Au Pair: Sandra Wiik from Sweden
Host Family: Rivet Family in New Hampshire
I vividly remember that warm July day, waiting to meet our new au pair for the very first time. The bus drove up, the doors opened and one by one, the au pairs began to exit, Everyone was nervous and excited. I anxiously wait4ed as other host families made their aquaintence for the first time, some with a hand shake, some with a hug. My two kids and I watched as girl after girl nervously got off the bus, still not recognizing any of them. Finally, a girl with the biggest smile Ive ever seen, wearing a giant blow up swedish flag on her hand got off the bus. There she was! Sandra and I made eye contact and immediately she ran over and embraced me and the kids. We screamed and giggled like two little school girls. Like we'd known each other our whole lives. That is how it has been ever since.
I am a single mother of a five year old Zachary, and two year old Isabella. Before Sandra arrived, my plate was so full I was barely getting by. Working full time, taking care of two kids and a house, going through a very painful divorce, taking care of my mentally ill mother who lives in my home and having no other family here to lean on. I really needed help. Sandra walked into our lives and literally has saved us.
Sandra takes great pride in her work. She takes exceptional care of my kids. My house litrally sparkles! She doesn't stop there. Every day Sandra goes above and beyond her "duties" as an au pair. She helps my elderly mother when she needs it, bringing her to the grocery store or the bank. She plans projects for the kids such as making home made playdoh or complete shadow boxes. Sandra leaves me little notes in my coffee cup telling me to "have a good day", and notes on my plllow saying "sleep tight". On the one year anniversary of my husband leaving, which was a painful day for me, she welcomed me home from work with a homemade wind chime she made with the kids along with a sign saying "you are surrounded by love". It moved me to tears.
Most importantly, Sandra truly loves my children and they love her. I leave for work in the morning and never worry about the care they receive. She sends me pictures throughout the day on my cell phone showing me the fun things they are doing. On her days off, my kids tell me they miss Sandra...and quite frankly I do too. She is one of us.
There is not enough time and space for me to adequately describe what she has added to our family. We love her so much. She is sweet, kind, thoughtful, hard working and overall one of the best people I have ever met. She deserves this award through and through. Please allow me the opportunity to properly thank her for all she does every day for my family by naming her "Au Pair of the Year".
I am a single mother of a five year old Zachary, and two year old Isabella. Before Sandra arrived, my plate was so full I was barely getting by. Working full time, taking care of two kids and a house, going through a very painful divorce, taking care of my mentally ill mother who lives in my home and having no other family here to lean on. I really needed help. Sandra walked into our lives and literally has saved us.
Sandra takes great pride in her work. She takes exceptional care of my kids. My house litrally sparkles! She doesn't stop there. Every day Sandra goes above and beyond her "duties" as an au pair. She helps my elderly mother when she needs it, bringing her to the grocery store or the bank. She plans projects for the kids such as making home made playdoh or complete shadow boxes. Sandra leaves me little notes in my coffee cup telling me to "have a good day", and notes on my plllow saying "sleep tight". On the one year anniversary of my husband leaving, which was a painful day for me, she welcomed me home from work with a homemade wind chime she made with the kids along with a sign saying "you are surrounded by love". It moved me to tears.
Most importantly, Sandra truly loves my children and they love her. I leave for work in the morning and never worry about the care they receive. She sends me pictures throughout the day on my cell phone showing me the fun things they are doing. On her days off, my kids tell me they miss Sandra...and quite frankly I do too. She is one of us.
There is not enough time and space for me to adequately describe what she has added to our family. We love her so much. She is sweet, kind, thoughtful, hard working and overall one of the best people I have ever met. She deserves this award through and through. Please allow me the opportunity to properly thank her for all she does every day for my family by naming her "Au Pair of the Year".