Our au pair Madeleine is an exceptional person. We both go to work in the morning knowing that our children will not only be well taken care of and loved, but that they will also be engaged and have fun. Culturally, Madeleine brings a great deal to our family. She has been teaching us all about Austria and her region, Tyrol. We have all learned a few words in German, some customs unique to her country. The day the boys started school, she made them all the cones that children are given in Germany and Austria to celebrate the start of school. Last Christmas, she created a handmade advent calendar with pouches filled with candy (three, of course) for each day of December. These are just two examples of the way that Madeleine has opened us all up to her culture.
Madeleine brings such joy to our home. Our entire extended family and friends all love her just as much as we do. The neighbors all say the same: she is amazing with the kids and an incredibly personable and positive person. We could not have asked for a better young woman to be helping us raise our boys. We will miss her dearly when she goes home, but know that we will forever have a friend in Austria, and she will have always have a family in Boston.
Submitted by Darah Harper, host mom in Massachusetts