dear host families..

If someday in the future I become a host mom, i will treat my au pair as my best friend, I would be the nicest, friendly, funny , laid back, easy going host mom even in my bad days of mood. If something happen and I feel she is scared or embarrassed of something that might have happened,I will show my support, even been mad or upset, not just because i have been an au pair and know how it is to be one but, because i am human and I know nobody is perfect, so can't expect anybody else to be. . This person that works for you is also someone trying to discover the world, living in a different country, trying to have social life and having meals, sleeping, talking and living in a house with strangers. Alone, without family, friends or community. She gave up of her house, her free time, her way to live, to dedicate her time to your family. Some girls wait years to be an au pair, learn English, how to drive, they have dedicated her free time in their country to volunteer in kindergartens to have experience enough to take care of YOUR kids. It is not that simple being an au pair, my friend, trust me. It is not just make a decision and go. They have to be prepared for that and sometimes it take years. Believe me! Au pair is not just someone that watch your kids, they are nannies, sisters, friends, teachers, nurses, housekeepers, drivers, personal stylists, music teachers, arts teachers clowns and sometimes even mothers ( and all at once). Most of the au pairs go to sleep and wake up thinking about YOUR kids, how to make them busy, where to go, how to go, what to wear; they read books, go to places that they don't like just to make your kids happy. Au pairs have learned how to deal with your kids better than anybody and even they being the worst kids ever your au pair will still miss them when she goes on vacations. They care about your children and they're not even part for the family, right? When you treat someone that works for you the best as you can, you are just winning with this, because love is something you can not pay for your au pair to feel for you kids, they will eventually just show how thankful you are for having her as an au pair and even she is not being the best one, that is ok... After you start to show appreciation, you will see return. Believe me, an au pair would give her life for your kids so, make it worth..