11 – Part 1 – Interview with American Au Pair Host Mom – Lisa – Life is 300 percent better

Part 1 of the interview with Lisa, host of YouTube Channel: American AuPair Host Mom

Lisa started started the channel because in her words, “my au pair changed my life, it is 300 percent better just so many ways that I didn’t even expect.” Lisa enjoys helping people and this is one of those areas of life where she was passionate about. It was my first au pair that even courage her to start a channel and so here she is joining us now. 

From a suburb of Atlanta, Georgia, Lisa shares practical tips and tricks on her YouTube Channel and supports other host moms and parents in their au pair journey.

Becoming a host mom has given Lisa more time back to her busy life but it was not always an obvious choice. While Lisa hosted over 100 plus college engineering interns, it became an eventual transition into the au pair program.

Listen in as we dig deeper into the journey of getting into the au pair program and key benefits and challenges.

In Part 1: we discuss the following:

• Why did you start your YouTub Channel American Aupair Host Mom?
  
  • The Au Pair experience changed Lisa’s life by 300%
  • This is a huge passion topic for Lisa and Lisa’s au pair actually encouraged her to start the channel
  • Lisa has two kids and a husband and life is super busy with her program management job
  • Lisa lives in the ‘frozen tundra’ called Atlanta and this is coming from Florida
• How did you become a host family? Was it a friend? A colleague?
  • The story goes back to way before being a parent, Lisa opened her home to college engineering interns and the au pairs would come over and socialize with the interns
  • A colleague then mentioned the program with an au pair from Sweden and mentioned it was a way to share his culture
  • Another whisper that came was another colleague mentioned wait till kids start school to manage the hours that are needed
  • Lisa tried 5 different daycares however as her kids got older there was little tolerance for kids with ADHD 
  • Finally after being kicked out of the last daycare, Lisa signed up for 3 agencies 
  • It took a few months to secure an au pair and had to have a transition plan
• What were the main reasons you chose to become a host mom and have an Au pair?
  • After being kicked out of daycare this was an option that she felt like she could support
  • Wanted a one on one support
  • Also a way to build a relationship
• What is the most rewarding aspect of being a host mom and part of the program?
  • Watching the relationship develop with his kids
  • The child’s behavior has changed due to the one to one interaction and the teachers noticed the change
  • The extra family member and they learn to love to defend my children
• What are some challenges you faced being a host mom or getting started?
  • This is Lisa’s first au pair and she has a rockstar and can contribute it to a little bit of luck and pure interviewing
  • Lisa has had experience in hosting college interns and can pull challenges and learnings from hosting over 100 interns 
  • Communication is the biggest, while you can explain expectations and don’t make assumptions. Example they may not understand how to respect furniture or use a dishwasher.
  • Example while these interns may be highly screened they are young adults and there was an incident that Lisa notes that one night she saw dish bubbles all over her floor and the intern used handwashing dish soap instead of the pellets for the dishwasher
  • Another example is the cartwheels on the pool table and rants of independence
  • Mentoring is always a rewarding and watching them grow up and have families of their own.
  • Accountability is key and admitting that the ping pong table made a hole in the wall and don’t cover up with sticker.
• What has been your biggest growth or personal development you have gained from the becoming a host mom?
  • Learning about the culture and that it helps my family grow
  • Helps you reflect and relook at how the last year went and what we can do better. Lisa asks feedback from current feedback.
  • It forces Lisa and family to travel more and show the au pair everything America has to offer.
  • Another growth is learning from each other and team building. When the au pair figures it out before me, it is awesome. Encourage the ‘help me fix the process’ and encourage finding problems and fixing them. 
  • Encourage the au pair to be part of Team Parent and teach respect and enforces of the rules.

In Part 2: we discuss the following:

• How do you define a perfect fit for your family? Is there a particular country or culture that blends with your family?
• When setting up the profile for the family – what are the most important aspects to include?
• How would you describe Atlanta to an Aupair that probably only knows NYC, California or Miami? What is there to do?
• Do you interview the parents of the Au pair?
• What do you think is key in the interview process?
• What do you do to make sure Au pairs feel included in your family?
• How do you show your appreciation to your Au pairs?
• Have you kept in touch with your former aupairs? Do they visit you?
• How do you build a long lasting relationship with your Au pairs?
• Where can people find you and learn more about being a host mom?

Where you can find Lisa and the YouTube Channel – the link is here:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7NmZTNXm1-jp7SUJh3xbdA

There is a lot more to come so we hope you enjoyed today’s episode and check us out at www.innovateyourlife.today