Finding childcare for your baby is probably one of the most nerve-racking things you can experience as a parent – then add on a global pandemic and Covid. I’m a hairstylist by trade, and run my own small business. My partner works full-time as a business and tech strategist, and also attends school full-time while he works on his doctorate. With our super-stretched schedules, he had suggested we look into getting an au pair.

My initial response: “Excuse me, who do you think we are – the Kardashians?” I have never known anyone with an au pair and thought they were only for the uber rich, and definitely not for people like us. After doing some research and looking at the cost, I was surprised to find it’s really not much more than traditional daycare in Alexandria. And the value of the cost difference between having an au pair and daycare has been immense: no rush hour commute to contend with for pick up and drop offs at daycare, our daughter has not been sick as often (knock on wood!), we get to customize the hours to our schedule, and we can enjoy a date night without scrambling to find a sitter.

The flexibility and consistency of an au pair is what really sealed the deal for us, and we began our search with the help of an agency, Au Pair in America. The ages of an au pair range from 18-27. We knew we wanted somebody from a Latin culture and for them to be a little bit on the older side. In addition, we opted for an au pair extraordinaire, which means they hold a degree in child development. After a couple of Zoom interviews, we found Renata. 

The deal with having an au pair is that they live with you. I’ll be honest, I was not thrilled about having a roommate again. I did that throughout my 20s, and now there was a partner and a child of my own. But having done it before I knew the adjustment wouldn’t be too hard for me. I was nervous about this whole arrangement working out and I prayed hard that this would be the right fit for us.

In February 2022, Renata arrived at our house from Brazil, knowing very little English. She had cared for children previously, and when it came to the baby, she knew exactly what to do. I wanted her to feel welcome in our home, and tried really hard to communicate and get to know her. Sometimes we would have to say things a couple different ways or point to things and when that failed, we relied on Google translator. 

In the beginning, she would marvel at the small things – seeing a squirrel or a yellow school bus for the first time. Being so close to the nation’s capital I took her to see the monuments, pieces of history that as a Northern Virginia native I had taken for granted, until I saw them through her eyes. 

Having to explain things about the world we live in, good and bad, to someone who speaks a different language challenged my way of thinking in a way that I am so grateful for. She knew so much about America and I was embarrassed I knew nothing about her culture. It really forced me to step out of my own world and become more curious about other cultures.

We are reaching two years of Renata being a part of our family and her English has improved so much. The way she cares for my child as if she’s her own is truly priceless. She’s also become a really good friend. I lost my father earlier this year and during that time she offered to help out with Delilah more so I could spend all the time I needed with my family. Having that support at such a tough time in my life really made all the difference and I will never forget her kindness.

Unfortunately our time with Renata is coming to an end and I am not okay about it. She really has become a part of the family and I think of her as a sister. There has been a whole other experience in all of this that I was not anticipating, but it’s truly been a blessing. 

So when Renata leaves please check in on me and my family because we will be heartbroken. But I know this relationship we’ve built will be one that will last way beyond her time here in America. If you are thinking about pursuing this route for childcare but are scared, anxious, “all of the things,” please don’t hesitate to reach out to me. I will happily answer any questions you may have, or connect you with our au pair counselor. 

www.manesbyrachelmarie.com 

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