Children Learn Their Nanny is Their Actual Mother — Story of the Day

Three teenage siblings learn a powerful lesson about treating others with kindness and respect when their nanny collapses and has to be rushed to the hospital.

Seventeen-year-old Mark was playing a video game when suddenly his screen went black.

"What!" he threw down his controller and rose from his chair.

"It's time to do your homework."

Mark turned to find the nanny, Jane, standing behind him and holding the plug for his computer.

"Are you crazy? You can't just pull the plug on a computer!"

"I told you fifteen minutes ago that I would pull the plug if you didn't start your homework." Jane pointed at him. "You didn't listen."

Mark stared at Jane in horror and disbelief.

"If you've broken Mark's computer then you'll have to buy him a new one."

Caroline, Mark's eighteen-year-old sister, had appeared in the doorway. She pointed at Jane and sneered.

"And that's going to cost more than you could ever afford, nanny."

"I may not have much money, Caroline, but at least I have manners," Jane replied. "Have you finished your homework?"

Caroline groaned and crossed her arms. "You need to get over yourself, Jane. In case you haven't noticed, Mark, Samuel, and I are way too old for a nanny."

Caroline swaggered into the room and poked Jane. "The only reason you still work here is that our parents pity you. You obviously can't find another job."

Jane frowned, and she gazed darkly at the floor. "That's not why I still work here, Caroline."

"Sure." Caroline pulled a face and turned away. "Samuel and I are going to get pizza. Do you want your favorite, Mark?"

"There's a healthy dinner in the oven," Jane exclaimed before Mark could reply.

"You keep it. We want pizza. And stop talking back all the time, Jane. Have you forgotten that you're a servant?"

Mark felt his heart thud like a drum as he read the words on the page.

Caroline swept from the room. Jane remained with her mouth hanging open and sadness in her eyes.

While Jane was still in shock, Mark pushed her out of his room and shut the door. He then plugged his computer back in to continue playing his game.

Later that evening, Mark's mother called him and his siblings into the kitchen. They sat at the table while their mother glared at them.

"Jane tells me that all three of you are treating her horribly. What do you have to say for yourselves?"

"We don't need a nanny anymore, mom," Caroline replied.

"Especially one that treats us like we're still little kids."

"Maybe Jane wouldn't treat you like children if you didn't behave like children. She says it's a constant struggle to get you to study and do your homework."

Their mom leaned on the table, giving the three siblings a severe look. "You three need to treat Jane better. She's an important part of our family, and how you've behaved lately is hurtful."

"Who cares?" Caroline leaped from her seat. "Jane is a servant and an embarrassment to us." She gestured to Mark and Samuel. "We can't even have our friends over because she looks so poor with her shabby clothes and bad hair."

"That's silly, Caroline. Jane is a good person who only wants the best for you."

"Jane is a nag and I wish she was out of our lives." Caroline stormed out of the kitchen.

The next day, Caroline gathered her brothers in the kitchen to wait for Jane.

"This nanny nonsense ends today," she told them.

Mark nodded. He wasn't as outspoken as Caroline, but he was also sick of Jane nagging and bossing him around like she did when he was five.

The moment Jane entered the room, Caroline confronted her.

"You're going to quit today," she said. "Mark, Samuel, and I don't need you, and we don't want you here anymore, Jane." Caroline pointed to the door.

"Get out. I never want to see you again."

Jane gasped. There were tears in her eyes, and Mark felt a little guilty. Then Jane grimaced as though she were in pain and clutched her chest. Her handbag dropped to the floor moments before she did.

"Jane?" Samuel moved towards the fallen woman. He knelt beside her.

"Is she okay?" Mark stepped closer.

"I don't think so." Samuel turned around with a fearful look on his face. "Call the ambulance!"

Their mother was red in the face with rage when she called the three children into her home office later that day.

"I've tried to make you three understand why you should be kind to Jane, but you won't learn. So, it may help if I show you."

Their mother placed a piece of paper in front of each sibling. Mark felt his heart thud like a drum as he read the words on the page. He couldn't believe what was written on it, not even when Caroline said it aloud:

"Jane is our mother!"

"Yes, Caroline. Jane is my childhood best friend. Fifteen years ago, she discovered she had a chronic heart problem. She couldn't afford to pay her medical bills and care for her children, so I adopted you."

Their mother sighed. "When her health improved, we arranged for her to work as your nanny. She didn't want you to know she was your mother because she was ashamed of her financial problems, so I agreed to keep it secret. I regret that decision now."

"I am ashamed of all three of you," she continued. "But I can only imagine how awful Jane feels knowing that her own children put her in the hospital."

"Can we see her?" Caroline looked up with tears in her eyes. "I owe her a huge apology."

Their adopted mother took them to the hospital a few days later. When they entered Jane's room, all three children rushed to her side.

"I'm so sorry," Caroline sobbed. She held Jane's hand to her cheek. "Please forgive us for being so terrible to you. I never meant for you to get hurt, and I'd take it all back if I could."

Jane smiled at her.

"Of course, I forgive you, Caroline."

After Jane recovered, she returned to her job as the nanny, but Mark, Samuel, and Caroline never mistreated her again. When Caroline graduated that year, she invited Jane to attend as her mother.

What can we learn from this story?

• Always be kind to others. You never know what challenges other people are facing and how deeply unkind words and actions will hurt them.
• Don't let shame rule your life. Making decisions based on negative emotions like shame or guilt will often lead to adverse outcomes.

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If you enjoyed this story, you might like this one about a devoted mother who installs CCTV to watch the nanny when she finds bruises on her children.

This piece is inspired by stories from the everyday lives of our readers and written by a professional writer. Any resemblance to actual names or locations is purely coincidental. All images are for illustration purposes only. Share your story with us; maybe it will change someone’s life. If you would like to share your story, please send it to info@amomama.com.