Rachel has been a dream au pair for our family. She is caring but also a good example to the kids on how to conduct themselves in a responsible manner. She helps Molly with her homework and when Molly has a bad temper, she is able to calm her down. Rachel has been so dedicated to healthy eating for the kids, making balanced meals. She writes down Molly’s food logs diligently.
As a result of Rachel, our family now also has dinner together way more than before. She supports my husband and me by allowing us to have date nights. She is mindful of her own growth through taking classes at Columbia and volunteering at the local preschool. She goes on vacation with us it is a pleasure to be around.
Rachel is proactive in her childcare approach. She knows when to work with the kids versus when to discuss with me a better approach. We have Miles who is 12 years old and molly who is 9. Miles, at 12, needs less care and in fact the best way to work with him is to observe and let him blossom while taking care of his physical needs on preparing lunch, etc. This is very different from Molly, who is 9 and needs more reminders and help with homework. With Molly, Rachel is active in working on getting a bedtime schedule for her. Rachel is very good at getting Molly to do her homework, and helps molly with math which is Molly’s hardest class. She takes my guidance to work with Molly on particular questions and give me updates when she feels that molly is stuck.
Rachel is firm with the kids but also loving. When Molly and I get into emotional arguments, Rachel will thoughtfully provide a very diplomatic suggestion and allow us the space to put aside our own emotions to work through the issue at hand.
Rachel’s cooking is 2nd to none. She comes from a family of excellent cooks and she makes healthy breakfast, lunch, and dinner for the kids. We had a nutritionist work with Molly and Rachel was very active in preparing food to the request of the nutritionist, logging Molly’s food intake and ensure molly eat healthily.
Rachel is very adaptive. She learned her way to get around the city to drop the kids off for doctor appointments so I don’t need to come home to pick up the kids. She navigates with very little guidance and can get around. Also when we took her to California and DC for family vacations, she struck the appropriate balance between spending time with our family and getting to know the extended families and was able to go on her own. She found au pairs in those cities and made friends to hang out. She is very resourceful.
With Rachel, we were able to implement monthly date nights for 6 months. She is so on top of it when I forgot it was our date night she reminded us!
We are so lucky to have her. We will miss her dearly when she goes!
