We know that desired parenthood is a wonderful gift, but also an enormous responsibility. Parents must invest a great deal of time and energy in their children to ensure their well-being. Expectations are high. Parents are expected to cope with everything: 8+ hours a day of work, household chores, organizing family activities, and so on. As a result, some people become
chronically stressed from the mental burden of parenthood.
The good news is that
as parents, you don't have to carry the burden alone. With the
help of an Au Pair, you can
split responsibilities and leave room for self-care. An Au Pair is not a common employee, but someone who becomes part of the family.
Relying on an Au Pair is like relying on a family member. Want to know how your Au Pair can make a difference? Read on.
1. Not enough time
The challenge: The alarm clock rings at 6 am, that's when the rush begins. You have to get the children ready for school, prepare meals, be on time at work, keep the house clean, attend after-school activities… There is not much time for rest or hobbies.
According to a survey in the U.S., parents of children under five have only 18 hours a week for themselves. That's barely 10% of their time!
How an Au Pair can support you:
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By taking care of various activities of the daily routine like dressing the children, preparing breakfast, taking them to school…
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Once the logistics are under control, you will have more energy left. This allows you to reconnect emotionally with your children.
2. Reconciling work and family life
The challenge: Being at work is an exhausting activity on its own. You have to stick to a schedule, attend meetings, solve problems, be productive, be efficient, and so on. When bundled with all the responsibilities associated with parenthood, the perfect setup for developing
parental burnout syndrome is created.
In a study of 30,000 parents, psychologists Moira Mikolajczak and Isabelle Roskam found that approximately
9% of parents in Western countries suffer from parental burnout.
That is, they experience extreme exhaustion, emotional detachment, and a decline in the levels of enjoyment associated with parenthood.
How an Au Pair can support you:
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She provides flexibility. Something that traditional daycare or nannies do not offer. Let's say your work meeting runs long, or you get short notice to work an extra shift or over the weekend. You can make an arrangement with your Au Pair for her to take care of the children during that time.
Remember: the Au Pair is there to support you, but will not be available 24/7. She is required to have enough spare time for her language course and for other activities. Make sure you have a
well-defined schedule for her activities.
3. Mothers' physical and mental exhaustion
The challenge: Arranging appointments, keeping track of tasks, organizing activities, and anticipating children's needs is a huge mental burden that falls mostly on one member of the couple, usually the mother.
A study by the University of Bath documents that
mothers take on 71% of the “invisible burden” in the home, while fathers take on only 29%. This imbalance has real consequences: increased stress and reduced emotional well-being.
How an Au Pair can support you:
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She takes on tasks of that “invisible burden” so that you have time to rest without feeling guilty.
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Hopefully, this will reduce the feeling of mental fatigue, emotional detachment, or irritability, which are symptoms of parental burnout.
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You can also invest time in nurturing your relationship, either by making plans with your partner or simply by finding time to talk about each other’s day.
4. Raising children in a globalized world
The challenge: Parents would like their children to be open-minded, sensitive to cultural differences, and fluent in more than one language. But how can children achieve this if parents are not experts in languages or multiculturalism?
Ellen Bialystok, a renowned psychologist who specializes in
bilingualism,
points out that early exposure to a second language optimizes executive functions such as attention and mental flexibility.
How an Au Pair can support you:
5. Creating meaningful family memories
The challenge: Amidst daily stress, busy schedules, and logistical concerns, building authentic family moments can take a backseat.
Several studies highlight that burnout not only affects parents, but also the quality of parenting and the emotional well-being of children.
How an Au Pair can support you:
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She grants you room to schedule holidays, excursions, and other family activities.
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She can be the linchpin that ensures that family time is memorable, genuine, and recurring.
An Au Pair can not only take burdens off your plate, but also
foster emotional well-being, openness to other cultures, and quality family time. Something you probably want and need.
Are you up for the adventure?
Sign up for free and find your dream Au Pair now.
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