A woman was left bewildered one morning after finding a message from her nanny declaring her resignation.
Despite her frantic attempts to contact the nanny, all efforts proved futile.
The lingering question remained: What compelled her to abandon her job so abruptly?
A couple enjoying tea at home | Source: Shutterstock
On September 14, 2023, an anonymous female poster turned to the “Two Hot Takes” subreddit to share her story. The woman, aged 29, was married to her 34-year-old husband, and they employed a 21-year-old nanny. The nanny had been hired over a year ago when the woman was pregnant with their baby girl and had a four-year-old toddler, who was two at the time.
A couple spending time with their little girls | Source: Shutterstock
Her husband’s work commitments prevented him from being with her all the time, and she found assistance from the nanny, especially during the last months of her pregnancy and the postpartum period. Having no close friends who were pregnant and lacking support from her mother or mother-in-law, the nanny provided invaluable help.
A woman playing with a baby | Source: Shutterstock
Proficient in her role, the nanny prepared special soups and stews from her culture to aid the pregnant woman. She also managed the toddler, providing quiet time when necessary. The nanny’s punctuality, cleanliness, cooking skills, rapport with the children, and teaching abilities made her indispensable.
An Awkward Situation
The woman’s husband had met the nanny only once during a Zoom meeting, and they hadn’t crossed paths since. However, three weeks before sharing her Reddit account, both the woman and her husband fell seriously ill, forcing the latter to stay home from work. Unfortunately, she forgot to inform the nanny about this change in routine.
The woman tried contacting the nanny through calls and messages, but she didn’t respond.
Mother leaving her baby with a teen nanny at home | Source: Shutterstock
Meanwhile, the woman’s baby had become very clingy, making it difficult for the nanny to leave her alone. Consequently, the nanny started using the bathroom with the door slightly open, ensuring the baby could see her while playing with a toy outside. Unbeknownst to her, the husband saw her in this state. Although the woman was fine with the situation and apologized to the nanny for the oversight, the latter appeared uncomfortable.
What Made the Nanny Uncomfortable?
In the subsequent days, the husband started altering his work schedule, resulting in more interactions with the nanny. Despite the woman and the nanny agreeing to a no-adult-men policy while the nanny was around, the husband continued to engage the nanny in personal conversations, making her uncomfortable. The woman confronted her husband, who apologized, but incidents persisted.
A couple arguing | Source: Getty Images
Ignoring their agreement, the husband continued to make inappropriate comments and gestures towards the nanny, causing her significant discomfort. He asked her personal questions, including how she spent the weekend and if she had a boyfriend. When she responded in the negative, he went on to ask what type of men she was into.
Alarmed, the woman hurried downstairs to intervene, apologizing to the nanny. When they got upstairs, she scolded her husband for his inappropriate behavior, reminding him of their agreement for him to stay away from the nanny. The woman also noticed that her husband frequently monitored the nanny cam, claiming he was checking on the girls.
Husband giving a hot drink to his sick wife | Source: Shutterstock
A day before posting her story, the woman experienced a severe stomachache due to lactose intolerance, exacerbated by her husband accidentally using whole milk in both of their coffees. She asked him to end the day with the nanny and lock up the door after her.
Man trying to make a woman feel uncomfortable | Source: Shutterstock
Unbeknownst to her, he started asking the nanny about her preferences in men, even mentioning his past relationships with black women, insinuating an inappropriate conversation. He also “jokingly” touched her shoulders and moved her aside to access the fridge without saying, “[Excuse me].”
Nanny’s Decision to Quit and the Aftermath
Later, the nanny attempted to call the woman, but she was asleep due to medication. Upon waking up, the woman discovered a text from the nanny indicating that she had quit because she no longer felt comfortable coming to the house.
An unhappy young woman looking at her cellphone | Source: Shutterstock
The woman tried contacting the nanny through calls and messages, but she didn’t respond. She was beyond angry at her husband and struggled to calm down. At the same time, she realized the challenge of finding a replacement for the nanny, someone she had grown close to, sharing inside jokes and creating irreplaceable memories.
The nanny was someone she felt comfortable confiding in, and they had experienced special moments together with the children. Although the woman understood the nanny’s need for space after the unlikely incident, she found herself unprepared for the situation.
A young nanny playing with little children | Source: Shutterstock
The original poster shared a few updates to her Reddit account. First, she addressed the people who blamed the nanny for being uncomfortable with her husband since it was his house.
She clarified that she and her husband specifically chose the nanny, respecting her rule about not having adult men in the house. The husband adhered to this rule, leaving when the nanny was present. The woman also disclosed that the nanny’s discomfort with men in the house was due to past negative experiences, making her decision understandable.
A couple arguing in front of their little girl | Source: Shutterstock
Second, the woman expressed that the reason she still had a nanny was because she was trying to re-enter the workforce. Third, she did not condone her husband’s behavior and confronted him about it. Their marital issues stemmed from his lack of support during her pregnancies, despite hiring a nanny to assist. Moreover, financial dependence complicated her consideration of divorce.
A woman crying while leaning on the ironing board | Source: Shutterstock
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