Johanna Gessner

Hi there!

I wanted to nominate my lovely Au Pair Johanna Gessner as Au Pair of the Month.

Johanna has been my first Au Pair and came into my household in what was a very difficult time for me, having just separated from my husband and desperately needing someone to look after my 2 lovely, but very full on, children, Ben aged 3 and Bella aged 4. The kids were going through a rough time too with their parents obviously not living in the same house anymore and the ongoing earthquakes causing a lot of anxiety for everyone. Johanna is mature for her 20 years and understood and managed these challenges and much more!

Johanna only had a few days to settle in before I had to head back to work and she got stuck right in. She had to adapt to my ‘interesting’ shift times, with me working at the hospital. She is only ever a text away if I’m running late or I need her to get dinner on. The biggest challenge for her would be that my son has Cystic Fibrosis and she has been fantastic at managing his care regime, including giving medications, inhalers, putting creams on and dealing with illnesses. Most recently, Ben has been very unwell with a bowel blockage, and Johanna knew something wasn’t right with him and called me straight away at work to let me know. He consequently had to spend a week in hospital and she dealt with that (which must have been pretty scary for a young girl to see a small child in such pain) and looking after my daughter and helping out while Ben was in hospital.

We have just moved house too and Johanna has been fantastic with helping with the shift, looking after the kids and helping me unpack! I have been quite stressed out, but she eases that just by doing things without having to be asked. Nothing is ever a problem and at the same time, she is getting to see our wonderful country!

The kids love her and ask where she is when she is not around. She cooks, is tidy, takes the kids out, takes them to preschool/playgroup and really has just fitted into our house and become a member of our family. I have a friend who has been an enormous help to me through a fairly stressful period of my life. Someone that has listened to me and helped out with the kids and I wish she didn’t have to leave in May! The kids are going to miss her incredibly, as will I, but I know we will always stay in touch!

Johanna Gesner, Canterbury