«Parental presence is just as important as the children's independence»

Rahel Strebel: "The fact that I didn't work after the birth of the children came about, it wasn't consciously planned that way. I started again two years ago. Before that, I was fully occupied with the children. It was a wonderful and intense time, with the children's health problems, school changes and other things. Of course, when you're so close to the children, there's a danger that you sometimes forget that there are other things going on.

The children went to the Steiner school from the playgroup onwards because the philosophy suited us. However, the boys were later unhappy with the teachers, so the children switched to state school. That was very difficult for Linus. When it came to transferring to the upper school, it was important to us that he enjoyed going to school. Together with Linus, we decided in favour of a public school. He feels at home here. He has so much creative potential and I also think it's important that he can develop his potential and not just focus on grades.

Flurin's teacher at the Steiner school simply didn't suit him at all. It got to the point where we had him checked out because he had headaches and stomach aches every day. We had many conversations, but at some point it was unbearable. At public school, he had two great teachers - and everything was great! When something like this happens, it's clear that family life is centred around the children.

The grades are not so important to us. The important thing is that our children understand the material. For example, when I realised that Mina had a gap in her maths, I practised with her every day. That's where the parents' help is needed: classes are getting bigger and bigger and more and more restless, so it's easy to lose sight of when a child is struggling in a subject. I think the physical presence of parents is important. But the children's independence is just as important : all three of them are often out with friends, and I don't constantly ask whether their homework is done."

Andreas Abegg: "The children are at the centre of our leisure activities. I have a very busy job, so I want to spend as much time as possible with the family. Rahel is basically responsible for bringing up the children, but we make important decisions together. A good relationship with the children is extremely important to us. Being there, listening, sympathising, showing understanding.

I am responsible for the «screen time». Linus, for example, is allowed to spend seven hours a week on his mobile phone, tablet and the like. We want our children to consume media in the living room, not in their rooms. So sometimes I even play along on the Playstation. Helicopter parents? I don't think that's what we are. We give our children a lot of freedom within our boundaries. We want to raise independent children who will eventually make their own decisions. Constant control is out of place."