(reposted from www.aupairsalon.com)

A spare hour between two meetings today called for catching up on e-mails with a delicious latte made with locally roasted coffee at Carolina Roasters... nothing like the comforting smell and delicious taste of freshly roasted coffee to boost my productivity level! More often than not, I associate a place, its warmth and smell with events and… Continue

(reposted from www.aupairsalon.com)

As a recently released NACCRRA report found, childcare costs are rapidly rising, even comparable to the cost of a year of college tuition. For some, costs are so expensive – particularly for multiple children – it is almost prohibitive, yet parents need childcare…

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Summer is so much fun for children, with more family time, vacation, summer camps, fun outdoor activities, water fun and just pure bliss. Summer time represents a break from the old routine and a chance to just “be kids”. Summer also means having the children at home full time and the au pair’s role is crucial in coordinating all the activities, providing transportation and filling the gaps… Continue

While the primary responsibility of au pairs is to care for your children, au pairs can also help with “light household chores”. Beyond an expectation for a program that is focused on childcare, it is also a U.S. Department of State regulation that host families abide by when joining the program. Let’s define what “light household chores” are and what tasks au pairs can or can’t do.…

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As full-time childcare is usually mainly required before the children attend school, the au pair program option is considered an alternative to full-time daycare or a nanny. However, there are many busy families with children ranging from 3 months to 14 years old, that also choose the au pair program option. Today, we will discuss the advantages of an au pair for families with children from 6 to 14 years old:

FLEXIBILITY

An au pair…

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While reviewing an ARTICLE from Reuters titled “Study shows consistent benefit of early daycare”, I was reminded of the challenges parents face while evaluating options for entrusting their most precious beings in the hands of a childcare provider. There are so many studies out there though that either support or discredit the concept of “childcare” versus full-time parenting.

The Parental Role vs.…

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A face-to-face meeting between the new host family and the au pair candidates is usually not possible, because an au pair will come directly from his/ her home country on a J-1 visa to live with the host family. However, there is the possibility of interacting through a live Skype conversation including a webcam, via e-mail and most importantly by phone.

The phone interview is a key portion of the selection process for an au pair. In addition to some questions suggested…

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Valerie Rempe is a veteran host mom and has balanced a full-time career with her family life through the au pair program for over 10 years. In today’s article, she shares her experience and unique perspective on hosting an au pair for full-time childcare:

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While working from home has the great advantage of being closer to your children (and to your household chores…) and avoid a daily commute, that proximity can also represent the greatest disadvantage in the form of a major distraction! While you may be lucky and have 1 quiet, self-entertained baby and have the ability to postpone the need for childcare for a little while, eventually your two worlds may run into each other… So what are some of the things to consider… Continue

July 4, 1776… the signing of the declaration of independence by the Founding Fathers. What an important day for America!

QUALIFYING TO BE “AMERICAN”

Notice I wrote ”OUR country”. It has been 10 years since I have been living in the USA, and it has taken me that long to finally feel like I belong here. I even took the citizenship oath a couple of years ago, and had…

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