Family is even more important when it is not a natural issue. Selina Schweizer (34) has had five miscarriages in recent years. The fact that she and her husband, Matthias Schweizer, 38, have been parents to little Janelle for nearly eleven months fill them with gratitude and happiness.
Two people from eastern Switzerland were once full of longing to discover new and foreign things. For three months as a couple, St. They’ve walked the James Way, traveled through Africa, Asia, and South America, and have worked in countries like Kenya and India. The nurse and carpenter have been settled for four years and have made a cozy home in a rented house in Buchs AG.
home for christmas
They celebrate their first New Year’s not with their families, but with their families as before. “Janelle will probably get a lot of attention,” says Matthias Schweizer. That said, the usual schedule shouldn’t be affected by two adjustments: “I would love to see Janelle in a picture book this year instead of just reading the Christmas story out loud,” says Selina Schweizer.
And this year she wants to sing more because the little girl really enjoys music. According to family tradition, Selina Schweizer is responsible for the music, preselecting the songs, reproducing the lyrics, and then accompanies the song with guitar or keyboard at Christmas.
We played together when we were kids
Selina and Matthias Schweizer grew up in a free church environment. They played together in nativity games at Christmas time as children. As parents, it is now important to you that your child knows the meaning of Christmas. “We’re celebrating the birth of Jesus,” says Selina Schweizer. “The commercial exaggeration surrounding Christmas is too much for me. It takes away from the essential.”
At Christmas, the couple wants to do something good for those who have less. Instead of giving large-scale gifts, the duo prefers to send money abroad to friends in need. Or they offer support at a Christmas on the street. “The community is about giving. Because during the Christmas season these people feel particularly lonely,” says Selina Schweizer.
They both have a good relationship with their siblings and parents. Being a parent myself has changed and softened my view of family. Boys now understand what parenthood means and feel a greater sense of gratitude towards their own mothers and fathers. And that’s not all: When your own child wants to spread his wings and go his own way, you can better understand how hard it is to let go.
adored by her child
The family structure has changed. “We are no longer just the children of our parents, we are parents ourselves. We are now on the next generation,” says Matthias Schweizer. Associated with the new position: a heightened sense of responsibility and a never-ending amazement at how persistently your child tries things and explores the world.
Decorations on the tree, bright lights, the scent of candles: this weekend Janelle will experience the magic of Christmas for the first time with her family.