…and no, I don’t mean making sure you’ve fully utilized all 45 hours in any given week! What I mean is, just like you should take time out to appreciate your family, life, “smelling the roses”, so too should you take time out to enjoy having an au pair, and to appreciate the unique and special experience this truly is. In light of the recent terrible events in Japan, I think it is important to take stock of our lives, to stop, just for a moment, to breathe, and to appreciate our current situation and the important people in it.
While hosting an au pair first and foremost fills a need we have for childcare, it must too be remembered that hosting an Au Pair from another country is a privilege to be nurtured and cherished. Take time out from the to-do chore list to really learn about who your au pair is as a person and the place she is coming from. Try to spend family time with her, perhaps game night, or a day out – to just have fun together! When time permits, one-on-one time to chat not about the kids, but as one adult to another. When you take the time to really get to know your au pair as a person, not just your childcare provider, you will find that not only will the working relationship be greatly improved, but that the whole experience will be enriched beyond measure.
