When my husband and I moved from Germany to the United States in 2017, our oldest daughter was three and I was expecting the second of our three children. It was a time of major transitions, and it was important to me that they stayed connected to their German roots.
In Germany, it is common for young adults to take a gap year before college to get some international experience through an American au pair program. Having often heard about friends’ experiences as au pairs abroad, I knew it would be the perfect childcare solution for our family.
As part of the au pair program, young people between the ages of 18 and 26 come to the U.S. to stay with a host family. At its heart, it is a unique cultural exchange program, allowing both families and au pairs to share their daily lives, traditions and perspectives. For us, hiring an au pair that was fluent in German allowed us to raise our children with the language while exposing them to cultures from around the world at the same time.
For au pairs, the program provides opportunities for cultural enrichment, educational experiences and personal development. The host family covers the au pair’s room and board, as well as a weekly stipend for additional expenses, in exchange for up to 45 hours of childcare support each week. The annual cost of hosting an au pair through Cultural Care Au Pair is $21,424, regardless of the number of children a family has. This is less than half the price we would have to pay if we opted for a childcare center for our two younger ones.
The au pair program also provides a level of flexibility that traditional care options simply can’t match. As a pastor, my schedule often extends beyond the typical 9-5, requiring me to be available when others usually do not work, such as in the evenings or on holidays. With the au pair program, I have peace of mind knowing someone familiar can be there for our children.
We are currently hosting our second au pair, Bethlehem, who was born in Ethiopia and later moved to Germany. She helps alleviate stress by helping to ready and feed our children in the morning before school, and picking them up while we are busy at work. It gives us some luxuries as parents too. We can go on date nights knowing we are leaving them with someone they love—and someone we trust. They invent games and cook together. My youngest is always so excited to speak to Bethy’s family on the phone, deepening the connections to communities across the world.
This bond is largely due to the close-knit relationship we develop with our au pairs. Living together and sharing daily routines helps us understand each other on a more familial level, as if they were a younger sibling or niece (as compared to the more transactional relationship that can be formed with a babysitter or nanny). It truly goes beyond childcare. When we were hosting our first au pair, Kathi (from Germany), we invited her parents to come visit us for a vacation in America. You really get to know them.
For families like mine, the au pair program is truly a game-changer. It’s a flexible and enriching option. After hosting just two au pairs, we’ve experienced the program’s immense benefits firsthand, and look forward to the new adventures the program will bring.
