An extra set of hands, a friend, a sister and helper

I just wanted to talk about the great benefits of hosting an aupair. So many people do not know about this great experience as an option for child care. It has enriched our family in so many ways.

Our first aupair G from Denmark was wonderful, she was our first so needless to say we were a little green and did not know the first thing about hosting a young person. But she taught us and stuck with us and turned out to be great. She put a lot of miles on our car and made us all eat junk food because that is what she liked and we wanted to please her but it was worth it because she was so sweet and good with our daughter. Then came number 2, O from Norway which unfortunately was not a good fit, she was very nice but she was better suited for older kids so after taking her on vacation with us to Costa Rica she decided to rematch, and she went on to a successful year in America. We then scrambled as everyone does when they are in rematch but we were lucky to find an in country aupair from Estonia and she was great and we had a good rest of the year with her. Then we started our Brazilian streak, we had four girls in a row from Brazil. The first one L was a wonderful teacher to my then three year old. They did art projects, worked on the alphabet, took trips to the park and she was a great person to be around. Then came I, she was from the same area as the first one and also wonderful. She continued teaching my then four year old as if she was in pre school and she also kept my house clean which freaked me out at first, I told my husband she is moving my dirt around...I don't like it. But then I got used to it and my house has never been as clean and tidy again. When she left I realized how much she did around here. Then we had another daughter and our third Brazilian came. Her main job was to take care of the new baby while the older one was now in Kindergarten. We had a great year with her. Then came M and she stayed with us for two years. She was loving and sweet and loved her job taking care of a one year old. They both took 2-3 hour naps together! Nice day on the job. The girls loved her and her easy going nature. So now we have had Brazilians for five years we decided let's learn about another place for a change and we went with a German Aupair. I thought Germans were good drivers and now we needed more of a driver to take the kids places, well it took this aupair three tries on the driving test to pass! But in the end she was a great driver, fun person to talk with, great with the girls and we had a wonderful year together. Now we are at our last aupair or so we think, with both girls in school in the Fall it is more of a luxury than a necessity but one we will very much miss. We decided to end our aupair experience with a Brazilian and again they did not disappoint. She is just amazing and handles everything we throw at her with grace and kindness. She is now teaching my five year old so she is prepared for Kindergarten in the Fall and she is doing a great job. So as you can see we have had ten great years of aupairs and now have extended family all over the world, these girls may no longer live with us but they will forever live in our hearts and be a part of our family. I hope more people get to experience what we have had. It is wonderful.

Good-Bye parties for your Aupair

The time has come, the year is over and it flew by. You are going to miss your aupair, she has become a part of the family and you know it will be tearful good bye. But you also know that now you have a new family member and your life has been enriched. Families do good byes in different ways. I always ask what the aupair wants, sometimes they want a big party and other times just a quiet dinner either with their host family or including some close friends. We have done it all from big blow out back yard parties that went until 4 in the morning to a quiet dinner out at the aupairs favorite restaurant. Whatever you do, make sure you do something to mark the end of your year together. The Aupair has taken care of  your most precious possession your children. Honor her and thank her.

Tips for a succesful year

Whether you have just arrived, or are in your extension year, it's good to remember some basics for having a good au pair experience. Communication is the basis for any good relationship. You should feel free to tell your host family how you're feeling and ask questions about anything you don't understand. It's not always easy to have an honest conversation, but it is important! Equally important is mutual respect. Don't forget that your host family has trusted you with their most precious possessions: their children. But also don't forget to treat their home, car and other possessions with respect. At the end of your stay your room should look much like it did when you arrived. Your host family should also respect you and understand how difficult it can be, coming from another country and culture. (If they forget - remember to use a little of that communication!) If you ever feel there are difficulties arising that you can't handle by
yourself, please call me. I'm here to help!

Fun things for the kids to do with the Aupair

My kids had some friends over for a play date today and my lovely aupair had a full plate! What to do with five kids? Have a lemonade stand. The kids spent the morning getting signs ready and making lemonade, then they set up a table on our front walk way and started selling. They had so much fun, they learn about money, they learn to interact with people and it keeps them busy for hours. The aupair was in the background watching over them and helping where needed. A great day for all!

Do as I say not as I do

These are important words for Aupairs and Host parents to know. We as host parents set our aupairs to a higher standard than ourselves. We will place the kids in front of the television on a Saturday so we can get some things done around the house, this does not mean that the Aupair can do the same during the work week. A Host parent may leave the kids at home sleeping while they run out a quick errand, the aupair may not. The host parent may drink a glass of wine or two and drive home, the aupair may not...and the list goes on and on. As host parents having an aupair live with you is foreshadowing of having teenagers.  They watch us and see how we do things so it is only natural that they repeat the things we do. Again communication is key to any relationship, so the next time the aupair comes to you and says "but you do it why can't I...", make sure you have a good response ready. Mine is Do as I say and not as I do.

Ten Questions I Wish I Asked my Child Care Provider

Ten Questions I Wish I Asked my Child Care Provider

Interviewing potential child care providers can be a daunting task. AuPairCare, an au pair matching agency, interviews thousands of international au pair applicants each year to assure they represent only the highest quality child care providers. Regardless of what type of child care provider you are seeking, AuPairCare recommends you consider the following questions, which go beyond basic child care experience, when interviewing applicants who will be taking care of your children.

1.     Are you trained in either CPR or First Aid?

2.     What is your discipline philosophy?

3.     Do you have a high school diploma and plans to continue your education?

4.     Do you have a valid driver’s license, and how much driving experience do you have?

5.     Can you offer flexible child care hours, including nights and weekends?

6.     Do you have any other obligations such as a part time job or children of your own that might impact your availability?

7.     Tell me what you love most about taking care of children? What is the hardest part?

8.     What is your favorite food? What type of meals do you prepare for kids?

9.     Do you have your own health insurance?

10.  Why should we let you care for our children?

“Parents need to have a complete picture of their child care provider’s experience, child care philosophy and personality before hiring,” said Heidi Woehl, vice president of AuPairCare. “It’s important that you are 100% confident in your child care provider’s ability and that your child enjoys spending time with your provider.  At AuPairCare we screen each au pair on a number of factors – including educational background, medical and psychological stability, criminal record, and child care references before accepting them into our program. Au pairs also receive accident and travel insurance, training in CPR and First Aid, and constant support by local staff. Most of all, we make sure each au pair has a sincere interest in caring for children.”

Ten tips for culturally aware children

Ten Tips for Culturally Aware Children

Many children start to show an interest in different cultures at a young age, whether  through ethnic food, friends at school, unique clothes, or hearing a foreign language spoken for the first time. Here are 10 ways to encourage your child’s curiosity and teach them about a variety of cultures in fun and interactive ways. 

1.     Read bedtime stories that take place in another country or include some foreign words, so you can practice pronunciation.

2.     Host an international au pair. You can use matching agencies like AuPairCare, which have au pairs from more than 40 countries.

3.     Enroll your child in a cultural dance or martial arts class, such as Bollywood, Flamenco or Capoeira.

4.     Enroll your child in foreign language classes for kids, such as Lango. 

5.     Plan art activities for your child based on different cultures such as Japanese calligraphy, Chinese paper cut outs, and Puerto Rican Ponce Carnival Masks.

6.     Cook and try new foods inspired by other cultures with your children, or enroll them in cooking classes like Cooking Up Culture.

7.     Plan a heritage party for your children and their friends, and encourage each child to bring food and games from their family’s heritage.

8.     Watch family-friendly movies that take place in another country.

9.     Listen to popular music from different cultures while in the car, or teach your kids a simple song in a foreign language.

10.  Attend local festivals and parades that celebrate different cultures such as Cinco de Mayo, Carnival, Chinese New Year, and Bastille Day.

“Children are little sponges, taking in the world around them with eagle eyes and curious minds,” said Heidi Woehl, vice president of AuPairCare and a mother of five. “This curiosity is a great thing and should be cultivated through as many avenues as possible, in an effort to raise a globally and culturally aware next generation.”

The role of the Area Director

What exactly does the area director do? Aupair Care has 200 + area directors around the country and our job is to be there for the host families and au pairs. I think the area director is a great resource for families and aupairs and I believe Aupair Care has some of the best area directors in the business hence the A+ rating the company has from the Better Business Bureau. I love my job, I get to meet interesting host families that live all across the city, from Gardner, to Leavenworth to Parkville. I cover the whole Metro. I enjoy getting out of my comfort zone of my Mid Town Urban life. I also very much enjoy all the au pairs, they come from all over the world. It is fascinating to meet other cultures and hear other languages. It can be tricky sometimes when doing a mediation with a family and aupair because there are cultural differences, but there in lies the challenge that I enjoy, especially when everything works out. It comes down to communication. We all need to communicate. If host family and au pair have trouble communicating then contact your area director. We are the neutral ones and we are here to help you. That is what I find is a huge benefit of having an aupair over a local nanny, there is support from a third party. The Area Director is in it with you, at least that is how I see it.

Living a Simple yet Urban lifestyle is it possible?

As our lives get busier, two working parents, two kids , two dogs and a nanny how do we maintain the simple life in this urban environment? It is important to me to feed my family healthy food and for my children to know where their food comes from. It does not come from a box pre-packaged and pre-made. It is easier than you think to keep a simple life and not really that much more expensive. I make my own bread, it is cheaper and tastier than store bought bread and it makes the house smell good. We buy local milk from the Shatto company, the best milk ever, comes in glass bottles which you recycle at the store. And we just got our first order of produce from Fruitful Hills, a local Amish family that provides food for the Urban dwellers. I believe it is possible to live a more simple life in the midst of our hectic Urban lifestyle. All these things help teach the next generation to maybe slow down a little and enjoy the little things in life in the midst of iphone,ipads and ipods!

How to deal with homesickness

We have all encountered a bout of being homesick one time or another. Aupairs often feel a bit of homesickness the first weeks after arriving in America. The best solution to prevent homesickness is keeping busy in the first few weeks. As an aupair get out and make friends, reach out to other aupairs in your area, spend time with your host family and really get to know them, try to limit your conversations with family and friends at home. It is difficult to get to know your life in America when all you think about is what you left behind. Immerse yourself in the American culture as much as possible, that is why you came to America to learn something new and be away from home.
As a host family look for the signs of homesickness. Include your aupair as much as possible, eat dinner together, talk and learn about your aupairs culture and family and friends. Communicating and getting to know each other will help both the aupair and host family to limit homesickness and make for a successful year.

Should you take your Au Pair on vacation

To take your aupair on vacation or not, I get that question often. I think it is up to each family to decide whether they want their aupair along on a family vacation. It can be a big help having the aupair along allowing you some adult time and you know your kids are safe since they are with their regular babysitter. But there are times when you just want some family time and don't need the aupair along. It really is a personal choice for each family and a question of finances. If you bring the aupair along and she is working then it is reasonable that you pay for their trip. Having her share a room with the kids is very common. It can be a nice treat for the aupair to come along. We would bring our aupair along when we first started with the aupair program 9 years ago, but now we tend to leave the aupair home. We enjoy spending time with our kids while vacationing, though I must admit that on this last vacation having had some help would have been nice, an evening out would have been great.

Great class for your Child and Au Pair

If you are looking for something fun for your au pair and child to do together sign up for a Kinder Music class. Both my children have taken classes and loved it. Kinder Music with Joy is a great resource. They offer classes in Overland Park,KS and Brookside, MO  Here is a link to their website
http://www.kindermusikwithjoy.net/
This is a great way for your aupair to learn English by singing with your child. Music has no language barriers and is a great way for your child and Aupair to bond.

Lost in Translation

I cannot stress enough how important communication is. It is especially important when we are dealing with other cultures and languages. Having had many aupairs myself and also being the Area Director for Aupaircare in Kansas City I value communication and patience. I now see how wars get started, people misunderstand each other, they do not communicate properly and everything builds up and suddenly we have distrust and people get uncomfortable. This can all be avoided by communicating and when dealing with a foreign language we need patience. I have seen many a match (Aupair and Host family) almost fall apart and the main reason one or both parties felt misunderstood. We as host families get busy and we forget that our aupair is not a native English speaker and we assume things, we assume they understood what we meant but they did not. Put things in writing if needed and then go over it later to make sure everything was understood. Be patient. As an aupair ask if you do not understand something, also put it in writing, have another aupair help you explain if their English is better. There is never a stupid question! Better to ask and clarify than wonder. And host families really need to be patient, especially the first few weeks of an aupair's arrival. Everything is new to them, the culture, the language, the food and expectations. Even when we have native English speakers we need to communicate with each other. Never assume the other party knows what you mean. One of my South African aupairs was getting directions from her host mom and the host mom told her to turn right at the traffic light. Well the aupair had no idea what a traffic light was because in South Africa they are called Robots. She kept searching for this traffic light wondering when to turn and she got lost. So never make assumptions and always ask when you do not understand.

Cultural Tip

From time to time I come across some cultural differences that need to be pointed out and they are not the obvious. So I will post them here. They are important for Aupairs and Host families because they are usually topics we do not like to talk about. So today's topic is "where does the toilet paper go after you have used it?" In America the answer is obvious...the toilet right? But in South American countries the toilet paper goes in the waste basket in the bathroom. The reason may be that the plumbing there is not as good as here, maybe that is just what they are used to, who knows but the first time it happens you kind of wonder. I now know this little piece of information and it is okay, each culture has different things that we do. Now I know what to do when I go to Brazil and they will not look at me strangely because i threw the toilet paper in the toilet.

Our Au Pair Experience (Part2)

As I mentioned we have had 8 Aupairs so far and I am not sure we are done yet. I feel there is more of the world we need to explore through our au pairs. We have had Denmark, then Norway (which did not work out so well, but that is another story), Estonia, Four from Brazil one of which stayed two years and our current girl is from Germany. They have all been great and we are in touch with all of them still. It is fun to watch where they end up and what they do with their lives. My girls view them all as big sisters from around the world. This year we have had the pleasure of having two of our previous Aupairs visit which was great. Leticia from Brazil was here and we had not seen her for five years. She now works in Brazil helping to save the rain forest which is amazing. Andrea, also from Brazil came for a visit, she was with us three years ago. She is now an aupair again in California.

Our First Au Pair Gitte

Our first Au Pair was wonderful, though we had a rocky start! We were new to the Au Pair thing and we just had our first baby so we were not the best host parents in the beginning. I had not thought of all the things that would be nice for the Aupair to have in her room, a radio/CD player ( this was pre ipods) a TV, plenty of storage place for her things...So the Aupair was a little upset with us the first few weeks. Thanks to our wonderful area director at the time we worked it out. The Area director came over and talked with us and talked with the Aupair and we all realized we were not communicating our expectations of each other very well. After the Area director left we sat down and had a good conversation I took the Aupair to Target for a shopping trip and after that all was great. She was a wonderful Aupair and great with our baby. She cooked some great dishes and baked up a storm. She cleaned from time to time... but the best thing about her was we could trust her with our baby and she was a great addition to our extended family. Gitte is all grown up now and she is married and has had her first baby.

Child care that fits you

Having an Aupair  is flexible, affordable, and a great cultural exchange experience for your family.