When I left my employer and started my own business, there was a period of time when I was traveling more than I had in the past decade combined. My daughter was used to me being a stay-at-home dad, an overworked dad and a vacationing dad. But given my irregular schedule, her home cooked meals turned into dining out and order in’s. And her regular car rides to swimming practice is now occasionally done by public transit. Then I asked my daughter, “Do you want a nanny for the times I’m not here?”
My daughter looked at me with a stare that was surprised, shocked, abandoned and her first reaction was laughter! Images of Nanny McPhee, Jason Statham’s Transporter and Mrs. Doubtfire came to mind. Then she asked me, Dad, are you relocating? “No,” I replied immediately, “I just thought you might like a home cooked meal when I’m away. It helps if they can tidy the house, too. We can have a person come in one or two days a week even if I am here. What do you think?”
If you’re not hiring Mr. Muscles to transport me…I’ll be fine.
To which she responded, Dad, I don’t need a nanny. I know how to cook and you’re not gone for more than a few days at a time, anyway. You cook enough to have frozen leftovers. There’s pizza and sushi down the street. And if I’m truly suffering from famine, I’ll just go to mom’s. I like being home alone. I can watch TV and do homework and make snacks for myself. If I’m bored, I’ll have a friend come over. I don’t need a babysitter.
“It’s not a babysitter. This person is here to do things so you can focus on doing your things.” Is this person going to drive your cars, dad? “I don’t think so.” So, I’ll still have to take transit? “I can set up Uber on your phone.” It’s okay dad. If you’re not hiring Mr. Muscles to transport me; and mom doesn’t need to dress up as Mr. Doubtfire; and I am not unruly enough to require Nanny McPhee…I’ll be fine.
“So what you’re telling me is that you neither need Nanny McPhee nor do you want Nanny McPhee. So in either case, she’ll be leaving and since she was never here, there’s no point discussing it?” Yup!
“How did you become so ‘growed’ up?” I asked. You did that, dad.
