If you ask busy working parents what is on their wish list this holiday season, you might get a half-hearted request for something tangible, like a new cell phone, or a piece of jewelry, or a crock pot. If you peer a little more closely into their weary, glazed-over eyes however, you’ll see that what their hearts most desire—and their bodies most need—is rest. They need a break from constant motion and exhaustion of working and managing a family. Quite simply, they need the gift of time.
One of our recent host mothers explained this need quite eloquently:
“My husband and I are both working professionals who knew we wanted to have a family and to keep our successful careers. After our son was born and my husband started traveling for work, I realized I couldn’t do it all on my own. I had someone help to clean the house and a friend to help out babysitting, but I was still on duty all the time.
When my second son was born, I knew I needed more help. I would frequently stay up until 1am making lunches and doing laundry. Exhaustion was a daily feeling. I didn’t have energy left to give to my relationship with my husband when he arrived home on the weekend. If one of the boys got sick, I had to cancel everything. If one boy was sick in the middle of the night, I had to wake the other to take us all to urgent care. My husband would frequently tell me how worried he was about having me home on my own. What if something happened to me?”
Realizing that she needed help, she turned to Au Pair in America and found Andrea, an au pair from Germany who was the perfect match for her family.
“In addition to being bright and articulate, Andrea is wonderful with the boys, showing them love and affection, while also not letting them misbehave. She helps with the morning routine and gets the boys ready for school. In the afternoon she is there to pick them up and lead the evening routine. She speaks to them in English and Spanish, so they learn both.
She helps me so much with duties for the boys and around the house, I am more relaxed than I have ever been since becoming a mother. Having her extra hands to assist with daily life allows us to have time for special moments with the boys without struggling through daily chores.
She has given me the gift of time to spend with my boys, big and small.”
Could you use the gift of time this holiday season? Learn more about hosting an au pair with Au Pair in America.
