Abigail Marsh, Auckland

"Abby has been with us for 6 months now and has fitted in so well in our crazy family environment. Abby is amazing with Isabella and Zac our 1 year old twins - they really are a handful! Looking after twins is not easy at all - especially now they are both walking - it is very intense with two and you never have a minute to yourself. If one is well, the other is ill, if one is asleep the other is awake, if one likes a meal you've made the other doesnt and it is a constant battle to stay sane sometimes! As I am working 4 days a week now Abby has to take the twins to Music, Rhyme Time and Playgroup by herself. Going out with the twins is a mission itself, 2 kinds of nappies, 2 bottles, 2 lunches, 2 dummies not to mention the double Mountain Buggy thats weighs as much as a small car! Abby has it sussed and is so good that most people think the twins are her own children! All of this and she also manages to spend time with our 8 year old daughter Frankie giving her lots of cuddles and fun and she also manages to play a "big sister/teen advisor to our 13 year old daughter Jodie and voluntarily coach Jodies Lacrosse team and attend Cooking Classes every week!

Our lives are so busy and 6 months has rushed by. We would all like to thank Abby for her hard work but most importantly for the genuine love she gives to our children. We would love Abby to win Au Pair of the Month as she has such great commitment to the Te Whariki principles of Early Childhood Teaching and to developing her skills through Au Pair Link and we would hope that this along with her wonderful kind and caring nature would give her a chance of winning Au Pair of the Year - as she is definitely a winner for our family!

Thanks Abby - we love you!!