Host parents Gillan and Toby have welcomed a total of 5 au pairs, but it wasn’t until last year that they decided to try hosting a male au pair. “At first, it just never even occurred to us,” admits Gillan. But on the suggestion of their matching specialist, they decided to give it a try. “Our male au pair has been a great fit for us.”
Their boys, 7-year-old Owain and 5-year-old Jamie, are “full of fun, energy and mischief,” says Toby. “Josef has no problem keeping up with them. We love the boys to be outside as much as possible and he is out there with them all the time—practicing sports, on the playground, exploring. They look at him like an older brother.”
Besides keeping them busy with outdoor activities, Josef is responsible for getting the boys out of bed, dressed, fed and off to school during the week. In the afternoons, he takes Owain and Jamie to sports practices, to the pool, to play with friends or just back to the house. “He is a consistent, calming presence in our household—someone who is also able to discipline the boys when they need it,” shares Gillan. “Our boys have loved all our au pairs who we keep in touch with regularly. They will always be part of our family!”
