casey's (not the gas station)

Last summer, Elsie Dirkx on her 2-month au pair in Spain experienced many quarrels and disputes from the kids she was watching over, ages 5, 9, and 11. On one occasion, Elsie recalled the kids’ fight after the youngest child destroyed an art piece created by the middle child. Instead of chastising the youngest, Dirkx took the incident as an opportunity to teach them to ask for forgiveness and helped the youngest tape the artwork back together. “I enjoyed being patient and teaching him a lesson rather than getting mad at him,” said Dirkx. The week it took to make the project and the intentional lessons made the patient approach worthwhile for the kids and Dirkx in the long run.