The final weeks: saying goodbye to the au pair
After many shared months, the end of the au pair year eventually draws closer. What once seemed far away suddenly stands right at the door: the last shared month begins, the return flight is being planned, and the children, too, are slowly starting to sense that something in the family's everyday life will soon change.
The final weeks in particular shouldn't be organised only shortly before departure. Host families and au pairs can already sort out several things together, well in advance.
About six weeks beforehand: discussing the next steps
At the latest about six weeks before the planned end of the au pair stay, we recommend a joint conversation.
What will happen for the au pair afterwards? Will an FSJ (a voluntary social year), a course of training, or another stay in Germany follow? Or will they be going back to their home country?
If the return journey is already fixed, the specific departure date should also be discussed and put in writing. That way both sides know exactly how long the au pair arrangement runs, and can plan the final weeks accordingly.
The return flight should also be booked now, if this hasn't already happened.
Checking health insurance right up to the last day
One important point towards the end of the au pair stay is health insurance. Check in good time until which date the existing insurance cover runs, and whether this matches the actual length of stay and departure date.
Especially if travel plans change, or if the au pair stays on in Germany for a few extra days after the au pair year, it's important to make sure no gap in insurance cover arises.
Keeping an eye on the bank account and ongoing contracts
There are also a few organisational matters left to sort out towards the end of the au pair year. This includes, for example, the German bank account.
Discuss with your au pair in good time when and how the account can be closed, and which payments still need to come in or be debited beforehand.
Any other ongoing contracts or memberships should also be reviewed and, if necessary, cancelled in good time.
Preparing the children for the goodbye
After many months, an au pair is often much more than just support with everyday tasks. They have sat at the breakfast table in the mornings, accompanied the children, played with them, comforted them, and shared countless small everyday moments.
For children in particular, the goodbye can therefore be an emotional one.
Talk about it in an age-appropriate way: that the shared au pair time is slowly coming to an end. The goodbye shouldn't come suddenly, but should be something the children can understand and follow along with.
If it's already clear that a new au pair will be joining the family afterwards, early conversations about this can also take place. What matters here is giving both relationships their own place: the new au pair does not replace the previous one – a new chapter begins.
Creating a lovely send-off
Alongside all the organisational matters, there should also be time in the final weeks for a considered, conscious goodbye.
Perhaps there's still time for one more outing together, a favourite meal, a small photo book, or a picture the children have drawn themselves. It doesn't need to be anything big. Often it's precisely the personal memories that become especially precious after a shared year.
And, of course, a small farewell celebration can be part of it too.
An au pair year ends – the connection doesn't have to
A goodbye is part of the au pair programme. Even so, many families and au pairs find it hard.
After a shared year, what remains are memories, photos, shared experiences, and sometimes a connection that continues for many years to come.
With a little preparation, host families can make sure the final weeks aren't dominated by organisational stress, but instead leave enough room to bring the shared au pair year to a calm close and to prepare for the next chapter.
