Our most recent meeting at Eastview

Our most recent meeting at Eastview

With another baby due in August 2008, our family needed to reconsider our childcare options. As full-time educators, we wanted flexible care within our home. We’ve used a variety of services, including in-home care at a friend’s house and a daycare center. Although there were advantages and disadvantages in both situations, we were really looking for more affordable and personal childcare once our second child arrived. Cultural Care Au Pair has provided our family with an amazing au pair, a unique cultural exchange experience, and the peace of mind that our children are being looked after in our home.  We have seen even more savings in our childcare costs with the arrival of our 3rd child in 2010.

We used to rouse our 1st daughter out of bed early in the morning in order to get her dressed and carted off to a daycare center. Mornings are now spent giving kisses and hugs good-bye to our three kids. And we leave the house knowing our au pair will feed and dress the girls at a more leisurely pace!  Our au pair puts our oldest child on the bus each day, and watches the two little ones at home.  She uses our vehicle to transport them to the local zoo and museums, as well as to and from playdates.  Our au pair is available for up to 45 hours a week, including weekend hours.  The program’s flexibility in this regard makes it ideal for us as parents!

The au pair experience has not only provided us with affordable childcare while we work, but has also allowed us an unique cultural exchange experience.  We are now hosting our 3rd au pair, this time from Germany.  Our daughters not only enjoyed an American Christmas in 2008, but also fully participated in a French one in 2009, with our French au pair.  This past holiday was spent reliving the German experiences we so, so loved! Apart from the holidays, our older daughter has been picking up both German and French words/phrases! This is a far cry from our experience with institutional daycare, where frequent employee turnover resulted in us never really knowing WHO was looking after our daughter!

Typical School Day For Us:

Our au pair bathes and feeds our daughters.  She then puts our oldest child on the bus.  Our younger children receive quality in-home care and a valuable language experience throughout the day.  She takes the children to play-dates, local museums, the zoo, music and ballet classes, and helps with childcare-related housekeeping.  When I arrive home from work, she even helps me get dinner on the table!  It’s fantastic!  We are so thrilled to have her as part of our family.

Our au pair is independent, responsible, honest, and truly reflects the ideals of the Cultural Care Au Pair Program.  In her spare time, she is able to go to the mall, hang-out with friends, travel, and take local university classes.  Many au pairs are excellent drivers.  We feel confident and secure in her ability to transport our children.  It has been an amazing experience!

I am now one of Cultural Care’s Local Childcare Coordinators in Rochester, NY, serving primarily the Brighton, Pittsford, Penfield, and Webster communities.  However, I also am in charge of the westside communities of Brockport , Spencerport, and Churchville I hope I can provide your family with a similar childcare experience!