My nanny, M, is the best nanny I could ask for. I’m sure there are nannies out there with more years of experience or more twin/triplet experience or whatnot, but there isn’t anyone else in the world who would love my children as much as she does. Every night when she leaves, she looks sorry to go. Every morning when she arrives, she says, “Good morning, Sammy, I missed you! Good morning, Ellie, I missed you! Good morning Abby, I missed you, too!”
On Monday mornings she comes into their room and eagerly picks them up and asks, “So what did I miss? What are they doing that’s new?”
She never asks me for anything, ever, but she was so excited when I bought her some children’s books in French (her native language) and eagerly said that yes, she would love to have more if I ordered more. She loves to read to the babies, she holds them all day long – never putting them down except to play. She enjoys their milestones as much as we do.
People are surprised that I hired someone who didn’t have previous twin/triplet experience, but I realized when I hired her that I didn’t have any triplet experience before I had my triplets, but I figured it out, right? She clearly loved babies and children and that’s what mattered to me. I’m glad THAT was my priority when I hired her, because she has turned out to be perfect.
M is from Senegal, but was born and raised in Paris. Her father and one brother is still in Paris. Another brother is in Italy and yet another brother is in Spain. Until recently, she was living nearby sharing an apartment with her sister. But about three weeks ago, her sister got married and moved to Canada to be with her new husband, leaving M alone here. On Tuesday, I suggested to M that if she’d like to, she could have the week of Passover off and she said that she didn’t want to take the time off because she would be bored by herself. I asked if she had any friends in the area and she said not many. “My sister is my best friend and she moved away.”
So I suggested that she go see her sister that week. M said she would think about it, and would get back to me. No problem, I said. Seth and I both have that week off and though Seth will be out of town for part of the week, I can handle it – she should go see her sister if she can. M was still hesitant but she said she would speak with her sister and let me know. Apparently she spoke with her sister on Wednesday and they thought maybe her sister would come down here to visit M that week, but they would talk about it more on Friday (today).
M never got to have that talk with her sister today because her sister was in a fatal car accident yesterday. She died last night and M got the news of her death this morning. I was already on my way home when I heard the news, so I got home as quickly as I could (no sense having another accident). M is absolutely shattered, as you can imagine. They are moving her sister to Senegal tomorrow, and I told her we’d help her go, but she says she doesn’t want to go. “I don’t want to see that. She was my only friend. I can’t see that.” She says she’ll be back on Monday. “The babies are the only thing that will make me feel better. I want to be here with them.” She went home today to go pray for her sister. I hope that she’ll change her mind about going to Senegal to be with her family – she has no one here at all and her sister was her whole world.
I don’t even know her sister’s name, which seems odd to me, but I realize I haven’t known M that long – only about two and a half months – yet I love her so much because she loves my babies like her own (but not in a creepy way). And now she’s hurting more than I can possibly imagine and I can’t do anything for her other than pray, I suppose. M’s sister’s husband is still in a coma. I’m honestly not certain whether it would be more tragic for him to wake up and find his wife gone, or for him to never wake up, so I will simply pray for the RIGHT outcome for him, whatever that may be.
I have the best nanny in the world, and now she is suffering unimaginable pain. I wish there were something I could do for her.
ChezPerky 
That is unbelievably sad. I am going to be frantically emailing my sister today, I’m sure!
I am so sorry to hear about M’s sister. I will be saying prayers for her and the BIL.
Oh, I am so sorry. Please know that I am thinking of M and her family.
I’m glad you found someone that you love and trust so much and so sorry to hear about her loss.
Wow, I’m SO sorry to hear about M’s sister! I can’t imagine how devistated she is. I’ll be thinking of her and her family.
How horrible. At the beginning of your post, I was filled with jealousy. Our first 2 nannies were like family, we loved them as much as they loved us. Since then, we have been in nanny hell. In 3 months, we’ve been through 4 nannies — 2 of whom didn’t last longer than a few hours. We found one yesterday that hopefully will be the golden ticket.
Anyway, I was steeped in jealousy with your description of your wonderful nanny. Then I got to the part about her sister’s accident. How tragic!! I’m so, so sorry. I will say prayers for her entire family.
I am so very sorry about M losing her sister. It sounds as though they were extremely close and I feel so badly for her. I think you’re right about her needing to go to Senegal to be with her family. If she doesn’t go, she may regret it down the road. I will say a prayer for her and her family.
Oh how terribly sad! I am so sorry for her.
M is so very lucky to not only have you and Seth as family here in MD, but so importantly the gift of your babies to keep her mind busy during this emotionally terrible time. I will be praying so hard for M, and for all of you… I hope that you can all find a bit of peace in this horriffic tragedy, I know M already has in some ways…
You know I’m here.
::HUGS::
Oh, no, that’s terrible.
I’ll be keeping M and her family in my prayers.
How terrible. I hope that M finds some peace with this tragic loss.
Oh, that is just heartbreaking. We will be thinking and praying for her and her family. I’m sure she will gather strength through your little ones…there is something about holding a sweet baby (or 3 :)) that is comforting during a time of loss. Our thoughts are with her…
Oh Karen, no. How terribly sad. M and her entire family are in our prayers.
I’m so sorry to hear about M’s sister! Prayers are with her family.
My thoughts are with M and her family.
My heart is breaking for M, I am so sorry to hear of her loss. Please let her know that she and her family will be in our thoughts and prayers.
Oh my. May she be comforted.
How lucky she was to have as her best friend her sister and how much more horrible that make this loss.
You are doing a lot by being there for her, recognizing her grief. Perhaps you can suggest that she can if she likes hand down family stories about her sister to the babies. Maybe at some point in the future you and she establish some sort of tsedakah project in memory of her sister.
She obviously has a lot of love to give. It is good that this is recognized an appreciated by you.
May the babies continue to comfort her.
How horrible. My heart just sank for her I will pray too.
My heart is aching for her. I’m glad she has you and the babies to lean on during this time. My sister is my best friend and I couldn’t imagine losing her. I will pray for strength for her.
How heartbreaking…
Wow, I didn’t see that coming. Isn’t it crazy how things like that just come out of the blue. I really hope that M will find peace.
that is so heartbreaking. i’m so sorry for M. 😦
Wow my heart is so heavy for her.
That is just terrible. M sounds like a wonderful person and the best nanny. My sister is my best friend and I cant imagine not ever seeing her again.
Thank you for letting her love on those babies. I was a nanny and sometimes, people treated me like the hired help and didnt make me feel like family. Sometimes it was the opposite… sometimes they were like you and let you love on their children and made you feel welcome.
M is in my thoughts and prayers. you all are.
I am sick just reading this. I hurt so much for M. Please send her some love from me, and prayers to her sister’s husband (i agree with you about the right outcome for him- how well put.)
Oh wow! How incredibly sad. I am so very sorry for your nanny. I will pray for her to find peace in all of this.
Gosh, I am so close to my sister, I can’t imagine this happening. Thank goodness you are able to be there for M.
How horrible. I’m sorry to hear about M’s loss and her situation. It sounds like you are helping her through your babies. She is blessed to have met you and your family.