The life of a military family is unpredictable, and military families have unique childcare needs that require flexibility and reliability. Just ask parents Hailey and Chris in Minnesota, whose lives were turned upside down when Chris was called for his third military deployment just after finding out they were pregnant with their second child. Luckily, they found the perfect au pair match for their family’s needs — Jessica from Mexico.
Hear from Hailey and Chris about the incredible impact au pair Jessica has made on their lives as a military family and on the whole.
Finding the Perfect Match
Recognizing the need for support as a full-time working mom, Hailey and Chris started interviewing au pairs for childcare assistance through Au Pair in America.
“We found out we were pregnant with our second child in late 2021 and, not too long after, we found out that Chris was headed out to his third deployment and was scheduled to leave no more than three weeks after our daughter was born. As a full time working mom, I was going to need some help.”
Enter: Jessica. She empathized with their situation and was eager to seamlessly integrate into their support system.
“We interviewed Jessie and the first thing that she said to me after reading our essay was that she recognized we were going to need help, and that she wanted to be the one to do it… She joined our family two weeks after our daughter was born and instantly became part of our crew.”
Unwavering Support
Jessie’s impact on her host family extended beyond practical help. She exhibited patience and comfort to the children while also providing support to host mom Hailey through many challenges.
“She was patient with all of us: comforting to our son who was missing his dad, understanding of my ups and downs with the newborn transition [with] two kids and no husband, [had] the touch with our newborn in those heightened crying moments, and put up with our crazy dog.”
Going Above and Beyond
Jessica’s dedication to her host family while her host dad was deployed surpassed their expectations.
“She’s gone above and beyond — and even made toilet themed cookies when our son was potty training! Her generosity and service throughout her whole time has been unmatched. [She’s] learned our family dynamics and anticipated needs for all of us, and she was the best caregiver that we could have imagined while Chris was gone.”
Even after Chris got home from his military deployment, they couldn’t imagine life without Jessica.
“We loved her so much that we extended time with her, and she is truly part of our family.”
Cultural Exchange
When Chris returned from his deployment as a member of the U.S. military, he was grateful for all that Jessica had done to help his family. A few things in particular, though, have stood out to him:
“Since I got home, one of the things I love the most is the Taco Tuesdays that Jessie has implemented for our family. As well as teaching our kids Spanish, which just… overall I believe our family has benefited from the cultural exchange.”
Military families across the United States are choosing au pair childcare for flexible, dependable assistance.
Au Pair in America appreciates the sacrifices made by military families. Please give our office a call at 1-800-928-7247 for more details about our military discount.
