A letter to ...FamilyThe letter I always wanted to writeOur days are spent together, from 9am-7pm Monday to Friday. The occasional night. I see you laugh, cry, sleep, grow, learn. You make me laugh, you make me grow, and yes, sometimes you make me cry. I am there for you when Mummy and Daddy are at work or away. I am there for you when you need somebody to play with, when you need somebody to be mad at, when you need somebody to hold your hand and discover the world. I am there for you to dry your tears when you have fallen, when you get hurt and when you are scared.
I am there for you, patiently encouraging you to take a new step. I am there for you, to preserve your smiles, to remember them when you are having fun in the playground, when you sing at the nativity play or when you get your first certificate at school. I am the face you see when you get up from your nap, the face you see when you finish school. I cook for you, I hug you, I am teaching you new words. I answer your questions about the world, about life. I make sure you can rely on me, any time, no matter if I've had a bad night, no matter if I am feeling sad or jaded.
Together. You and me. We travel through London, we fight pirates, we rescue princesses, we swim in seas full of sharks, we kick monsters that hide under the bed, we befriend the smiley and cuddly ones only, we recreate our own fairytales, we share jokes that nobody understands, we change your house into a haunted one, we fly to the moon, we make masks, costumes, we save the pandas. We build memories, the ones I am trying my hardest to relay to Mummy and Daddy. Every day is full of adventure and excitement, every day is so special, and seeing the world through your eyes has changed the person I am. We have our ups and downs. We have got to know each other. And I like to see your eyes sparkling when you open the door for me in the morning. They say children are the answer for happiness, and they are right. They say children are the most rewarding way of giving your best and they are right.
It's 7pm. Time for me to go home. Daddy and Mummy are back and already cuddling you, cherishing you, eager to hear all about your day. I know I am just your nanny, I know I am just a shadow and I know when it is time to evaporate. I know I am not part of your family and in a few years, when you are teenagers, you might have forgotten my name. But I will always remember your twinkly eyes and your innocent laugh. I will probably be a nanny for other children but you are the ones who started it all.
They say parental love is the unbreakable one, the stronger one, the real one. They are right. I know it is only my job, and I know I am doing a good one. But they do not know I love you too. I love you like I love my little brother and sister. And I would willingly break my arm or my heart if it meant you would never get hurt. You are important to me too, and beyond my job. You are special to me, too, but you do not know that.
And every night when I leave, Mummy and Daddy whisper to you to say, "Thank you, Nanny, for looking after me today." But, even though I only smile and answer, "You're welcome", I should be the one thanking you ... for making a better person out of me. For teaching me so much about life. Anonymous
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