plantations, and beautiful beaches.

Visiting the gorgeous islands, I often had the chance to play with children. Life on the islands is simple: and cut off are from the rest of the world…no electricty, cars, internet or even a soccer ball to replace the one that was deflated.

The children on the left live in a beachside community and were fascinated with videos on my phone.

“So now when I welcome Au Pairs from Panama to my Cluster, I know so much more about their beautiful country, abundant in warm people and natural beauty.”

“We Love Our Au Pairs” Awards Party

May 29, 2016 – 9:21 pm

It was a perfect night for our Annual Au Pair Awards Party this year titled “We Love Our Au Pairs”.

Each Host Family was asked to nominate their Au Pair for an award for whatever she does best. Some awards were serious and some were humorous, but they all were intended to show gratitude for the hours and care that their Au Pair brings to their family.

Held at the Kentlands Clubhouse, in Gaithersburg, the invitation from Senior Community Counselor, Victoria Paton, to each Au Pair read: “Put on Your Party Dress and be my guest as you are honored at our Annual Au Pair Awards Dessert Party”. And dress-up they did!

Each Au Pair was asked to come up one-by-one to the podium as Victoria read their Award. Then, the Au Pair was presented with a rose (a la The Bachelor) and a paper certificate as she posed for a souvenir photo.

Awards included: “Simply the Best Au Pair”, “The Au Pair Most Eager to Join the Family for Anything and Everything:, “Most Mileage Driven,”Best Playdough Creater, Baker and Friend”, ” Most Caring Cook Ever”, ” Best Birthday Decorator”, “Best to Bond with Entire Family”, “Most Like a Big Sister”, “Best Banana Pancake Maker”, “Best Minecraft Coach”, “Sweetest, Kindest Au Pair”, “Most Punctual”, “Happiest and Most Accommodating Au Pair”, “Most Laid Back Au Pair”, “Queen of Hide and Seek”, “Safest Driver”, “Best Science Tutor and Chef”, “Best Uno Player and Most Beautiful Smile”, “Most Trustworthy and Sensible”, “Best Lego Builder, Hairdresser, Manicurist and Cuddler” etc.

Lots of love, good wishes and a great evening for all!

The cake was almost too pretty to cut up and serve, but we all enjoyed the dessert during the ceremony then we all went outdoors as the sun set for a balloon release. Each Au Pair was asked to write on a card what her hopes, dreams or a wish was. It was attached to an APIA red balloon and sent off into the sky. Let’s hope all their dreams will come true!

Handling Miscellaneous Household Expenses or “Petty Cash” with Au Pairs

May 28, 2016 – 2:19 pm

As summer has arrived, the kids may be home more often requiring Au Pairs to spend “petty cash” on snacks for the children at the pool, taking them to the movies, crafts projects, lunches in the day etc.

So, here is is a tip on “Handling Expenses” by Au Pair in America Senior Community Counselor – Christine Connally of Bowie, MD

May 15, 2014 – 12:56 am

Miscellaneous Expenses

There are different ways to handle the little day to day expenses that come up. Things like when an au pair takes the kids out for ice cream or picks up a gallon of milk. Some families keep a cookie jar fund, a little cash that they set aside weekly or monthly for this kind of expenses. Here are some suggestions for avoiding problems with expenses.

Host Families

It’s important to be clear about how long this money should last and what types of expenses are approved.
Let the au pair know whether or not you expect receipts.

Au Pairs

Only spend the money on approved expenses.
If it is something you are not sure about, ask first.
Put your receipts in the cookie jar in place of the money to avoid any confusion.

Gas and Fare Cards

Host families are responsible for the au pair’s transportation costs:

to and from classes and cluster meetings
driving the kids

It is a good idea to figure out how much gas an au pair will use for these trips and either put gas in the car or give a gas allowance. If your au pair is riding to classes or cluster meetings with another au pair, you should offer to share the cost of gas.

Au pairs are responsible for their own transportation at all other times. You should replace the amount of gas used for personal use.

National Pancake Day at IHOP

May 20, 2016 – 7:15 pm

A fun group of pancake-loving Au Pairs joined their Counselor, Victoria Paton, at the Rockville Pike IHOP on National Pancake Day. Every Au Pair dove into a free short-stack while they chatted and met new friends. We even had the pleasure of a pair of twins who ate their pancakes from within their stroller for comfort.

Our cluster donated $100 to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society who were raising money via Pancake Day.

Country Line Dancing Was a Big Hit!

May 15, 2016 – 6:52 pm

Over 60 Au Pairs in Montgomery County participated in a heel-kicking, boot-tapping country line dance class with our favorite instructor Mary who is always thrilled with the Au Pair’s enthusiasm.

Potomac Community Center was the venue for this year’s class which featured country line steps to more contemporary tunes….and it was a blast!

Something so fun and aerobic, was a great way for the Au Pairs, from over 20 countries, to experience something so truly American!

Au Pairs Prepare Now for Summer with Pool Safety Class

May 9, 2016 – 3:38 pm

Au Pairs in Victoria Paton’s Cluster gathered in our Rockville “Cluster Cottage” to brush-up on their pool safety skills for both public and home swimming this year.

Life guard Aileen Farrell of Montgomery Country spoke about being vigilant (do not rely on the pool life guard to watch your children – you must also be vigilant), what drowning looks like across a crowded pool – hint: it is less obvious than you’d think, talking to host parents before pool season about escorting children to changing rooms/toilets, using objects at pool-side for water rescues etc.

Please take a look at the video now. It could save a life.

Here is another useful video.

The American Red Cross provides v ery useful information here.