Lauren Dunne, from Hopkinton, MA, looks back fondly on her childhood filled with au pairs. Over the course of 10 years, her family welcomed 14 au pairs into their home, each leaving a unique mark on her life. Lauren, who has an identical twin sister, shares that her parents decided to switch to au pair childcare when she and her sister turned five. Both parents worked full-time, and the cost and inflexibility of local daycare options made them seek out an alternative. They soon discovered that hosting an au pair provided the flexibility and affordability they needed.
Finding the perfect fit
“They knew welcoming an au pair would be an adjustment,” Lauren recalls. “But it gave my parents more flexibility with work. My mom traveled a lot while we were growing up, and I don’t think she would have had those career opportunities if we hadn’t had au pairs.”
From age five to 15, Lauren and her sister had au pairs from Sweden, Germany, Mexico, the UK, Poland, and more. Each year with a new au pair brought fresh experiences. Lauren fondly remembers the comforting presence of her au pairs after a tough day at school, and the fun they had together, especially during her teenage years.
Lauren's British au pair doing her hair
A ‘cool older sister’ at home
Lauren’s au pairs were involved in her daily life, from getting her and her sister ready for school dances to playing board games on snow days and driving them to gymnastics competitions.
“It always felt like we had a cool older sister at home who actually wanted to play with us,” Lauren says. “I felt cared for in a very loving and meaningful way.”
Cultural exchange was also a huge part of Lauren’s upbringing. Au pairs often brought friends to family dinners, allowing Lauren and her family to meet people from all over the world. This exposure broadened their perspectives and helped them develop a curiosity about different cultures.
Discovering new traditions
The opportunity to meet new people from all over the world broadened the Dunne family’s perspective. One of Lauren’s favorite memories is waking up one December morning to find that Santa had come early—thanks to her German au pair, who introduced the family to the Sinterklaas tradition.
Another cherished memory involved hosting her Polish au pair Monika’s family for Christmas. “Monika’s parents didn’t speak English, but they were both brain surgeons. My dad insisted on having Monika translate an elaborate conversation about their work over Christmas dinner,” Lauren recalls. “By the end of dinner, we all felt like best friends, despite the language barrier.”
Lauren and her twin sister, Courtney, with their German au pair
Lifelong skills from au pair relationships
The benefits of growing up with au pairs have stayed with Lauren well into adulthood. She credits her au pairs with teaching her how to overcome communication barriers creatively. “We didn’t have Google Translate back then, so my sister and I often used humor and patience to get through those moments of miscommunication,” she says. “I’m far more patient now and have learned to navigate language barriers in a way that others might find frustrating.”
Today, Lauren works as a Matching Specialist for Cultural Care Au Pair, a role that requires her to help host families and au pairs overcome challenges. She credits her experience as a host child for shaping her career path. “I have a deep appreciation for those who leave home to live in an unfamiliar place. Every au pair is incredibly courageous for taking that leap of faith.”
The confidence to explore the world
Growing up with au pairs gave Lauren the confidence to explore new cultures. At age 15, she and her sister traveled to the Netherlands for three weeks—an adventure she attributes her au pairs. This experience fueled her desire to study Anthropology in college, with a focus on cultural diversity and globalization.
“I have an even deeper curiosity now to understand people from different places,” she explains. “My au pairs made me a fearless traveler and a more empathetic person.”
Lauren and Courtney with their Swedish au pair
Family bonds that last a lifetime
For the Dunne family, having au pairs provided the flexibility they needed to succeed at work while knowing their children were in good hands. “Our au pairs were more than just childcare providers—they became trusted friends and extended family,” Lauren says.
Even now, the Dunnes keep in touch with many of their former au pairs through social media and holiday cards. Lauren dreams of an au pair reunion one day. “One of my former au pairs, Jeanette, lives in Minnesota now and has two children of her own. I’m excited to visit her and see her adorable family!”