I've asked some of our AuPairCare families what their favorite things are about being host families. Some said the authentic Greek/ El Salvadorian/ French food or adding family members from around the world and learning about where they live. Mine is hands-down sharing the child-related chores.  I love cooking, but I hate cleaning, sorting and organizing, so coming home to a house that only has MY stuff laying around is such a relief.  (My husband confines his mess to the garage!)

There were lots of different responses, but these were the top ten (from my casual, totally non-scientific survey):  

10.  Having a bedtime fairy to help get the kids to sleep.

9.  That my kids can have playdates after school.

8.  Not paying daycare late pick-up fees.

7.  Not having to drive to two different schools on the way to work.

6.  The second-language my kids are learning.

5.  The friendships my kids are developing with each other.

4.  The fact that my mom says I'm a better mom, wife, and worker because of my au pair.

3.  The margin it creates in my family's life.

2.  The standing date night I have with my husband.

1.  The affordable flexibility that I didn't have with daycare.

Do you have a favorite part of the program?  What is it?  How has it changed your family and work balance?  

Teaching your children about holidays celebrated outside of the U.S. is a good way to introduce them to different cultures in a fun and engaging way. For example, today is Bastille Day - France's Independence Day, and a great time to teach your children a little bit about France. Or, if you have a French au pair, encourage her to share stories with your children about how she and her family celebrated Bastille Day in France.

Here are some easy ways to incorporate French culture into your entire day, from morning to bedtime:

Morning: Start the day by reading "Eloise in Paris" to your children. In the 1957 Kay Thompson story, Eloise and her British nanny are ordered to make a trip to Paris by Eloise's mother. If you are a current host family, you can easily compare Eloise's British nanny to your own children's au pair.

"Bonjour! Here's the thing of it: Paris has just been discover by Eloise. The little girl from the Plaza...Here is what Eloise does in Paris: everything. The effect is rather extraordinaire. If you come to Paris with Eloise you will always be glad you did."

Daytime: Encourage your children to greet friends at school with "Bonjour!" the traditional French greeting of "Good Morning!"

Dinner: For dinner, consider making crepes as a family - sweet or savory.

As you eat, briefly explain why today is a special day. In child terms, Bastille Day is the French Independence Day similar to our own July 4th Independence Day. Bastille Day celebrates the raiding of a famous prison in France, called the Bastille. At the time, France was ruled by King Louis XVI and Queen Marie Antoinette, who got whatever they wanted, without regard for the people of France. There were many poor and hungry people who were ignored by the King and Queen, and those who spoke against the King and Queen were put into the Bastille prison. On July 14, 1789 the Bastille was raided by the people, and they set up a more democratic government to take over ruling the country. Today, celebrations will take place all over France, including Europe's oldest and largest military parade in Paris, to remember this important day in France's history.  

Evening: After dinner, watch a French cartoon or movie with your children. A good option is one of the Madeline cartoons, which all take place in Paris. You can watch episodes online free here. Or, if bedtime is coming up, read to them from one of the Madeline books.

For Grown Ups Only: Once the kids are in bed, treat yourself to a nice glass of French Bordeaux and watch Hollywood's colorful interpretations of the events that led to the raid on the Bastille in the 2006 movie Marie Antoinette.