An Au Pair Makes it Work for One Family

Never in a million years did I think I would have an au pair. The Legos alone frequently threaten to take over the living room in my Hoboken, New Jersey apartment – where would I put an extra person? Yet here I am, with an au pair who has rescued my marriage, career and sanity. I cannot imagine life without Jana.

How did I wind up making such a drastic turnaround? I cannot pinpoint the exact moment when I changed my mind. The catalyst to my conversion? AuPairCare area director Andrea Coyle. I met Andrea three years ago at a street fair and wound up exchanging a few emails because I was curious about how urban families fit au pairs into their lives (hint: temporary walls and loft beds are your friends). Andrea has been consistently helpful, reliable and knowledgeable. She has given me peace of mind about the au pair process throughout my entire experience.

I never intended to be a work at home mom. Seven years ago, when I became pregnant with my first child, I wound up staying home due to medical complications. Parenting and physical recovery turned out to be much more difficult than my husband and I expected. With two intense, time-consuming careers, we decided the best option for our family was for me to stay home.  However, in these uncertain economic times, I did not want to abandon my career. We also needed my earnings. The flexible hours provided by an au pair were the best fit with my highly unpredictable schedule. It was also the most affordable option at $8 per hour compared to the going rate of $20.

Increasing my family by 150% while growing a business has led to some rough patches.  Four months after Jana’s arrival, her presence in our lives is an unmitigated success. My children have wholeheartedly accepted her as a family member – it helps that they have an uncle who is the same age. We no longer have the giant piles of unfolded laundry that were the bane of my husband’s existence, and the kids have actually been picking up the living room legos under Jana’s tutelage.

We have taken Jana to see New York City cultural sites like Coney Island and Central Park, and her adoration for the baby is obvious in the way she runs to pick her up when she cries. Best of all, my husband and I have gone out on a couple of dates for the first time in over a year. We are grateful to have found this wonderful person thanks to AuPairCare.


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Get Ready for Back-to-School, Read a Book for au pairs in Hampton Roads, Tidewater, Virginia, Chesapeake, Virginia Beach, Suffolk, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Hampton, Newport News, Poquoson, & Williamsburg

It is getting closer and closer to school starting and many of our host families have children that are gearing up for the big day.  Along with clothes shopping for back to school and buying all the needed supplies comes a little bit of anxiety for children.  As an adult, I still have those crazy dreams where I can't find my shoes and the school bus is honking at my door or that I have a test and I forgot to study for it.

Children and families are both excited and apprehensive about the beginning of school.
A visit to your local library can help and fortunately, our host families have a ready-to-go au pair that can take our children during the hot days of August. 

I remember many afternoons as a child lounging on the bean-bags scattered in the children's section reading or being read to as a child.  As the American season of back-to-school approaches, there are many books that can help prepare little ones for the big day and alleviate some of their fears.  Suggest to your au pair that she look some of them up and read them with or to your children. 

• Pinky Dinky Doo:  Back to School is Cool by Jim Jinkins A Step into Reading book for ages 6 and up
• Amanda Pig, School Girl by Jean Van Leeuwen Ages 5 and up
• School Days Around the World by Catherine E. Chambers for ages 7 and up
• Junie B., First Grader (at Last!) by Barbara Park and Denise Brunkus ages 6 and up
• Meet the Barkers:  Morgan and Moffat Go to School by Tomie dePaola ages 4 and up
• A Very Full Morning by Eva Montanari ages 4 and up
• Butterflies in My Stomach and Other School Hazards by Serge Bloch ages 4 and up
• Wayside School Boxed Set:  Wayside School Gets a Little Stranger, Wayside School is Falling Down, Sideways Stories from Wayside School by Louis Sachar ages 8 and up

These are some excellent books about back-to-school and the local librarian will be an invaluable resource for finding more.  Suggest to your au pair that she get to know the librarian on her next visit.

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The Moms of the Olympics

Everyone has watched the mothers of the Olympians as they cried and cheered their children on. 
I may not be the mother of an Olympian, but sometimes I feel like I am one.  We all make sacrifices for our children each and every day and often it feels like our children are our full time job even if we have another one.  There are many of us who juggle and shuffle and rearrange to help our children succeed.  Having an au pair helps tremendously, but it doesn't lessen the sacrifices we make to help our children excel.

I also love seeing the advertising campaign by Proctor and Gamble, "Thank you, Mom".  Even if it is an advertising campaign, it seems heartfelt and reminds us all that moms need to be thanked.  When I watch the Olympics, their ads make it seem like Mother's Day.

Proctor and Gamble has a channel on YouTube which features many videos and stories of Olympians and their mothers.  One video features Gabby Douglas.  Her story caught my attention because it is amazingly similar to our host families and au pairs.  Gabby Douglas lives in Des Moines, Iowa to train while her family lives in Virginia Beach, Virginia.  In the video, Gabby's Host Mom, Missy Parton, says her goal from the beginning was to welcome Gabby into her home just like she would welcome any of her own girls.  It also talks about the difference in their culture and their bond of respect which helps them every day.

I encourage you to watch the video  If you are a host family, you will see how important your role is in a young girl's life.  If you are a mother, you will feel appreciated for all you do.
Click Here for "Raising an Olympian-Gabby Douglas"