The story I am about to tell you was only my second nanny job. I was still very young, 18, and naive. Looking back on the situation, I am surprised I lasted 5 months on the job!

The family I worked for had an 8 year old daughter I will call Sarah, and a 4 year old son, Bobby. The family was Asian, and I only say this because in the Asian cultures it is not uncommon for boys to be seen as prized and get away with EVERYTHING! This family was no exception! Sarah was an angel, and was the only saving grace of the job. If it hadn't been for her, I would have left after the first week!

Bobby ran that house! He was rude, he cussed at me and his parents, and he was extremely violent for his age, probably due to the fact that he watched WWF on a daily basis! He would have random outburts and get really cranky if he didn't take a nap. Yet whenever I would try to get him to take a nap, he would scream and cry. That would cause his grandma to come out of her room and scream at me in Chinese and take him in her bedroom, where she was 90% of the time!

The final straw came when he threw a steel toe boot at the back of my head. Luckily only the heel hit my head, and I wasn't injured. Right after it happened I put him in his room, and told him he wasn't allowed to come out until I told him he could. Which, I normally would never do, but considering the severity, I thought it necissary. I phone his mother who told me that she would take away his game boy for the night. EXCUSE ME! That's it?!? I told her he was in his room in time out and she told me to send him in his grandma's room. Later his garndma came out with him for dinner and he looked at the knife on the counter and said he was going to stab me with it. At that point, I lost it, and told the grandma I was leaving because I only had 30 minutes left on my shift anyway.

The next morning I gave my two weeks notice. I totally chickened out on confronting her like I knew I should, and told her I was going to focus on school full time. I think she knew the truth, because she told me if I didn't want to come back anymore I didn't have to. So, I left. For a while I still kept in contact with Sarah by letter or phone, but it's been years since I have talked to her.

I sometimes look back on that job and wonder why I staid so long. And, other times when I think if I had stayed, I might have been able to help change the family for the better. I guess I will never know.....