“When we first moved to the Netherlands as expats, we were chasing new opportunities and professional growth. Before long, our family grew, and both of our beautiful children were born here. We settled into a quiet Dutch city, trying to build a life.
As a foreign family, we had no safety net. There were no grandparents nearby to help out, no relatives to call for a quick favor. We were entirely on our own, trying to balance demanding careers while raising two young children.
Then, the storm hit all at once. My husband faced serious difficulties at work, I was struggling with severe burnout, and our daughter began having intense tantrums. We felt trapped in a relentless cycle of stress and exhaustion, with no time to recover. We desperately needed a break, but we didn’t know how to ask for one.
Our daughter’s therapist suggested that we contact Steunouder. At first, we were apprehensive. It is difficult for parents to admit they need help, let alone trust strangers with their children. But the organization listened carefully with deep empathy to our needs and matched us with a wonderful local family. Our request was simple yet vital: just a few hours of adult time, once a month, to breathe.
On the first visit, our children cried and clung to us, refusing to go inside. But the warmth of the host family was magic. By the second visit, they ran straight through the front door. Four hours later, they hardly wanted to come home.
Now, every month, our children light up when we arrive. They excitedly point to the house and call out the name of their new friend. Those few hours have become a sanctuary for our whole family. We gain precious time to reconnect and recharge, while our children enjoy playing with people who have become important in their lives. We left our homeland without a village, but in the heart of the Netherlands, we were lucky enough to find one.” •
Dit verhaal is onderdeel van de expositie die georganiseerd is door steunoudercoördinatoren Linda Sparnaaij (Alphen aan den Rijn, Bodegraven-Reeuwijk) en Manon van der Meer (Kaag en Braassem). Dank aan alle gezinnen die hiervoor hun verhalen en foto’s beschikbaar stelden!