Letters from the Other Side

8. Nanny Yvette Poppins McPhee: The Nanny Diaries

June 2009 – June 2015 (29 – 35 years old)

Dear Karien

I can't believe I've worked for Maggie and Wouter for more than five years already. I can't even imagine my life without precocious Wim and his little brother, sensitive, soft-hearted Armand. The boys have taken such a big place in my heart. Boy, but have they grown. They are 11 and 12 years old already. One of these days they will go off to high school.

I still remember that very first time I babysat Wim and Armand. They were only 6 and 5 years old at the time. I had to drive up that nightmare of a mountain road, they call their driveway and it took ten minutes for my heart to stop beating and jumping somersaults in my chest.

The boys were riding their bicycles on the paved driveway. Wim was busy playing with a long piece of rope and Armand followed suit and had to do everything his big bro was doing, of course.

The bicycles, big bikes for big boys and the plastic bike for babies, were stacked against the garage canopy's pillars. Wim got the brilliant idea to span the rope from the one side of the parking area to the other and then to ride underneath it and see who could go the lowest on their bikes.

Bad idea! But I was still new to the nanny game just as Fraulein Maria in "The Sound of Music" and not used to thinking everything through, three times over (in other words; what could go wrong!). Especially the brilliant ideas of a highly-intelligent and inventive six-year-old.

Everything went well, until little Armand, at high speed and out of control, got caught exactly by the scruff of his neck, got entangled by the rope and basically hanged himself. He was wiped off his bike in one majestic sweep and almost strangled himself to death. The tears were big. He hurt his neck and throat badly. My shock was even bigger. Kids. It seems they want to see how quickly they can break their necks. I'm going to have to be careful here. Things can go very wrong, very fast. Welcome to the wonderful world of preschool tykes!

I learned early on not to hide anything form Maggie. When it comes to looking after children, honesty is always the best policy. And with haste too. Go do it quickly. Doesn't matter how embarrassing it is. Fortunately she was used to her two little men's hare-brained ideas and did not hold it against me. Especially not on my very first babysitting session. It was only a practice session. Wow, this childminding thing requires nerves of steel!

After my birthday I was appointed permanently. The other girl was never available because she was a student and her studies were just too time-consuming and demanding. I was always ready, at the drop of a hat, to come and just too grateful for the work.

I still remember the Sunday, before my first work day, like it was yesterday. My mom dropped me off at their house and I picked up the "nanny mobile", a hatchback, silver, 1980s, City Golf. I drove down that mountain road and wondered how they must feel, to let a perfect stranger drive away with their third car. I definitely felt the weight of the responsibility on my shoulders.

Once or twice I used the car, for personal use but I felt so guilty that I decided it wasn't worth it. Especially that one time when they drove right past me and I froze and acted like I didn't see them. After that I decided to rather just ask before I use the car for personal rides. I just felt too guilty.