Maryland resident Aimee Meier, mom to five girls, has hosted two au pairs to help manage her busy household. While she’s a big fan of the au pair program, she acknowledges that becoming a host family comes with a bit of a learning curve.

Here, Aimee shares the three things she wish she had known before becoming a host mom.

1. You will always have enough privacy and time to recharge

"My biggest hesitation about hosting an au pair was whether I’d have enough privacy or time to recharge. I worried that even after the kids went to bed or on the weekends, our au pair would want to hang out with us constantly. In my head, I imagined having a guest who, while we loved them, would always feel like a guest—leaving me in a permanent hosting role.

I was so wrong! I quickly learned that everyone needs time to recharge, including our au pair. She has her own routine, whether it’s catching up with her family, watching Netflix, or exploring our city on her own. She already spends a lot of time with our family while she’s 'on duty,' so naturally, she enjoys some alone time, too. And honestly, au pairs only feel like guests for a short while. After a couple of weeks, it feels natural for them to be there, and any pressure to entertain them disappears."

2. Crucial conversations are unavoidable

"Over the course of a year, hard conversations are bound to happen. It seems obvious now, but when we first started hosting, I didn’t anticipate it. What helped us most during those times was building strong communication and trust from the start. When challenges arose, we both wanted to ensure that each of us was happy with the outcome. Leaning on our Local Childcare Consultant (LCC) was also invaluable during these moments. She provided advice and even offered specific language to help navigate sensitive discussions and understand my au pair’s perspective better."

3. Au pairs may only be under our roof for a year, but they stay in our hearts forever

"During the interview process, we often talk about the au pair 'becoming part of the family.' But until you experience it, you don’t fully realize just how much they become family. It’s like gaining a new little sister or niece—alongside the best qualities of a considerate housemate and a responsible childcare provider, all wrapped into one. For our children, au pairs have been incredible role models. The bond extends far beyond the year they spend with us. We’ve started saying, 'under a roof for a year, in our hearts forever,' because the relationship becomes a lifelong family connection."