Farewell Gift/Party for Au Pair?

[Anonymous]

Wondering how you all celebrate your au pair when she leaves? Our au pair has been with us for 2 years, we truly love her, and she will be leaving in 2 short weeks. I am wondering what an appropriate parting gift is or if we need to throw her some sort of celebration? We gave her the $500 education stipend for the year even though she didn't go to school during the year (she is applying now for a student visa, so asked for the funds to put toward her schooling in the future). I know we weren't obligated to give her that $, so I feel like that is a bonus in some way.
Would love to hear what others have done....
Many thanks in advance!

[Anonymous]

Do you need another au pair?

[Anonymous]

We do/ have done (1) a more meaningful parting gift, like a photo album we have assembled from the year, special photo in a personal frame, etc.; (2) another gift like jewelry or gift-card; (3) for APs going back to their country, the "box" (described on aupairmom.com) - i.e. we pay to ship home their stuff that won't fit into their suitcases; (4) a dinner out to a restaurant of their choosing with just us parents (no kids); and/or (5) a party in our home for a few select friends (we'll provide the refreshments, get out of their way for the evening etc.).

[Anonymous]

We're definitely going to host a family party to wish her well.

We will also send her out for a night on the town with her au pair friends (get a limo, set a specific budget that she can spend from us, etc.).

I was thinking about maybe one of those blurb photo books but hadn't figured that out yet.