What Our Host Families Say

Nadia is our fourth au pair, all through Au Pair International.

We knew from the moment we picked Nadia up from the airport back in April, that we would have a terrific year together.  The same warmth that we picked up on through Skype, was immediately evident.  She arrived with thoughtful, meaningful, gifts for each of us from Bolivia, giving us a great sense of her culture and her heart.  It was also immediately apparent that Nadia had an all-in attitude.  She was seeking the full life experience, of both our family, and our American culture.

Takayo is an amazing person. Always cheerful --even in the face of teen angst and tween stubbornness –her very presence makes our days that much brighter. One expects that an au pair should be careful and diligent, but she is so much more. She works each day with our son on his Japanese, helping him to improve his speaking, reading and writing skills in a language that neither my husband nor I speak. She provides positive examples of how to behave when there is conflict between our youngest son and his sister. And she is constantly and actively learning about American culture –or at least our family’s somewhat creative interpretation of it. As we sat at the dinner table tonight, she laughed with us at the outrageous “Terminator” puns my husband made, and I think she knows as much about Jewish holidays now as some of the kids at Hebrew school (which she drives our son to each week). She also holds the speed record of all our au pairs for finding a group of friends in the United States. She’s taken full advantage of her time off to study and hang out in San Francisco, experience New Years in Los Angeles and go snow-boarding in the Sierra. Our family feels very fortunate to have Takayo with us as a “big sister” for our children. We couldn’t have made a better match.

Bex has only been with us 5 months, but she fits us like a glove. Christmas was a special event this year because she had never had a white Christmas before with snow and Utah didn’t disappoint. She made traditional Christmas pudding from her Grandmother’s recipe and it was acclaimed by all to be our best Christmas dessert ever.

Perhaps most important to us is that calmly, quietly Bex has earned the deep affection and respect of our daughters and kept them safe. We truly could not ask more of anyone and she has achieved our everlasting love for doing so.

Martin has been an exceptional au pair, and we've had au pairs since our son was 4 months old. My son is now 8 years old. Martin came here with an immense amount of enthusiasm. The first week was hard on my son as he missed his old au pair, and my son pushed back and challenged him a few times. When my son said that he missed his old au pair and that he hoped Martin would be almost as good, Martin responded to him and myself that he would be better than his old au pair and would be the best au pair we ever had yet. That was his own challenge, and he lived up to it.Martin is always patient, and he listens well. He is incredibly caring and has taken to role of big brother to my son. As a single mom, this is very comforting.

We are a perfect match and we are beyond elated that Ayumi wants to stay with our family for a second year. The girls see Ayumi as a family member and my husband and I love showing Ayumi around and taking her to different restaurants or experiences because she is always so excited, grateful and happily takes in every opportunity. Ayumi is truly Mary Poppins but even better as she teaches us all about Japanese culture, language and customs!

Lucia has been with our family for the past 6 months and she has because a member of our household. After completing medical school in Argentina before beginning her advanced training in become an Obstetrician she decided to apply to become an Au Pair and we are very glad she did! Having not had an Au Pair before,let alone opening our home up to someone we had only spoken to on the phone, we were nervous about what the experience would be like. Everything has gone well beyond our expectations and we are very glad to have Lucia as a member of our family.Education has been a critical focus in our family’s lives and Lucia’s as well.

We appreciate the importance she takes in teaching our daughter and making simple everyday actives learning moments. Lucia has taught our 4 year old daughter the different body parts in Spanish, converses with her regularly in Spanish, and has helped her learn how to read in Spanish

The most important factor overall of Rina’s time with us as an au pair is her integration with our family. She has had the opportunity to meet nearly all of our extended family and it is heartwarming to hear her call them Aunt, Uncle, Grandma, etc. Perhaps the most heartwarming of all is when we learned that our boys refer to Rina as their sister when talking about her with their friends and teachers at school. Rina has indeed become like a daughter to us. Rina is fun and has a great sense of humor, while at the same time ensures that our day-to-day schedules run smoothly. She is also a friend with maturity beyond her years, willing to lend an ear when we need a unique perspective on matters of family, work, current events or any other stressors. She is responsible, anticipates needs, helps around the house, understands our irregular schedule and steps in to assist when needed. She is polite and thanks us for every meal, movie, or outing. She is a role model for our boys and they love her very much. We don't know what we would do without Rina here. She is not just our au pair, she is family.

We feel fortunate as parents to have Angeliki in our family, especially in our busy lives when being away from home and the children during the day can often be very stressful. She makes our life easier, giving us the confidence that our kids are safe, in good hands and with the right direction. She has been delightful from the beginning and she always exhibits a willingness to offer more and help.

We have had Aupairs in our family for the past 6 years and Jenyffer (Jen) is by far THE BEST! She joined our family in August 2016 and she has been a God send ever since. Jen is a teacher (certified), but also a teacher of life lessons for both the children and the adults in our family. She is patient, kind, loving, caring, and firm, a fantastic cook, a great organizer and wonderful caregiver. I frequently refer to her as a “kid whisperer” to our three wonderful, determined, and incredibly active children ages (8, 10, & 12).

Jen is an angel and we are truly blessed to have her in our village. She is an outstanding role model for all Aupairs to follow and she has left an impression on our hearts that will last a lifetime.

[Marina] is such a pleasure to be around and to work with in taking care of our precious boys. The most amazing development has been the extraordinary love that she has for our youngest boy. He was born after she joined our family and so from day 1 she was there to help take care of him and watch him change every single day. She is so caring and kind with him that sometimes it may seem to other people that she is his mother. She constantly kisses him and has given him so much love. We so much appreciate this as we know that babies are really shaped in the first years of their life based on the care and love they receive from their caregivers. I am certain that this little boy is so fortunate to have been cared for by her in a way that this will have lasting effects on his personality down the road. Love creates love and I know that this early love and caring received by our Au Pair in the first year of his life will be an important element in shaping his personality.

I’ve really enjoyed the process and program. Your Aupair’s are very close to what we view online. Thank you for the more detailed book that explains the process and what to look for and do prior to arrival. This really does help as I came from 8 years with another Aupair company. My family and I thank all of you for your hard work for us host families that open our homes and families to these amazing Aupair’s. Respectfully, The Russell Family

What a wonderful and fulfilling adventure we have been on as a family. That is what Olivia is to us...family. Olivia arrived in the United States on May 18th bags in tow and many souvenirs for us from France! How much courage does that take to travel half way across the globe to meet a family you have never met in person, barely knowing the language, to live in a country for a whole year?

The jobs that my husband and I have are not on a set schedule week by week. Olivia allows me the flexibility that I need so that work and family time are covered while also respecting her free time.

For us, working and travelling would be an impossibility without her. I have full confidence in her abilities with my children and I feel safe leaving them in her care. There is nothing more important to a parent than that. She has shown me time and time again her dedication to our family's well-being and her commitment to seeing our children thrive. She is an invaluable member of our family and we could not be more grateful to have her in our lives

Louis came to us when I was looking to balance masculine roles in my son’s life, with the abundance of feminine energy he gets from his inner circle; me, his grandmother, his teachers… More than just a chauffeur, a chef, a caretaker…Louis is a role model. From him, my son Jaxon will learn how to be a well-rounded adult, a gentleman who takes pride in his work but is humble, who places the needs of others in the highest order.

We have traded customs and cultures, recipes and relatives. He has joined us on our adventures and taken us on his. He has explored the US and toured France with us. In every way, an exchange of cultures.

It’s hard to believe Louis has only been here 5 months. It feels like he has been a member of our family for years and will be for years to come.

Laura quickly became an integral part of our family, both professionally and personally, upon her arrival. Her professionalism has been unquestionably top-notch, reflecting her demeanor, approach, and fined-tuned application of previous experience. She has not once given us reason to question whether we are comfortable with leaving our children in her care. From their daily hygiene to their meals, she takes care to make sure that our children’s routine remains seamless whether we are away at work or simply in the other room.

We have had a great cultural interchange experience with Laura, from her cooking traditional Irish meals for us to our sharing our holiday traditions with her. Laura has even let our children FaceTime with her family back in Ireland and our boys know all about her nieces and nephews.

We value Laura very highly, and have never had such a positive child care experience prior to this.

[Yevgeniya] helped us transition from a family of three to a family of four. As a family with two working parents, trusting your childcare giver ranks highest in parental concerns. With Eugenia, there is never a concern that our children are properly looked after while we are at work.
The relationship Eugenia has with our daughters is beautiful. She truly cares for our girls like they are her own. Whenever [our daughter] lists off our family members, she always includes Heny (as she’s been nicknamed in our family). If Heny is away over the weekend, Tuesday morning our daughters can’t wait to be swept up in her arms and to start a new craft project or a new play doh creation. Even Boris, our English bulldog, has a special place in his doggie heart for Heny. We’ll find him snuggled up against her any chance he gets.

We first met Stefhany when we picked her up from the train station in Seattle after several days of her traveling across the country from her first API year host city of Chicago. She chose to take the train instead of fly, so she could see more of the landscape of our country during the almost cross-country trip, photographing the scenery outside her train car window. Despite being tired from a long few days, she was so positive, and genuinely enthusiastic to be joining our family and meeting our son, and making a new home in Seattle. This expression of positive attitude, caring spirit and kind heart were not limited to her first few days, she has been consistently, steadfastly patient, warm, hardworking, and honest, and goes above and beyond our expectations to care for our son. She finds fun activities in our community to experience with him to help him learn and grow, and teaches him new lessons on all her own –from songs and dances to vocabulary, outdoor play, bus rides, walks in the neighborhood, interesting snack ideas, art projects and more –all very important things for a toddler!

Stefhany has been exceptional as a young adult living in our home, not only in caring for our child, but also being trustworthy and tidy, accountable for her behavior, exercising sound judgment, communicating with us as host parents, and showing respect for her space and our home in general.While we strive to provide a loving and safe environment for her to live in with our family and an enjoyable experience in the US, I think Stefhany has given us peace of mind that our child is in good hands when he is with her, and helps us be the best parents we can be –true hallmarks of a wonderful Au Pair.

A large part of the draw for us to having an au pair, is the cultural aspect. Anna has shared with us several traditions and customs from Germany, including St. Nicholas Day leaving gifts in our shoes, German chocolate, and calling us baby making experts with having one boy and one girl child. Anna’s German children’s songs are guaranteed to calm our 9 month old under any circumstances.
In addition to providing excellent care for our children, Anna has really become a part of our family.

Through compassion, determination, empathy, intellect, optimism, and genuine love, Iana has become our center core. She has been the foundation and the glue that has kept our family anchored since the day she greeted us at the airport. We had no idea what we were doing as new parents in a new city, and although Iana was in the same boat, her strong will, determination, and unconditional love for a then 4-month-old compelled her to jump in head first and guide us through choppy waters.

Taty has been a wonderful addition to our family. She is great with our girls. They both love her. When I work from home I hear them laughing together and playing. My baby is always happy to see her and my four year old mama's girl only wants Taty to do her hair now. As a mom, I most appreciate how responsible she is. She listens to instructions and is very conscientious about following them. She asks for help when she needs it, and she's very receptive to feedback. I can tell she really cares about doing a good job. One thing I really appreciate is how she plans crafts and activities in advance to do with our four year old. Because she is so responsible and kind I even felt comfortable going to work when both girls were sick and I didn't have any time off.

From our first contact with Sophie, we knew she was the perfect person to join our family. She has an overwhelming enthusiasm to experience all of the joys in life, including caring for children, traveling the US and making the most of her time here. Sophie has been to more states than I have and already has plans to check more off of her list.

Sophie jumped right in and became a part of our family from the first day she arrived. She will always be a part of our family no matter where she is located. Sophie’s love for our children and their well-being is evident in everything she does. She is never afraid to jump in to ensure their safety or to discipline or praise them when needed, even when off duty or in our presence. We appreciate this consistency and welcome her assistance. The children know that Sophie is on the same level as Mom and Dad and Sophie’s willingness to “jump right in” made this possible. In fact, Sophie is usually a little more “hardcore” than Mom and Dad and the kids care more about disappointing Sophie than Mom and Dad!

If I could describe Katherine in one word, the word would be blessing.

From our initial calls on Skype we knew Katherine was an exceptional person who was confident, kind, caring and thoughtful, but it wasn’t until she was in our home that we found out her joy and enthusiasm would be contagious to us all.

Although Katherine has only been with us a short time, she has quickly become a special member of our family. Knowing she is with our children all day is knowing they are loved and THAT is the biggest blessing we could have asked for.

Cristi has been a complete blessing to our family ever since she stepped foot on Hawaiian soil. Immediately we noticed how warm and loving she was. As a family who has had a lot of Au Pairs, she has demonstrated her mission during this time frame is to truly care for children and to provide a safe, nurturing environment...Cristi has also mixed in well with our culturally diverse family. She has shared many of her Mexican traditions with food, music, and art which we as a family are more then grateful to have the opportunity to learn where she comes from. In turn on her time off she us explored the island and traditions and enjoys learning about Hawaiian culture...We are truly lucky to have her as part of our Ohana and will be sad the day she departs back to her country.

Lea is an all-around fantastic au pair. She has been with our family since June 2016, and we are already dreading the day when she returns home to Germany next summer. We have two wonderful and lively children, ages 4 and 2. While both children love Lea, each child is very different. Lea has developed a warm relationship with both of them. In the morning, the children greet Lea when she comes down the stairs with a hug and a smile. In the evening, they do the same as they wish her a good night. That the children are so happy with Lea, of course, means a lot to us because we know that we can completely trust her to keep the children safe and happy. And not only does she keep them safe and happy; in fact, Lea is out and about with the children on any day, in any weather. Lea has an innate ability in developing bonds with both children. She focuses her attention on the children completely and does not let herself be distracted by other persons or gadgets around her. She speaks German with the kids, and in doing so, has helped both of the kids to improve their language skills. We have come home from work many a days and, upon hearing certain expressions in German from our children, knew exactly that they had learned them from Lea.

I often find myself telling fellow professional working moms that “every family needs a Lucie.”Our Lucie has not only contributed immensely to the raising of our three children under three – a three year old and twin newborn babies – but she has also become an integral part of our family. When Lucie arrived in late August, we noticed right away that she had a special way with our toddler. Our toddler responded to her, sought her out, and listened to her. Lucie was kind and firm at the same time – a generous and powerful combination. After seeing the positive impact on our young daughter – she would for example help pick up her toys, sat at the table to eat – we thought perhaps Lucie would be the best sleep trainer to get our daughter to sleep on our own and give us a few needed hours in the evening to rest. Before even starting with our toddler, Lucie gave us the pep talk. We have to be on the same page, she said. She reminded us to stay strong, to take her back to bed immediately, and follow through on our stated rules. After two nights, Lucie’s calm demeanor prevailed, and our daughter was sleeping on her own. As an added bonus, Lucie painlessly worked with our daughter to break her nighttime pacifier habit!

Recently my five-year old daughter confided in me that she had a nightmare. I dreamed Yuki will be going back to Japan she said. [Our daighter's] nightmare speaks to the job our Au Pair Yuki has done with our children and the impression she has had on our family. Yuki has been with our family for approximately one year now. Suffice it say we will miss her immensely when her time is up and she returns to Japan (she kindly accepted our request to extend six more months). Yuki has exhibited a true passion for working with children. She has been firm when she needs to be and supportive when the times call for it. After only one year Yuki seems like a part of our family.

Nine months ago my 14 year old son came home after meeting the neighbor’s au pair and said to me “Mom we need an au pair”. At that time I had left my professional career for two years to focus on the care and needs of my five children. I had spent a year trying to overcome some health challenges while working with a son who struggles with lowself-esteem, ADHD and anxiety.

It was never difficult to get to know Laura. She has welcomed us in her heart and her life. She included us from day one in sharing her dreams and experiences in America. It was her openness in sharing her life with us that made it so easy to love her and make her a part of our family.

When Laura is not around, all my children ask where she is and when she is coming back. She has helped free up my time to allow me to nurture myself. Simply being able to get away allows me to be a better Mom. She has also allowed me to prepare to return to my profession. This has brought a joy in my life that I never realized I missed.

Although I am a stay-at-home mom, I also care for my parents who live nearby. They do not speak English well and have many health issues. My husband leaves for work early in the morning before the kids wake up and comes home near their bedtime. So between caring for the kids and my parents, I knew I couldn’t do it alone. Natsuki arrived in the Bay Area on October 13, 2016. After only 2 Skype interviews, I knew immediately she was the one. My 4 boys also interviewed her and felt an instant connection. She possessed all the qualities I was looking for and more. Since the very first day she joined our family, she has been an absolute joy to be around. She has consistently proven to be a wonderful child caretaker. When my boys are with her, I know they are in caring hands and that is a priceless gift she has given us.

We welcomed Cody in our family on June 1, 2016. She arrived from Australia where she grew up on a farm in the countryside with her Mum and animals, and had worked with children from 6-months to 5 years old for a few years. She came over to take care of our 18 months old daughter at the time and soon to be born second daughter. She had hardly ever traveled abroad until she landed in Seattle. She arrived in high-speed, high impact, intense family environment where our high tech business careers are an important part of our life. Our experience with her was outstanding from day one, and continues to be a joy every day.

The highlights of her achievements with our daughter include: 4-feet long painting art pieces that they work on week after week, learning to be comfortable playing by herself, language, a wide variety of well behavior at the table or socially, the peace of mind of sticking her to a smart routine, the dozen of thoughtful craft things she did with her (planting seeds in the garden, making her crack eggs shells to enrich the garden’s soil) but also teaching her to dress up by herself, to cross the road, etc.

When Camille joined our family, I was knee deep in clinical rotations while I worked on my Master’s degree in physician assistant studies and my husband worked a demanding job requiring frequent international travel. During this chaotic time, Camille provided our daughter with consistency and stability, allowing her to grow into the incredibly strong and intelligent little girl that she is today. Our little one never has a dull day with Camille.