I had trusted a new babysitter with my children, and she seemed perfect.
I thought everything was going great until my four-year-old daughter tugged at my sleeve and whispered something that sent ice down my spine.
At that point, I knew I had to find out the truth, even if it meant destroying my closest relationships.
Motherhood changes you in ways you can never imagine. It teaches you to put others first and to give without thinking of yourself.
And that’s exactly what I did.
I poured my love into my family, my home, and my children.
So, when it was time to return to work after maternity leave, I wanted someone who could look after my kids as well as I did. And that’s when I found the perfect babysitter for them.
Little did I know the person who seemed the best for this job would soon turn my world upside down.
Liam was born just six months ago, and before that, my days had been filled with the laughter and chaos of raising my four-year-old daughter, Lily.
She was my little curious little girl who was always ready to ask a hundred questions about the world. When Liam arrived, she was fascinated by him. She’d peer into his crib and giggle every time he yawned.
But as much as I loved my time at home with them, reality was knocking. My maternity leave was ending, and I had to return to work soon. The thought of leaving my children made my chest tighten, but I had no choice.
That’s where Janice came in.
We had hired her months before my leave ended, just to see how well she got along with Lily and Liam. From the very first day, I could tell she had a natural warmth with children.
“Hey, munchkin,” she greeted Lily with a wide smile that first morning. “I hear you love drawing. Want to show me your masterpieces?”
Lily hesitated for half a second before nodding eagerly and pulling Janice by the hand toward her little art table.
And Liam? He settled almost instantly when Janice held him and hummed softly. I had never seen anyone besides myself or Paul soothe him that quickly.
Even in those first few weeks, I knew she was special. She handled the kids like they were her own.
“She’s a godsend,” I told Paul one evening, watching from the kitchen as Janice helped Lily with her puzzles while bouncing Liam on her knee.
“She really is,” Paul agreed. “We lucked out with her. It’s hard to find someone you can actually trust these days.”
The best part was that Janice didn’t just take care of the kids. She kept me in the loop throughout the day and sent me little messages and pictures while I was at work.