This site – and others as well – are admittedly very girl-centered, so the boys out there might be wondering where they fit in. While taking care of children tends to be a female dominated field, there are young men who work as au pairs, and they apparently do a very good job. Some governments, such as in the UK, are even working towards encouraging more guys to take on the au pair job.
There are many benefits for choosing male au pairs. From what I’ve seen, male au pairs (or ‘mannies,’ as they are frequently called) are actually easier to deal with than female au pairs. Are we surprised? We probably shouldn’t be. Apparently they are more flexible, more practical, and don’t run home as quickly as the girls do if things aren’t going perfectly. They also are happier with simpler accommodations and are willing to do more of the housework without complaint.
That said, there are families in which male au pairs fit in better. Host families with younger children prefer female au pairs, as they tend to be more nurturing and better prepared to deal with the demands of infants and toddlers. But for families with older, more active children, males work very well. The male preference for action and physicality makes them perfect for kids who need to get out and play. They also help with their sports practice, and are surprisingly creative, according to some of the families out there with male au pairs.
Although female au pairs still ‘dominate the field,’ more and more families are turning to guys. Male au pairs are becoming especially popular among single moms, who appreciate having male role models for their children.
Of course, the benefits for the ‘mannies’ are the same as for the girls. They are motivated by a chance to live in another country inexpensively, learn or perfect a foreign language, and get to know another culture firsthand. Many are also looking for an interesting way to spend a gap year, taking a break between studies or career changes.
So for the guys out there wondering – perhaps secretly! – if they can be au pairs, the answer is a loud, resounding ‘YES.’ Give it a shot!
Ok, so pancakes are a yummy breakfast for au pairs, but they are also a fantastic meal for the kids you take care of (or will be taking care of…). If you’re from a country – such as the US – where fluffy pancakes are popular, making them will not only take care of breakfast, but will also be a fun ‘cultural’ lesson for the kids. Children can help mix the batter and will enjoy making these with you. For a special treat, you can add berries, mashed banana, or chocolate chips. I’m not entirely sure how common pancake syrup is in other parts of the world, but butter and sugar work well when you can’t find Aunt Jemima’s.
The best thing about making pancakes is that you can easily double or triple the recipe to make a big batch. You can then freeze them together in bunches to have a homemade breakfast to heat up and serve on busy mornings. If preparing breakfast is one of your au pair duties, then believe me, pancakes might just become one of your new favorite foods. That is, if they aren’t already!
The following is a great pancake recipe from a my favorite food website, www.allrecipes.com. Ingredients are listed in metric measurements as well, for those of you not measuring with cups and teaspoons:
“Good Old Fashioned Pancakes”
- 1 1/2 cups (190 g) all-purpose flour*
- 3 1/2 teaspoons (10 g) baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt (6 g)
- 1 tablespoon white sugar (10 g)
- 1 1/4 cups milk (295 ml)
- 1 egg
- 3 tablespoons (45 g) butter, melted
- In a large bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, salt and sugar. Make a well in the center and pour in the milk, egg and melted butter; mix until smooth.
- Heat a lightly oiled griddle or frying pan over medium high heat. Pour or scoop the batter onto the griddle, using approximately 1/4 cup for each pancake. Brown on both sides and serve hot.
*for a healthier meal, substitute whole wheat or oat flour for part of the all-purpose flour
Bon appetit!
Many people use the terms ‘au pair’ and ‘nanny’ interchangeably, although the two are not one in the same. And yes, I myself am guilty of it, even though it is incorrect. But saying that I worked as a ‘nanny’ in Europe is sometimes just easier than having to explain what an au pair is to someone who has no clue. Here in small town Georgia, using a foreign term can really throw people off. So yes, sometimes it is ok to use the two as if they were the same.
But in reality the two are actually quite different. A nanny is a full-time childcare provider who usually has extensive experience/and or training as such. Nannies are typically the same nationality as their employers, so they are hired as normal employees and thus don’t require work visas and paperwork that au pairs need. A nanny may have a live-in or live-out situation with the family they work for. Nannies also make more money than au pairs and may work longer hours, depending on the work agreement.
Au pairs, on the other hand, are not necessarily trained professionals and do not have to have any experience working with children, although it is definitely a plus. The emphasis, however, is on cultural exchange. Families who hire au pairs often do so to introduce their children to a different language and culture. Au pairs usually live with their host family, but may also live on their own, as some host families offer separate living accommodations for their au pairs.The pay is also less for an au pair than for a nanny, but au pairs typically work less than nannies and are actually not technically considered employees. Au pairs also receive ‘extras’ that don’t come with a nanny job, such as language courses, help with transportation expenses, and room and board (which is not always included with nanny gigs).
So now we have it. Au pairs are not nannies and nannies are not au pairs. But if you’re an au pair – or have been or will be – you might find it easier to call yourself a nanny every now and then…
While blogging might be a great way to journal about the joys and frustrations you’re experiencing as an au pair, having a live, public blog about life with your host family is something you should think twice about. Host families – even the coolest, most easygoing of host families – would probably rather not have their dirty laundry aired publicly on the world wide web. If you value your job and your relationship with your host parents, you’ll be very careful in what you write about them and their children on the internet.
Of course, if it is entirely anonymous and/or entirely positive, you might be able to pull if off. But if your blog can be traced to you and your family, then it might better to hold off – or else censor your thoughts – while you are living with and dependent on – your host family. Another option is to blog only (or at least mostly) about your life experiences beyond the au pair job, leaving the host family out of it. Considering all that you’re probably experiencing, you will probably be able to keep busy with the details of life outside your host family’s four walls.
If you still really want to keep a detailed account of your life as an au pair, including all the ups and downs, then do so, but save it for later. You can easily create a file to save your ‘diary’ entries, to consider posting online later (perhaps way later, depending on the content!). You can even change names to protect you and your host family.
Whatever you decide, keep your host family’s privacy, and your pride, in mind. In today’s world of brutal online honesty, prudence may be best!
In the US, more families than ever are hiring au pairs. This is likely due to the fact that families with two parents working are now more common than ever before, according to recent census information. This is good news to young women (and men) who want to get a taste of life in the United States.
This may also be good for Americans wanting to go overseas as au pairs. The current worldwide economic climate will likely cause more families to have to work longer hours or take on additional jobs to get by financially. While this is not something to rejoice in, it does expand the demand for childcare – which is where au pairs come in. Hiring an au pair is often a better and more affordable option for families looking for full-time childcare, especially families with more than one or two children.
So while the rest of the world moans and groans about recession, you can take this opportunity to go abroad for a year, experiencing a new country and culture. Another thought – au pair “pocket money” is not exactly big bucks, so you will hardly notice the economic crunch. And ignorance is bliss, right?
With the New Year coming up, you’re probably busy making big plans for the evening. If you’re really lucky, you’ll get the evening off to celebrate with friends. In that case, there’s no reason not to live it up on the 31st. The only thing to keep in mind is whether you’ll be back on duty with the kiddies the next day, in which case you might not want to pull an all-nighter.
If you’re like most au pairs, whose host parents also enjoy social interaction (and probably hired you so that they can actually have a social life), you”ll likely be babysitting when the ball drops. But don’t despair – you might still get to have some fun outside of work. Depending on what time you get off, you might still be able to go out and catch up with the rest of your gang. Going out late is better than not at all, and you can still have fun.
Worst case scenario – your host parents aren’t back in time for you go out and party – then make the best of it and throw a mini-party with the kids you take care of. There’s no reason you can’t have fun with them too, and you should be, anyhow. And remember…while New Year’s is a big night to celebrate, there are stll 364 other nights to go out with friends. If you’re having a good time as an au pair, most days feel like holidays anyhow. So keep things in perspective and try to enjoy the evening, regardless of where you’ll be!
The holidays are likely to make the days crazier than they usually are as an au pair. Being responsible to help out an entire family, in some way or another, can be tiring. Depending on your host family’s level of activity, you’re likely to have some – or maybe a lot – of extra work. Host families are generally busier this time of year; even more so if their children are involved in activities that include parties and other special events (plays, dance recitals, etc,.). Your host parents might also be busy with work and social activities, which tend to increase during the holidays, perhaps leaving you with more babysitting than usual. In addition to your host family’s activities, you have your own extras to think about and schedule in.
The sum total of all of this can leave you overtaxed, both physically and emotionally. To keep this from happening, make sure you get time to relax and recharge. Make sure you schedule in time to take it easy. And although parties with friends are oh-so-much-fun during the holidays, try not to overdo it. Have fun, but keep in mind that after Christmas, there will still be children to look after and chores to get done!
When you’re on a limited au pair budget, Christmas might get a bit tight. There are probably certain people you’ll really want to get gifts for, such as family back home, close friends, and maybe a boyfriend, if you’re doing the cross-cultural dating thing. It’s also likely that you’ll be spending more money this month, at special holiday events or while traveling. You’ll probably also want to spend a bit on yourself this season, as Christmas is a great time for sales, and a fun time to reward yourself for being such a good au pair!
Don’t forget to keep your host family in mind when budgeting and shopping for Christmas gifts. Chances are, they’ll be planning a nice gift for you. And even if they aren’t, you’ll probably want to get them something, or at the very least, something small for the children. Don’t feel obligated to drop a lot of cash, but do be creative, especially if money is tight for you. Offer to babysit the children an extra night, or give them a gift certificate for a special family dinner that you will make (only don’t promise if you can’t deliver). It doesn’t have to be anything extraordinary, but your family would probably love something personal and original.
For au pairs who are fortunate enough to have an amazing host family that they get along with, the possibility of problems surfacing during their au pair year is likely the furthest thing from their minds. But reality dictates that even the best of relationships experience turbulence at one time or another. When issues occur, it is important to know how to take care of things, before minor issues escalate into real problems. For those who have landed in a less-than-ideal host family situation, it is even more important to know how to deal with any issues that come up.
For starters, be aware of what is going on around you. When living cross-culturally, at times there may be trouble that you are unaware of. It can be easy to offend or break an unknown rule, since host families and au pairs are likely following a different set of cultural standards. If you aren’t careful, the differences may be small enough to miss, but easy enough to turn into something bigger, if ignored. (Now this does NOT mean that you should walk on egg shells, constantly fearing a problem with your host family. However, it does mean that you should be sensitive enough to know what is going on around you. If you start picking up vibes that something is wrong, then be proactive and do something about it).
When it becomes clear that something is wrong, address the issue, don’t ignore it. Two things will keep the relationship from trouble: honesty and responsibility. To keep life running smoothly for you, the au pair, and your host family, it is very important to be honest about problems that occur. This is true not only when you are the guilty party, but when your host family is as well. If something happens that really bothers you (and no, having to work an extra hour or two one day in a hundred does not count!), talk with your host parents about it. This will work out much better than simply ignoring problems, hoping that they’ll go away.
Responsibility is also critical. If your host family has a legitimate problem with something you have done, then accept responsibility so that the problem can be taken care of and you can all move on. Admitting fault is something nobody likes to do, but it will keep your relationship from souring. As long as you learn from your mistake and keep from repeating it, you will ultimately benefit and grow from it.
Christmas is coming up, as well as the New Year, and possibly other celebrations, depending on which country you work in. This can be an amazing time as an au pair, since you get to experience some of the best holidays in a completly new place. Be sure to take advantage of this, and enjoy the various holiday offerings in your host country.
If you get the holidays off from your au pair duties, you can especially enjoy them. Days away from your host family (or even with them, if you aren’t working), can be a great time to relax and take it easy. If you’ve been working hard, or longer than usual, take advantage of the down time. If you’ve managed to save some of your au pair money, this might be a great time to splurge on a holiday shopping trip, stocking up on gifts for family and friends back home, or buying something special for yourself! You deserve it after toughing out the au pair job…This might also be a good time to go sightseeing, especially if there are places you haven’t had a chance to visit yet.
If you are going to have to work through the holidays and are not looking forward to it, try to remain in good spirits. You can have a lot of fun with your host family, and if they’ve been including you in their family activities up to now, they’ll also treat you as one of the family over the holidays. Even if you would rather be somewhere else, have a good attitude about working on holidays. And don’t forget, you can always go out and join friends after your babysitting duties, so you shouldn’t be missing out on too much!
