Au Pairs Nominate Their Host Mums for our Mother's Day Competition

We would like to wish a fantastic mother’s day for all the mums (and of course in particular our lovely host mums)!

This year, we continued our tradition of asking au pairs to nominate their host mums in our Mother’s Day competition. In the nomination, we simply asked au pairs why their host mum is special/why they should win the above Waitrose mother’s day hamper. The winning entry is from Annalena, Germany - she nominated her host mum Mercedes (Kent): Why my hostmum is the best hostmum! From the first day when I arrived, my hostmum was really welcoming and friendly (my hostdad was too, I will just not mention him in here because it's about Mother's Day, but he would definitely deserve a hamper too! :)). I have visited my hostfamily for a few days in October before I came here in December, and I already knew this is the right family for me! This short visit was to get to know each other and right away I felt like I have known them for ages. They were literally welcoming me with open arms! I am their first Aupair, but they make me feel really comfortable in their family! They treat me like a real family member and include and integrate me in almost everything! And that is what was really important for me when I chose my family! Once she called me 'her big daughter' which describes our relationship pretty good. I am like her two personal helping hands standing next to her all the time what 'an older daughter/sister' would probably be too! If someone asked me to describe my hostmum in one word, I would definitely say 'superwoman'! Not only that she is having a 23 months old girl and two little twin girls; they were born three weeks ago and already now she looks amazing! But also that she still keeps managing everything even when it's a really stressful and tiring day. Of course there are days more exhausting than others, but I know that we are all pulling together to make the best out of it everyday (especially for the little ones)! My hostmum is only ten years older than me which is pretty cool because she is more like a friend than like an authority person! We enjoy having film nights with chocolate and ice cream and talking about any new gossip. Moreover, I can always talk to her (and my hostdad) about everything and I always know they are listening! Her name is Mercedes which is spanish and means 'compassion'. You can interpret this as 'being concerned of' or 'being interested in' others needs and I think this really suits her personality because she is always there for others if they are dealing with any kind of a problem or having any concern; it doesn't matter if it's her family, friends, me or maybe even a stranger, she always tries to find a solution! I also want to mention (because I think the following is not self-evident!) the little things like asking how I am every morning or saying thank you for all of my work in the evenings which makes my hostmum/hostfamily the best hostmum/hostfamily I could ever asked for! All these reasons make me feel like home, remember me that my work is appreciated every day and confirm my decision to live as an Aupair in England with a total stranger family in the beginning, but turning out to be my second one! I just want to say thank you for everything she/they has/have done for me so far! You are the best and I really enjoy living with you. ❤'

Nomination by Cecilie from Denmark - Host Mum Isabelle (Surrey) As soon as I saw that you could nominate your host mom for Mother’s day I just knew that I had to write to you about Isabelle. She is such a loving person always doing her very best to make everybody else feel good and make everybody else’s life easier. So I really think that this time someone should do something for her. She definitely deserves to win because she is not only the best mom for her to kids but she is also the very best host mom. I can always talk to her and it is so nice that she is sincerely interested in me. She’s interested in my personal life in Denmark but most certainly also my life here. She always makes sure I feel welcome if they are going somewhere as a family. Even when she is having a bad day or is very stressed she never lets it out on us she still makes sure to do what ever she can to help the children. She is always so sweet, helpful and glad even when she is having a hard time herself. I can have very personal talks with her and just as I talked with her about the other day even though I have only been here for a bit more than 2 months it feel much longer because I’m already such a big part of the family and everything just seems natural with me being here. She takes her job as a mom very serious but she is also very good at it.

So a very big and beloved thank you to you Isabelle not only for opening your home to me but also your heart! I will be forever grateful for you having me here. Love from Cecilie Nomination by Lisa from Germany - Host Mum Kerry (Kent) When I saw this Mother’s Day Special, I knew exactly that my host mum Kerry deserves this 100%! After our first (and only) Skype Call, I knew right away, that I would love to work with this family and I was so happy, when they thought the same! From the day I arrived, my host mum made sure, that I felt welcome and part of the family! She’s here for me no matter what, and I know that I can talk to her about everything. Even though she’s always really busy with her job and organizing other things, she makes sure that I know what I have to do and is always here to assist me, when I need help with a recipe or other things. I think she appreciates what I am doing and now I want her to know, that I really appreciate being here with her and her family! She always makes sure that I am okay, or asks if I need anything before she goes shopping. My host mum is an amazing cook and an even better baker. She makes the best cakes ever! She spends hours doing them for friends, colleagues or family and really pours her heart into it, to make every cake different and special. She is always here for everyone and I think she deserves this little Mother’s Day special, because it’s time that she gets something back. I feel so welcome here and I couldn’t have asked for a better host family, and that’s mostly because of my great host mum (&host dad of course)! I would be so happy, if Kerry gets this great package and I think she would be happy as well! Thank you so much Kerry!!! Nomination by Malin from Germany - Host Mum Kathryn (Hampshire) Kathryn was my host-mum from summer 2014 until summer 2015 and she still is my hostmum in every way – even 439 miles apart! I just remembered my arrival at London Heathrow airport when she and my little boy picked me up and immediately made me feel welcome and home, I never even thought that any of these people could not be loving or caring to me in any possible moment. Just never! And it really never happened: If I had trouble getting somewhere, if I was homesick before Christmas or even if I just didn´t know what to do, they just jumped in and helped me in very way you can think of! I can´t tell you all the funny, serious or unclear chats we had about everything – always leading us to a very confusing but all-laughing conversation-end! Kathryn helped me expand my English to a level I never thought of – although it´s getting a bit rusty here in Germany again! But never mind because I know where to go to see my second British home! And I regularly do, because not seeing these lovely people would break my heart! Nomination by Thi from Sweden - Host Mum Jo (Buckinghamshire) My host mum Jo, she is a super woman! She is a hard working and a very busy woman, but always friendly and kind to me, to her family and to everyone.  She is a lovely mum to two kids, a good wife to my lovely host dad and the best host mum and friend to me. Since my first day here in UK she has always been helpful, friendly, funny and a very welcoming person. She makes me feel very special and important. We can laugh together like teenagers and have a good conversation, but the best thing with Jo - I know she is always here for me if there is any problems, today and always. Even if she is very stressed or busy with lots of things to do she always takes time to help and share thought with me. I'm very thankful for my fantastic host mum Jo. She is a good role model and definitely a special super hero in my life. I know It's so many great host mums in the world but I would love to give my host mum Jo the Waitrose Mother’s Day Hampe with lots of love for all the hard work and for everything she has done and still doing for me. Thank you so much!! Best wishes Thi X Nomination by Josefin from Sweden - Host Mum Paula (Buckinghamshire) Paula is a really SUPER MUM! She is on the go all the time, while she runs her own business, she takes care of everything else, cooking, grocery shopping, exercising, get involved in important issues, go to meetings, and also takes care of three sometimes four children plus a dog! Paula is really a great inspiration! And has been amazing since the first day I came here. She received me with open arms and welcomed me into her lovely home, and she has created a safe point for me here and I can call her home and her family a home, for a little while. That's is something very important. I would love to give her this gift as a thank you for all the hard work she does! So here's a HAPPY MOTHERS DAY to a SUPERWOMEN/ SUPER BUSINESSWOMEN/SUPERMUM THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING. XX