Joanna Monroe (USA)

Steve and I would love to nominate Joanna Monroe for Au Pair of the Month. My mum refers to Joanna as our au pair extraordinaire and that is certainly the best way to describe her. Joanna has been our first au pair and our family was in a state of chaos trying to take two young children into the city on the ferry each day, lack of routine, a determined and strong willed four year old who likes everything just so, and an extremely physical toddler who likes to 'investigate' (read destroy) everything in sight. We actually seriously wondered whether she might just turn around and go home once she saw the chaos she was joining.

Joanna brings a sense of calm to our family. She's established numerous routines, and built connections with other au pairs locally which has in turn meant our children have developed wonderful local friendships which will take them through to school years. There is time for play, and time for mess, time for singing and dancing, time for reading and learning, and most of all time for fun. She has helped with my daughter's limited appetite by planting seeds so she can see how plants grow into something we can eat. She's baked with her, and had play time with jell-o and other foods to desensitise food for her. Most of all she's brought a bundle of love to our family and for that we are forever grateful.

- The Gregory family