Au Pair of the Year Nominee:
Maria - Colombia
Six months ago ... I had gone back to work full time and my husband and I were juggling the supervision of our two children, cleaning the house, grocery shopping, washing laundry? with little success. We loved our jobs, but the joy was gone. Dishes were piled up in the sink; we were running out for milk at 8 pm during the week; I was staying up all night to finish the laundry. I had nothing left for my kids or my job. And especially, there was nothing left for my husband. This isn't what we planned for when I went back to work - we wanted something better for our lives.
Maria entered our world as a ray of sunshine. She came full of love, energy, and generosity. The warmth she emanated immediately began to renew me. She awakens early each morning, readies herself, and then waits downstairs for the arrival of the family. She greets me with a smile and a hug every day and eagerly listens to anything I need to share, whether it's the laundry I need done, a trip to the grocery store or a small project around the house. She's even interested in the details of my day ? projects at work, students I am working with; whatever it is, she listens with earnest and affection.
Contemplation of how Maria's presence has changed our family brings me to tears. As a mother, my birthday is a "non-day", nothing special ? I take care of everyone else. On the morning of my birthday Maria greeted with excitement, an especially huge hug, and a lovely gift ? I was astounded, as I'd even forgotten! I came home that night to a small surprise birthday party. Maria had made dinner for our family, a birthday cake, and decorated the room with balloons and a homemade banner. The boys had donned birthday hats and welcomed me home with cheers! My heart swelled with gratitude. I was more than a mom and more than an employer ? I was really important to Maria, too!
For months before Maria came I had worked with my oldest son on reading and writing his name ? with little results. Within weeks of her arrival, Maria had Bradyn writing his name each day, completing his homework, and she was reading to the boys daily. While Bradyn is at preschool Maria takes little Scotty to the park and plays with him for hours. To the boys she is a playmate, a teacher, a sister, even a personal chef! Maria cooks with the boys often, draws with them, and takes amazing care of them. She is organized and has created a wonderful daily routine in which they have truly flourished! My husband and I return home each day to a clean, organized, calm home. The boys are bathed, rested, fed and most importantly, very happy. The result is an evening full of time devoted to my children and husband. These hours spent together each night are full of love and minimal stress. And if errands need to be run the next day, Maria always offers to perform them, reducing my load and allowing me to focus my extra hours on my family.
Maria is truly an exceptional young woman. She attends daily to the details of our family and home, not just doing what is asked, but always a little something more. She does everything with joy? it's amazing how happy she is, even with very little sleep or tough circumstances. And, most incredibly of all, Maria has completely given her heart to our family, filling all of us up with her patience, gentleness and compassion. She has changed our home and made it a restful place, taking on our burdens to reduce stress and demands, and providing love and support to each of us every day. She is always willing to listen, always available to the children, and always a source of peace. My life will forever be changed because of Maria.
Maria has shown me that an au pair is not just a babysitter, and certainly more than an employee. An au pair is somebody who leaves their life to devote themselves to yours; someone who cares about your children as much as you; someone who is focused on making your home as wonderful a place as you've ever dreamed it could be.
An au pair is a gift to a family.
