DILLON VALLEY — When local mom Tammy Ramsay had her second daughter, she knew her child care options had to change.

Tammy and her husband, Ryan, both have full-time jobs, and two kids meant signigicant additions to their daycare expenses.

Getting an au pair — or a live-in nanny from another country — made sense to the Ramsays. And 20-year-old Nele Grasshoff of Hamburg, Germany, fit the bill.

More than six months into their year-long contract, both the family and Grasshoff are happy with their exchange. Grasshoff will live with the family as an au pair for one year, through November.

“It's affordable, especially with two or more kids,” Tammy Ramsay said. “And she's just like another family member.”

Even better, Ramsay said she's saved about $7,000 a year by getting an au pair, since they already had an extra bedroom and plenty of food.

Another pair of eyes

Both Ramsay and Grasshoff said having an au pair in the family is helpful because there's always another pair of hands and eyes — a second in command to help out.

“It's been a journey for our family,” Ramsay said. “We wanted to try it for a year. Now we wonder how we did it without it.”

Grasshoff lives with the Ramsays, shares meals with them, and has her own room and bathroom. What's expected of her in return is to help care for the Ramsays' two daughters — Lilly, 4, and Tessa, 11 months — for 45 hours a week.

“She's like a big sister,” Ramsay said.

As an au pair, Grasshoff must be given a day-and-a-half off a week, and one weekend off a month. Since the family works regular work weeks, they've generally been able to give Grasshoff her weekends off.

“For me, it's so great as a mom having the one person,” Ramsay said. “Before, when the kids were sick, I had to stay home from work. Now if the kids are sick, I don't have to stay home. I can travel.”

The concept of having an au pair is growing in Summit and Eagle counties. Ramsay, who's now the local childcare coordinator for Cultural Care Au Pair, said there are 13 au pairs throughout the area.

Some are from other organizations, she said.

“The screening process is phenomenal, and it matches families and au pairs through values and activities,” Ramsay said. “They have references, and Cultural Care does background screenings.”

A cultural exchange

Ramsay said she truly appreciates the cultural exchange between her family and Grasshoff.

Sometimes Grasshoff cooks the children German food, and she's able to teach them German words, nursery rhymes and songs. She's also fluent in English, so being able to communicate with the family isn't difficult.

“The kids will also be learning Spanish at Dillon Valley Elementary,” Ramsay added, saying this international education is important to her.

As part of her job, Grasshoff takes the kids to swim lessons, tumbling lessons, the farmer's market and play dates.

“She knows other au pairs from other countries, and the kids are able to be around them,” Ramsay said. “I love that they're able to do those things since I can't always take them.”

Why be an au pair?

When Grasshoff graduated from high school in Germany, she wanted to do something abroad before she went on to a university.

“I'm really close to my family, so I didn't want to be alone in a foreign country,” Grasshoff said. “It's a good job if you like kids.”

And the German girl's time isn't simply spent taking care of children. She's been able to travel — both with the family and on her own — throughout her time in Colorado, and she's been everywhere from Minnesota to California.

According to Grasshoff, a plus for hiring an au pair is having a close relationship with your childcare professional.

“It's like family,” she said. “It's having dinner together. Little stuff. You feel more comfortable. It's good for the kids to have one person taking care of them.”

Grasshoff also said it's important for a family to realize having an au pair isn't like having a full-time baby-sitter. They must respect that au pairs are required to have time off.

“I think it's a good opportunity for both sides,” she said. “The family and I have both learned a lot.”

Grasshoff said the kids, especially Lilly, are definitely getting a “bigger concept of the world” by having her care for them.

“They'll probably remember me for a lifetime,” she said.

Ramsay agreed, saying her family plans to visit Grasshoff in Germany once her time as their au pair has ended.

For more information about Cultural Care Au Pair, call its new local childcare coordinator — Tammy Ramsay — at (970) 470-2874.

SDN reporter Caitlin Row can be reached at (970) 668-4633 or at crow@summitdaily.com.