Au Pair Appreciation

Life Lessons in Cultural Exchange – Soft Benefits by TexasHM

by Texas HM August 25, 2018
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There are often discussions of the additional soft costs of hosting – some of which are “harder” and can be quantified like car insurance, little higher water/food bills or an additional Disney ticket but some of which can’t like the emotional investment/bonds made or time spent investing in your APs experience by providing a shoulder to […]

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Do you know what your Au Pair *needs* from you?

by cv harquail September 15, 2017
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A former babysitter and family friend got engaged last week, and to help her celebrate I bought her a few books on how to have a great marriage. (I know, kindof weird, but I am a BIG BELIEVER in trying to learn intentionally, especially when you can anticipate how your life will be changing.) Flipping […]

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How Best To Celebrate Our Au Pair’s Extension? (Poll)

by cv harquail January 14, 2016
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Dear AuPairMom — We’d love the community’s advice about how to recognize and celebrate our Au Pair’s agreement to extend with us.   I’d like to know what is expected, common, meaningful, etc. Our family with save about $1500 (not to mention loads of time and hassle) because she’s extending for another year. I’d like […]

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Thanksgiving Thoughts about Gratitude

by cv harquail November 24, 2015
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[Two years ago we enjoyed this post on gratitude, and au pairs. Since there are so many new and different readers of the blog now, that I thought I’d post it again.  Following up this post is a chance to reflect what you’re thankful and grateful for in your host family- au pair relationship.  cv] […]

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Seventh Annual International Au Pair Appreciation Week: Open Thread

by cv harquail May 17, 2015
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Au Pair Appreciation Week is our chance as host moms and dads to celebrate what we enjoy the most about having au pairs in our family lives. Although moms and dads who ask for advice here on AuPairMom are occasionally accused of being grumpy, demanding, and/or hard to live with, we all know that we wouldn’t […]

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Mother’s Day: Open Thread for Au Pairs

by cv harquail May 8, 2015
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How do you describe your Host Mom? What’s wonderful about her — as a mom, as a host mom, as a friend, as a person? Au Pairs, here’s your chance to celebrate something about your Host Mom that you personally appreciate.   Pencils by ADCShop available for purchase on Etsy

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Upcoming Celebrations on AuPairMom: Mothers Day & AuPair Appreciation Week

by cv harquail May 7, 2015
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Spring has sprung, which means it’s time to celebrate! We celebrate daffodils, columbines, and first bloomers in the garden.  Ice cream trucks, camp signup forms, and that new pair of FitFlops that you deserve. The pair with sequins. And, here on AuPairMom, we celebrate Mother’s Day and AuPairAppreciation week! For both events, we’ll have a focused […]

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I Am Grateful for Our Au Pair, Because… : Open Thread Nov 20

by cv harquail November 20, 2014
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My family is on our way to Ohio to see Grandma perform in The Glass Menagerie and to celebrate her 8oth Birthday! It was on a long drive to Ohio back in 2008 when I realized that we needed  AuPairMom — so in celebration of (yet another) 8.5 hour ride, here’s an open thread for the […]

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Micro-Affirmations: Tiny, Powerful Ways to Motivate & Thank Your Au Pair

by cv harquail June 10, 2014
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For work completely unrelated to AuPairMom, I’ve been researching the concept of “micro-affirmations”, which are the opposite of “micro-aggressions”.  These are small, almost imperceptible behaviors towards one another than can either affirm or threaten another person.  In organizations, they are the behavioral building blocks of an inclusive welcoming culture, or a dominating, oppressive one. Often […]

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Bending the the Wrong Direction? Giving your Au Pair what she really wants

by cv harquail March 25, 2014
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One day when I was feeling really overwhelmed by the administrivia, chores, chauffeuring and routines of our household, I asked my tweenage daughter: “Of the things I do for you and your sister, which ones matter the most to you? What do I do that helps you feel really loved?” I thought the answer might […]

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