Au Pair Birthday gifts- new au pair

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd spend $40 on a gift and a card and a cake. Keep in mind that you, as a family, celebrating her birthday could be a turning point in the relationship.

Yes, you should spend $40 total for a card, gift and cake for someone you have ostensibly brought in to be be part of your family for a year + if the turning point you’re trying to achieve is permanently severing the relationship.

It's sad that you show your love through money. In my family we show love through attention.

Any decent person would get at least a small gift or gift card and cake. They are adults and its not about love, its about being decent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We just recently got a new au pair, and this is the first time our au pair's birthday has come up within the first month of her arriving (just how it worked out). We usually know the au pair better and have a good idea of the mesh with the family and what they like to determine birthday gifts- but it being this early we are at a real loss as to what/how much to give her.

What are other people getting au pairs for birthdays? Is there an idea of a budget people try to stick to?

Another factor- all of our prior au pairs had really melded into family. This new au pair treats the position as a job, and has made it clear she does not see the program as a family/cultural meld. She does not want to participate in family events, activities, games, etc. That's fine- we can accept that, but it's making it harder to think about gifts/ how much to spend under the circumstances.

If she's working 40-45 hours non-stop with your kids, you really think on her free time she wants to go to their games and activities? Would you want to go with your employers to stuff on non-work hours.

[Anonymous]

We got them an apple watch

[Anonymous]

Gift card to Starbucks if there is one close by, or Target. Picture drawn by the kids and a cake.

[Anonymous]

Money- I’d rather have that than a gift card to something I probably don’t like or want. If you do cupcakes do store bought. I personally done eat everybody’s food nor do I want to eat something kids made and have to pretend it tastes good