I was born and raised in former Czechoslovakia. My family still lives in Europe. My vacations are usually going back to Slovakia and spending time creating new memories with my parents and my siblings. Before I relocated to the U.S., I finished my university studies with a master's degree in social work. I was determined to learn English before settling down with my professional life. Through an international live-in nanny agency, I was paired up with a wonderful family in California. I was fortunate to live and work in Canada as well, where cold winter became one of my cherished pastimes with skating on a frozen river and enjoying hockey games. I’m pretty physically active, with multiple marathons under my belt. I enjoy gardening, creating handmade postcards, practicing yoga, watching funny movies, and spending time with my family. I have a pretty solid but not rigorous spiritual practice.

I’m so blessed with my family! I have two brothers and am the middle child. I’m grateful beyond words how close we are. My brothers live in Europe, and even though we do not see each other often, we talk to each other frequently. Just recently, we decided to invest as siblings in a holiday cottage getaway. It fills my heart with happiness to know we have each other. My brothers are always there for me. My sister-in-law and my younger brother’s fiancee are the sisters I never had. In November, they visited for ten days, and we had a blast. I was always very close with my cousin and her husband, the parents of my godchildren. My favorite person in my family is my father. He showed me from an early age what being loved means. We are very close, and it is just so beautiful to be around him and observe how he tends to his farm animals or any chore he is doing. My mom has my back 100%. I admire her dedication to our family, her hard work, and how she allows others to shine. I’m truly blessed with my family!

Currently, I share a beautiful four-room Victorian apartment with a family member I have known for 20 years. We enjoy spending time together for meals, games, and laughs. Our apartment is sunny with huge open rooms. My favorite place in the house is the sunroom, which is adjacent to the kitchen. Being on the top floor of a three-floor building with doors leading to a common garden area, this space creates the illusion of flying. My second favorite feature of my place is the feeling of calmness. We are a short walk from a park and community gardens with a beautiful panoramic view of the city.

I have a vivid memory from when I was 10-12 years old, ironing family laundry and at the same time playing being pregnant with a sweater stuck up under my shirt. I knew from an early age I wanted to have children. At 14-16 years old, I started to be treated for amenorrhea (absence of menstrual period). I was treated by various doctors with the message that it will be hard for me to get pregnant. When my nine-year relationship ended, it put a pause on my exploring how to become a mother. It took me some time to come to terms with pursuing this dream as a single parent.