When I first Skyped with my host family I knew that I want to be their au pair after a few minutes. It was just my tummy which said: "Yup, that will be your host family." It was like…when you fall in love? Like butterflies in the stomach. But I wasn't in love and I had no butterflies in my tummy. I only knew that it is a perfect match. And how it turned out my stomach was right. Actually the second Skype date was a disaster because their children were very excited and cried a lot but I was still convinced that they are supposed to be my family. (And after some months I can assure that their children are great.)

After a few months I first met them at the airport and I was unbelievable excited but it was a warm greeting and a lot of curious questions from my host children. We went home and they welcomed me in their family. The next months have been about get to know the children and try to find my way to handle the exciting job of an au pair. My host family supported me the whole time with a lot of tips and their full trust. They never questioned my way to handle the children and that really helped to build up a relationship to my host children. Beside that they always listened to me and supported me with planning my trips. Every evening I get home and they are still awake they take their time to ask me how my day was and listen to me. I really appreciate that. It's something I never had before. Obviously it lets me feel like I am part of their amazing family. And that's just an example to explain their warmhearted, attentive, helpful and just friendly way to face me. Thank you for that.

In addition they are not only good host parents. They are also great parents. Both have very hard and challenging jobs but they spend every free second with their children. They support them with everything, enable them to try a lot of new thing like going fishing, dancing, soccer and football, give them heaps of love, listen to them, laugh or just mess around. I am very sure that they raise their children to awesome persons. First and most important rule of the family is to be kind. Isn't that something what shows how great they are?

Last but not least they always ask me if I want to join them in their family activities. Let it be a camping trip, the swimming lessons or a holiday. I am allowed to be a part of that.

So thank you very much that you chose me as your au pair, family member and friend.

Love,

Mirja

Mirja Schmidt