That morning, as I was having my coffee, glad that I finally found a babysitter after two of them quit after just a day without an explanation, I received a text from Meghan. “Sorry, but I won’t be able to continue working for your family. Thank you for the opportunity.”
I couldn’t believe what I read. Meghan seemed excited about being our babysitter. She clicked with the kids, and now this?
There was no logical explanation. How could a third babysitter quit so fast? Something wasn’t adding up.
As I felt my chest tightening, there was knock on the door. It was Julie, my best friend.
She could sense something was awfully wrong. “What’s wrong, Sarah?” she asked, worried for me.
“Oh, Julie, it’s the babysitter. She quit. Can you believe this?” I poured my heart out.
“The kids are well-behaved, the interviews go well, and I’m paying fairly, but they all quit after a day…no explanation, nothing.”
Julie looked at me, puzzled. “I don’t know, Sarah, maybe it’s not the kids, maybe there is something – or someone – in the house to blame.”
My mind went straight to my husband Dave, but he seemed too enthusiastic about me getting back to work. Still, a seed of doubt was planted in my mind.
Just to be sure I wasn’t doing anything wrong, I decided to secretly install the nanny cam I used when Luke was still a baby.
I set it up in the living room, tucking it between some books on the shelf where it wouldn’t be noticed. And then, I waited.
As I drove to work the following morning, I could see Rachel, our new babysitter, a college girl happy to be working for us, playing with my kids on the floor.
And then, Dave entered the house.
“How’s it going?” he asked Rachel.
“The kids are awesome,” she replied and continued building the bricks.
“Can I have a talk with you?” Dave asked her.
Hesitantly, she stood up from the floor and sat on the couch. My heart sank as I saw them talking, not knowing what to expect.
“Rachel, was it?” he asked. “Yes,” she replied, shyly.
“Listen, Rachel. Maybe you are not aware of it, but the kids can be a handful. And Sarah, she’s got a postpartum depression and can be a real mess.”
“But the kids are so nice,” Rachel said, confused by Dave’s words.
“You don’t understand,” Dave said, “you better leave before things get messy.”
I stopped my car, unable to continue driving. “What the hell is going on?” I thought to myself.
Next, Dave basically threatened our babysitter. “You better leave, or else,” he said, and I was shocked. I never expected my husband to act like that. It was as though he turned into a man I didn’t recognize.
I drove back home after I saw Rachel grabbing her bag and leaving our house.
“Hey, honey,” Dave greeted me, “you are home early, what’s the matter?”
“Dave, why did you threatened the babysitter?” I asked him.
“What? What do you mean?” he pretended as though he didn’t know what I was talking about.
“You know what. I heard you. I saw the nanny cam?”
“You what!?” he yelled. “Were you spying on me?”
“Oh, Dave, don’t play a victim. I demand an explanation.
It was then that he admitted he hated the idea of me getting back to work. He believed my place was at home, taking care of the kids and the house.
He claimed he was protecting me. But that wasn’t protection, that was control.
“I want what’s the best for the kids,” he said.
“But what about what’s best for me?” I asked. “Don’t I get a say in that? Don’t I deserve to have a life outside this house?”
Dave disappointed me. I lost my trust in him. He was no longer the man I loved.
I packed a bag of my and my kids’ belongings and went to my mom’s. I still haven’t decided what to do next, but I know I won’t let anyone take the control over my life.
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Bored Daddy
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