About Katarzyna

Reviewed on 11/8/2023

Kate started with us only two months ago but in that time has left a lasting impact on our family. She has cared for our son (14 months) as well as our daughter (4) with ease and wisdom. She brings many years of experience, is flexible and adaptable to our needs, and demonstrates integrity, reliability, and the right balance of providing input while also honoring my process and parenting style. She talks with my kids and brings a sense of humor with her that adds joy to our every day. She helps with anything and everything and has jumped in without hesitation to handle less-than-ideal tasks without complaint (i.e. when I accidentally put a diaper through the washing machine and it exploded, she happily took care of it) - she also keeps our family functioning by picking up necessities like groceries, dropping off dry cleaning (even when we waited until the last minute to get our dress clothes taken care of before a wedding), cooking (she cooks more than I do and is creative about using ingredients in our fridge that otherwise would probably go bad)! She also did not hesitate to come over and care for the kids when they were sick. As a mother, it can be challenging to let go and trust someone else with my babies - it is hard for me to say goodbye to them, and many times, I have a hard time leaving them. She has always approached my feelings about this with grace and patience and is never judgemental when I need time with my kids, even when she is there. She will happily give me space to spend time with them, do something else that is helpful, and jump in again when I’m ready. When I do manage to get out of the house to get some work done, she keeps me updated with pictures and videos. She has embarked on multiple adventures with the kids and even in our short time together has visited multiple playgrounds with them, the library, and even trekked to Billy Bees (about a 35-minute drive from us) with my four-year-old and one-year-old without breaking a sweat! (If you’ve never been, for the record, going to Billy Bees with two kids under four is an act of bravery and heroism!) Kate is open-minded, asks thoughtful empathetic questions about how I am doing, which is always appreciated since I don’t have a close relationship with my family. The extra support has been so helpful for me and I am a better mom when I can take time for myself and know that my kids are safe and cared for. Kate is very involved in her church and when she isn’t working with us she volunteers her time to cook and care for her community. She clearly has a strong moral compass and a dedication to her work which is very commendable. She seems to see and appreciate the beauty in the simple moments with children, without rushing to get ahead to the next thing as many of us tend to do. Kate is brave in that she came to America from Poland to embark on an adventure and journey that felt congruent with who she is and what she wants. To commit to following the compass of the self while exhibiting humility and serving others along the way takes a very wise person and in our short time together, I see this quality in Kate. My hope for her is that she will continue to see her own worth and value and to recognize the essential nature of her work and that the next family she is a part of will see this in her too so that she can receive the recognition, respect, and compensation that she deserves.