Nanny O’nanny

It all started with their birth I guess! Moving to Dubai was a career decision; certain decisions are inevitable and need to be taken when time is appropriate. But having kids in the middle of a sprawling career growth is something which needs considerable thought. Ah! But this problem can be solved. Everything in the busy bustling world can have a remedy. We are humans delicately engineered by the Almighty to find solutions and nail the problem.
Nanny. They brought her from their home country. Now the lady was of a death defining character. She had the command bestowed upon her by her age. I might as well add that age can never bring maturity only experience can. She dressed in her traditional wear and held the characteristic of a woman much known in her circle for her courage for raising her kids all by herself without a male support system, for her tall muscular personality and a woman’s moustache which would put a male one to shame. I prefer to think that nannies are a method to stay young; young with your husband, young within the circle you float and young within yourself. It is when the children become a burden they all seem very boring and inculcate a feeling that life just went by without much to notice or achievement. An urban woman’s thoughts can be manipulative and deceptive.
One day I stepped into their house on the occasion of a birthday party and the kids had cuddled the woman in such a fashion that it reminded me of the kangaroo on discovery channel carrying its offspring in her pouch. They would move an inch without noticing where the woman was standing and held her in their circle of vision. I felt pity for the mother. It seemed to have gone her unnoticed or she preferred not to give it much thought but it was evident that blood was diluting and becoming much less thick than water. The woman made her presence felt in the room and was confident enough to lay down her opinion on any family issue that came forth. I particularly considered this as the episode where the lady of the house was losing the hold over her administration.
She had tears in her eyes when I opened the door. Mom wiped them as she came in and handed her a glass of water. It was an innocent and simple incident but seemed to have shattered her from within and made her realize that giving birth is not everything but becoming a part of the life of your fast growing child is more important. She had returned from office and the kids were playing with their building bricks. Contrary to her march into her room she took a left turned and sat beside the kids. Watching them play was the moment of the day. She took both of them in her arms thirsty with love and asked, “Whom do you love the most in this world?” I am sure she was expecting ‘mommy’. Many thoughts ran through her mind. Pictures of her working over-time, pictures of her doing her late night shifts, pictures of her shopping for the best children’s food, children’s drink, memories of her holding him in her arms when they were born, memories of her dressing them up for their first day at the play-school. She expected an answer. She knew the answer. Suddenly the kids stood up and pointed. The little fingers hurt her heart. The direction of the finger moved from her to somewhere else and she could hear her heart break into a million pieces. How could they? How could they have not seen the love?
To immediate effect the nanny was removed and sent back home. It was very difficult. It was terrible to explain to the kids. They wouldn’t eat or drink without her. They wouldn’t sleep without her hug. Continuously crying children can be a real pain and a horrible sight to watch.
I guess when you choose someone for something you should determine the limit at which they can function. Human emotions hold the key to one’s development. Life is not always about earning more than you can spend, it can also be about loving more than someone can handle, caring more than required and being there when no one cares to be!