As busy professionals, we couldn’t imagine our lives without our Au Pair Danel. She has become a trusted and deeply integrated part of our family.
Our kids adore her, and it’s obvious how much she truly cares for them. This is not just a “job” to her… she’s more like a big sister!
It brings us great comfort to know our kids are cared for by someone we absolutely trust. Unlike a daycare, she is able to meet their individual and unique needs because she knows them so well.
Our 7-year old son loves to play board games with her and learn Africans (Danel’s mother language).
Our daughter loves to do arts and crafts with her, and our 3-year old son, whom Danel calls “superman,” loves to imagine and play make-believe with her.
Danel is famous for her bedtime stories. The kids are captivated by her long, winding animated adventure stories.
She has been so helpful in the children’s care by being that second hand: helping with lunches/snacks, transportation assistance, meal making, and cleaning up after building tents out of pillows and blankets in the living room.
During her time with us, we had another baby and Danel embraced the change and chaos that come with a new little one. She has stepped in with the baby when I was exhausted but also respected of our parenting style.
We have also seen how much Danel has grown since she has been with us. Her self-confidence has gone way up and she experienced all sorts of adventure, including downhill skiing, hiking up tall mountains and even skydiving!
Perhaps the most significant benefit she brings is that she enables us to be better parents. By lightening our load, she allows us to connect deeply with our kids. We routinely take each kid out individually for special dates on their own, while Danel watches the others, in order to give one on one attention to each of them… Something that is rare with four kids in a busy house.
Danel has left a mark on our family that we will never forget! We cannot imagine any au pair more deserving of Au Pair of the Year than Danel.
