Au pair - Family Trip, What can go wrong?

My first host family in America...

Lived in Cranberry, Pennsylvania, in a small suburb near Pittsburg, PA.

Exciting welcome

I had just stepped in their new home, when my host mother A. told me about an exciting trip we were about to go on together. I can hear A. words (she nicknamed me Pat): "We are excited about this trip because it is very expensive, it is a beautiful resort in a very beautiful city" (yes, that's what she said). Well, it made me happy. I was about to explore the USA, and I had no idea what was coming next.

Organisation is the key to success

We needed to organise everything for this memorable family trip. At that time, I took care of three children. The oldest one E, was 3 years old, the middle one G, was 2 years old, and baby R, was 9 months old (and yes, she was my favorite). So, A. made a list for all of us (yes, including me). We got ready and left, heading to South Carolina.

Mistakes happen

While preparing the baby's bag, A. took the cans of formula, which the baby was used to drinking. We were going to stay out for 6 days. It was one day to go, one day to return, and 4 days to enjoy the resort. While I was organizing the baby's bag, and I didn't have room for all the cans of formula, so I left one out of the bag (you're right if you guessed I forgot a can). Well, after 8 hours of traveling by car, we finally arrived at the resort.

What was supposed to be a wonderful trip... Turned into a complete mess

A. was right, it was a wonderful place. We had a lot of fun together. I gave my best on that trip, though she always complained about everything. And it was before she hadn't even realized I forgot the baby's formula at home, but when she did, my world turned upside down. She was angry at me. Can you imagine?

Can things get worse? You better believe...

I didn't know that in some regions they didn't have the same types of products, some products were regional. A. had to buy another formula for baby R. and this new formula did not suit her. She experienced diarrhea during the journey home. It was an unfortunate experience, and a trip that had everything to be wonderful, ended up being a real disaster.

Learn from others mistakes, Important lessons

In summary, this experience as an au pair taught me important lessons about being well-prepared, communicating clearly, and adapting to unexpected situations. It showed me the importance of planning carefully and paying attention to details, especially when caring for children during trips.

I also learned that it's crucial to talk openly with the host family to ensure that we all understand each other's needs and preferences.

I realized the value of being flexible and creative when facing unexpected challenges, like dealing with different products or customs in new places.

My au pair experience has equipped me to handle the unexpected challenges of motherhood with confidence and creativity.