It's a bit complicated to coordinate our working hours with childcare. Theoretically, the childcare hours are long enough, but due to staff shortages and illness, childcare can sometimes be canceled. We don't have support from the grandparents due to the long distance. In addition, there are the aforementioned business trips, which can sometimes last several days and pose challenges for the parent staying at home.

If everything goes normally, the au pair's first priority will be to prepare the children for the day in the morning and to drop them off and/or pick them up again. The kindergarten is a bit farther away, so it's not within walking distance. However, it's not a problem by bike (with a trailer) or car. Especially in the winter months, the car will definitely be necessary. However, we will continue to do some of the trips ourselves, as it's important to have regular, direct contact with the teachers. We also have an arrangement with two other families for kindergarten in the afternoons, so that the children can be picked up together and we don't have to drive ourselves every day.

When the two are home from early afternoon onwards, childcare is also important (playing, outings, hobbies, etc.) until we can finish work. In the afternoon and evening, it is very important for us to spend enough time with the children ourselves, so childcare is definitely not intended for the entire day.

However, if childcare at kindergarten or daycare is canceled or reduced, it is even more important to provide support in the mornings if, for example, we have important work appointments or trips cannot be postponed.

After a certain getting-to-know-you phase, we would also be happy if someone could take over bedtime from time to time. It is very important for our children to have books read to them (children's books, so language-wise, they are relatively easy). If that doesn't work out, audiobooks also work.

We also appreciate help with household chores (especially with mealtimes). Both children bring their own breakfast to daycare, meaning there's always something to prepare and containers to fill. The children are taken care of at daycare for lunch, then an afternoon snack at home (fruit, etc.) is important, and the main meal for the entire family is dinner together.