As a single adoptive mom of 3 kids, there is never a second of downtime. Even though our family life is really crazy, I was apprehensive about having someone move into our home before Anne arrived. Would the kids adjust? Would I adjust to having someone in our space? What if our family was just too much and we scared her away? Anne Melzer, our 25-year-old physical therapist, arrived from Germany in March 2024, and when she asked me a few days in how I was doing this without help before she came, I already couldn’t remember.
Anne’s calm disposition and willingness to try anything have made her so easy to have in our family. Anne is always on the lookout for new places to explore or experiences to try. She has tried new foods from tacos to Chinese, quickly learned to drive a car that felt shockingly big to her when she arrived in the US, and will try almost any game or new activity that the kids dream up. When Ian has tricky behavior problems, Anne is always willing to brainstorm with me and try new strategies. When we travel, she crams everything that doesn’t fit anywhere else into her Apex backpack and cheerfully hauls it through the airport while guiding Ian by the shoulders. She is always looking for ways to be helpful, and often will set out breakfast or snacks for me if she notices I am running around without taking time to eat. She shoos me away from doing child-related tasks when I have other things to do with her constant refrain of “I can do it!.” She even cuddles with our dog in the evenings if he’s looking lonely!
Ellia, my 10-year-old, was hesitant at first and unsure about having a new person in the house, but Anne kept trying to engage with her and showed interest at any chance she got. Her diligence and kindness paid off after 6 months when Ellia gave thanks for Anne during her bedtime prayers. The tears in Anne’s eyes when I shared that with her showed how much she cares. Now Ellia loves to cook, play a board game, and do art with Anne, as well as take nighttime dog walks with her or have a movie night with indoor s’mores. If we see a cool bird or animal, the first person she wants to tell is Anne. It is so precious to see her connecting with someone new!
My son, Ian, is 8, but his intellectual disabilities mean he acts more like a toddler, and he needs constant attention and redirection to be safe. When we picked Anne up at the airport, Ian climbed into her lap right away, apparently sensing her warmth. Anne quickly learned his routines, his quirky ways of talking, and warning signs that he was about to throw something or flush something down the toilet. When we started a therapy intensive shortly after her arrival, that worsened his behavior and caused regression. She was so patient at comforting him and trying to help him through all the challenges. She attends his therapy sessions and helps him practice at home, drives him to appointments, and keeps him busy when I need to help another child. Everyone loves her- when we announced she was extending, our speech therapist cried and I received relieved text messages from his teachers!
While the big kids are at school, 18-month-old Noa gets Anne all to herself. Noa and Anne both love to get outside and enjoy the fresh air, and Anne so patiently plays all the little toddler games like peek-a-boo and listening to the same song 1000x. When Noa caught RSV, Anne learned how to use the nebulizer and watched Noa’s breathing like a hawk until she was better.
Anne has been with us for 10 months now, and I cannot imagine life without her here. Her selfless dedication to our family has helped the kids to grow and learn new skills, and me to have the margin be a better mom, which has allowed all of us to be our best selves. She has truly changed our lives for the better.
Submitted by: Liz L, Apex Social Host Mom, Franklin, TN
