Tennessee, USA
“What if I fall? Oh, but my darling, what if you fly?”
My name is Sabine, and I’m an Apex Care Professional and trained educator from Germany.
I recently saw a quote from Winnie the Pooh, “What if I fall? Oh, but my darling, what if you fly?” and it almost made me cry. I think it is a very common thought many young people have when moving abroad—especially when moving in with a family you only know from several interviews. You never know what is waiting for you on the other side of the world. And here I Tennessee, with the most amazing host family I could ever imagine—the Andersons. Even though this is their first time being a host family, they welcomed me with such openness and kindness that it immediately felt natural to become part of their daily life.
Let me introduce them to you:
The oldest host child is very sweet, especially with her youngest brother, and she is a great swimmer and runner.
The middle one loves funny things, building forts, and playing board games with me.
And finally my special needs boy with autism, enjoys tickles, swinging, and spinning, and he recently learned how to ride a scooter. I love you to the moon and back—and even if you don’t say it with words, you show me in so many ways that you love me too.
My host mom is always open for small talk. She even brought me sourdough from her friend after I told her about my failed attempt to make one myself, and she is teaching me how to play Mahjong.
The host parents are interested in my life, how my family in Germany is doing, and they ask about the trips and activities I do in my free time. They also teach their older kids important skills like empathy toward their younger brother with special needs.
I love having a lot of responsibility in my work with the kids, which helps expand my professional horizon. Every day there is something new to learn and I especially enjoy learning more about communication with a nonverbal child (using an AAC device, emotional regulation, and coping strategies).
I also have the freedom to take the kids to fun places like the trampoline park or the zoo. Having my own car gives me flexibility in planning activities with the kids, and I can also use it in my free time.
I can set boundaries, and at the same time I have the support of the parents to maintain them. Setting boundaries is a skill I have worked on for years, and I finally feel like I’ve made huge progress in that area.
I feel appreciated for the work I do. My work is fun and challenging—in a good way—so at the end of the day I know that what I do makes a difference in everyone’s life in the family. I can help make activities possible for the parents and siblings by providing one-on-one support for the special needs boy.
The parents also make it possible for me to attend IEP meetings at school and ABA therapy sessions, and I’m thriving in the opportunity to collaborate with other professionals.
I truly enjoyed spending holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas with the family, and I always feel welcomed whenever I enter the room.
My birth family used to take care of a foster child with special needs, where I experienced life with special needs from the sibling perspective. This role as a Care Professional gives me another perspective on how special needs affect the entire family system—including parents and siblings. That is something I value deeply because it helps me understand families with children with special needs even better, which will be an important skill for my future career..
In the end, I think again about the quote that touched me so deeply: “What if I fall? Oh, but my darling, what if you fly?” Moving across the world always carries the fear of falling—of not fitting in, of feeling alone, of not being enough. But with the Andersons I didn’t fall, I learned how to fly. They created an environment of trust, respect, and kindness that allows everyone in the family to grow: their children, themselves as parents, and even me as their Care Professional. They model empathy, inclusion, and genuine appreciation every single day.
Being welcomed into their home has been one of the most meaningful experiences of my life, and I truly believe they represent what a host family should be. For all the love, support, and opportunities they give—not only to me but also to their children and to everyone around them—I cannot imagine a family more deserving of the Host Family of the Year Award.
– ACP Sabine Klemm
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At Apex Social, we believe in care that transforms, not just for the children we serve, but for everyone involved. If you’re inspired by the Anderson family’s story, now is the time to start your own Apex Social journey.
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