Being the middle child from a family of nine, I was in charge of raising and educating my younger siblings who ranged from 2 to 11. Responsibilities included: cooking, cleaning, teaching basic math and English concepts and learning how to understand instead of reprimand. At first I thought I wouldn't want anything to do with kids after that, but now I find myself the Teaching Assistant for two consecutive semesters because I genuinely enjoy engaging the minds of my younger peers. Of course, collegiate-minded young adults are a far cry from your typical angel-faced pre-teen chaos gremlins, but I believe at the core of every person is a desire to learn and be better. As an au pair or nanny, it would be my privilege to help a person grow into themselves.
However, more often than not, this results in friction because the parents are not candid about their expectations regarding me and their kiddos. For example, I had one parent who encouraged me to speak multiple languages to their child, but then got very tense whenever I would ask their 8-month old daughter what they wanted for Christmas or encouraged her to be a great artist. Turns out they were worried about forming attachments too early - a sort of reverse psychology where if one didn't imagine great things for the future, then they wouldn't be punished for their hubris. Thus, humility was key and every culture has their own values. It was a good lesson for the both of us!
I sincerely hope this little blurb helps you get a better picture of the person I am, and I look forward to meeting you.