As a working mom with no family support, I found a nanny to help me. Anna, a quiet student, had been highly recommended by several friends. She specialized in raising young children and was certified in first aid. At first, everything seemed perfect.
But one day, when I returned from work an hour earlier than planned, I was shocked.
When I opened the door, I was struck by a strange silence. The living room was frozen in a calm that was completely unsuitable for two small children. The TV was showing an old cartoon, toys were scattered on the floor, but I did not hear any laughter, screams, or sounds of play. Just a heavy silence.
Then I saw the dog crate we use for Bruno when he gets too excited at a party. But this time, there wasn’t a dog in the crate.
It was my daughter, Ellie. She was sitting cross-legged, as if the cage were a poorly made fortress. Her cheeks were red and puffy, as if she had been crying. Her twin brother stood motionless next to her, barefoot.
I stood rooted to the spot, unable to comprehend what was happening. “What’s going on here?” I screamed.
Anna, her head buried in her phone, looked up and answered calmly, as if nothing had happened. What she told me was unbelievable, I couldn’t find the words.
Anna looked up and answered calmly, “Oh, they were playing zoo. She wanted to be a tiger.”
I went up to Ellie, who was shaking, and she said, “She closed the door, Mom. I said I didn’t want to play anymore.”
An icy chill ran through me. This wasn’t a game, this was pure disdain. How could she take it so easily?
I turned to Anna, my heart pounding. “Do you really think this is acceptable?” I blurred out.
She replied in a carefree voice: “It’s just a game, nothing more. Children love this kind of imaginative play.”
I couldn’t believe it. I looked into her eyes, trying to find the slightest sign of guilt, but there was nothing there. Only indifference.
I dropped to my knees, hugged Ellie tightly and said, “This is not a game, honey. You should never feel like this.”
I stood up and, casting an icy glance at Anna, said, “You can leave. I don’t want to see you here anymore.”
She picked up her bag, put her phone away and left without a word.
