Looking for: Perfect Nanny

I have been without househelp for almost 2 months now. The nanny came back then left again. Yes, our very own Snow White and her dilemma with her dwarfs.

We are now on a quest to find a new one. I dunno. I actually enjoy being with the kids. I am blessed to be able to take RL to work. But I know this won't last long and the bosses will take notice soon. So yea, a new nanny sounds good.

Because of all the problems (debts and what-not) given to me by A's old nanny and her family (former helper was her sis, her cousin and her hubby's cousin both tried out for nanny positions, and RL's current nanny is another sis), my brother has been trying to convince me to look elsewhere. "Enough is enough!", he says. The truth is, this family has given me more problems than R ever did (LOL, ok, ok, almost). I think 30% of my new white hair can be attributed to them. Seriously, they were stress-inducers.

Don't get me wrong. I love my kids' nannies. I grew up with a nanny and loved her to death. Even sang (aray ko, obvious na edad) "Yaya" to the tune of Manilyn Reynes' "Mama". Bwahaha! Seriously! I did. I cried for a month when she left. My cousins' gardener (we lived in a huge compound then) got her pregnant and my mom couldn't tolerate the fact that she left my then one-year-old brother crying in the crib all night while she... well... yea... yun na!

Anyway, I was saying that I love my kids' nannies. Especially J, A's old nanny who worked with me all 7 years. She still does extra work when she has time (wait, more like when she needs moolah, teehee). But she now has two kids (her eldest is 2 weeks older than RL and her youngest came exactly a year later; yup, sinabayan ako). But she was there for me during trying times, even cried when news about R and you-know-what broke out. Got mad at ABS-CBN for showing half of A's face on the news. She is like the little sis I never had. Ok, maybe not. But yea, she was a friend.

My mom says I treat my helpers too well. I helped send our other helper (the nanny's li'l sis) to 2-year college. Gave her a job here in the office and paid her an allowance out of my own pocket (just so she has money for the commute to and from work). When her sis stopped working for me, I allowed her to stay with me to work a bit (she went to school during the day, and did the dishes and laundry at night) just so she can have 3 decent meals and money for school projects. And yet, this one failed me at the time I needed her most. I sent her a ticket to Manila (she was in Bohol for a vacay) over the Christmas holidays and asked her to pay me by working extra for a month. This was around the time her older sister (the current nanny) got the hives. And yet, she left without advanced notice (as in, she took a day off and never came back) because her cousin gave her a better job (she left this one, too, after a week). To this day, her clothes are still in my house. Her debts still unpaid.

My kids and I have been praying for a new nanny. I want one who is older (not necessarily thunder-old, but older than someone who'd go and meet a textmate with her ward). I am also praying for one who is a Christian. Better to get one who fears the Lord vs. one who fears dwendes and the like. Kekeke!

WANTED: A Nanny for Two Adorable Children
(Mary Poppins, 1964)

If you want this choice position
Have a cheery disposition
Rosy cheeks, no warts!
Play games, all sorts

You must be kind, you must be witty
Very sweet and fairly pretty
Take us on outings, give us treats
Sing songs, bring sweets

Never be cross or cruel
Never give us castor oil or gruel
Love us as a son and daughter
And never smell of barley water

If you won't scold and dominate us
We will never give you cause to hate us
We won't hide your spectacles
So you can't see
Put toads in your bed
Or pepper in your tea
Hurry, Nanny!
Many thanks
Sincerely,

Jane and Michael Banks

(A and RL Catral, teehee)

Sidenote: We almost had one, my cousin's nanny (who gets 13K a month as she is nanny, tutor, driver, and friend) has a friend in her early 40s who was supposed to work for us. But alas, her current employer refuses to let her go. Sayang, she's a Christian and can do everything. God has someone better! Please help us pray we find one soon. Thanks!