Each year before Thanksgiving, Suffolk County Community Counselor Cindy Garruba asks her families and au pairs what they are thankful for. This year she shared with us her own Thanksgiving message, and lovely stories of thanks from host families and au pairs about how the program has impacted them and their families. Cindy’s message:
At Thanksgiving, we pause and express gratitude to others. This year I want to thank all my au pairs and host families for the love and support they give each other every day. I also thank each au pair for teaching me about your culture, showing me your bravery for coming from a far away place and giving so much to your host families. I appreciate that you keep me young and inspire me. I give thanks for the warm, welcoming host families here on Long Island who open their homes and trust the care of their children to these young women. Thank you to my fellow Community Counselors for your friendship, tips and counsel! Thank you, too, to all the staff at APIA for their support of all of us!
Here are our favorite quotes of gratitude from Suffolk County au pairs and host families this Thanksgiving:
This year I am thankful to my au pair because she has been my right hand. With three children under five and the new transition to a single mom role, she has graciously been eager to help and truly is a member of our family. My children call her their big sister and she loves them as such, providing them comfort and stability during a difficult time. I love her and feel very protective of her, like my own. It was very cute, I took the children to the bagel shop very early one morning to eat breakfast. My daughter made friends with the children sitting at the table behind us. The mother commented to her, wow how lucky, you have two brothers and you’re the only girl. She proudly answered, no I have a big sister (her au pair). I didn’t correct her because she is right. Our au pair is truly a blessing.
This year I’m thankful for all the changes life has given me. I’m thankful for the people who gave me the opportunity to start a new adventure –my family back home, my host family in the U.S. and all the people behind Au Pair in America. Thank you Cindy and thank you Annika (my counselor in Germany). I’m thankful for going to places I’ve always wished for, and for knowing people from other nationalities and learning about the American culture! I am thankful that I have seen myself grow because of all of the situations life here gives me. I’m thankful that I am improving a language which is not my mother language (I’m working at it!) I’m happy with my host family and thankful because they treat me like a real family member and give me the chance to feel like home here. I’m so thankful for so many things the list will be endless! All in all, I’m thankful to be happy and healthy and for all the people who are making me to this person! Thank you!
Thank you to Cindy, and our au pairs and host families for sharing their messages of gratitude. Happy Thanksgiving from our family to yours!
