This is the time of year when many families have special celebrations. It’s a great time to take advantage of the cultural exchange part of the program – au pairs usually have their own holiday traditions to share, and they are usually interested in learning about their host family’s traditions.

Ask her if she has any special rituals, recipes, or other activities that she would like to share with you. For example, a Swedish au pair may prepare St. Lucia rolls for her family on December 13th. A Mexican au pair may make a special pinata. An Israeli au pair may have a special Menorah to share.

Holidays are also a big trigger for homesickness, so try to be aware of any mood changes. Try to remember that your au pair is someone’s daughter, far from home at a special time of year. If she needs additional support please reach out to me. I’m happy to help!

Take a few minutes to talk about work expectations with your au pair. School will be out for about 2 weeks, so her schedule will change. Be sure you are still following program rules! Also, holidays are working days for au pairs, but it’s possible she may want to spend Thanksgiving with a friend, so try to work that stuff out before plans are finalized.

Every culture has some kind of festival they celebrate, and they can be a fun way to learn new things about each other. My family puts out cheese for Santa Mouse every year…. what about you?