It’s easy to generalize and think this is the “American style” of parenting, when in fact as an au pair you only get a glimpse, you will only see one of many American families. As you explore the different ideas about raising children in your host family, remember that as an au pair you are in a special situation. You will be experiencing life with children in a new way. Back in your home country you might have babysat for a couple of hours or you volunteered in a daycare. You might think that the children back home “never behaved that way”. Being an au pair and working with kids the whole day is different than spending shorter amounts of time with them in a setting outside of their home. Remember that children behave differently based on the situation and you might only have seen their good sides.