The Nanny Secret: How a Family Found the Right Help for Their Son
Sandra and her husband, Andrew, were having a great day at their busy little Italian restaurant when Sandra’s phone rang. It was a call that would change everything.
“Hello, this is Mrs. Deborah from Matteo’s daycare,” the voice said.
Right away, Sandra knew something was wrong. When she hung up, she looked at Andrew with wide eyes and said, “We need to talk. Something’s not right with Matteo.”
The Beginning of Their Dream
Years before this moment, Sandra and Andrew had met at culinary school. They both had Italian roots and shared a deep love for Italian cooking. From the moment they made pasta together in class, they became inseparable.
“We’re perfect together,” Andrew had told her one evening after class, “in and out of the kitchen.”
After graduating, they got married, opened a cozy little Italian restaurant, and later welcomed their sweet baby boy, Matteo, into the world.
When Matteo was old enough to go to daycare, Sandra and Andrew focused more on the restaurant. It was starting to get attention online—photos of their homemade pasta and tiramisu were going viral.
With all this success came more work. Sandra started feeling overwhelmed.
“I can’t do it all, Andrew. We need someone to help with Matteo and the house,” she admitted one evening while chopping vegetables in the kitchen.
Andrew agreed. “Let’s find someone we trust.”
That’s when they thought of Anthea—the teenage daughter of their neighbor. She seemed responsible and was always home.
“Just pick him up from daycare and keep him safe until we get home,” Andrew told her. “He’s a quiet kid. Just keep him happy.”
A Seemingly Perfect Plan
Everything seemed to go smoothly. With Anthea helping, Sandra and Andrew no longer had to rush out of work early, and their restaurant kept getting busier. It was booked weeks in advance.
They worked long hours and usually came home by 9 p.m., just in time to say goodnight to Matteo. He was a quiet, gentle boy who never complained. So when a phone call from daycare came only a week after hiring Anthea, it hit Sandra like a thunderclap.
A Worrying Call
“Mrs. Deborah says Matteo cries when Anthea picks him up,” Sandra told Andrew, stunned.
“What?” Andrew blinked. “Matteo never cries, not even when we’re late. That’s not like him.”
Sandra repeated what Mrs. Deborah had said:
“I don’t mean to alarm you, but Matteo seems happy all day. He laughs, plays, and tells jokes. But when Anthea shows up, his whole face changes. He gets quiet, and sometimes he cries. It’s happened three times this week. I just thought you should know.”
Andrew’s face hardened. “Something’s going on. We need to get to the bottom of this.”
Trying to Find the Truth
That night, Sandra decided to ask Matteo herself. As she tucked him in and read him his favorite bedtime story, she gently asked, “Is everything okay at school, sweetie?”
Matteo smiled. “Yeah! I have two best friends—Patrick and Freddy—and we build towers together. Mrs. Deborah says mine are the tallest!”
Sandra smiled back, relieved, but then asked, “Do you like Anthea? Is she a good nanny?”
Matteo’s face changed. He looked away and quietly nodded without smiling.
Sandra’s heart sank. That wasn’t like him. She could feel it in her bones—something was wrong.
Confronting Anthea
The next morning, Sandra called Anthea before the restaurant opened.
“Anthea, I got a call from Matteo’s teacher,” she said carefully. “She says he seems upset when you pick him up. Is everything okay?”
“Oh, I’m sure he just misses you and Andrew,” Anthea said quickly. “He’ll warm up to me.”
But Sandra didn’t feel convinced. All day, she was distracted. She mixed up orders and forgot ingredients. Andrew noticed and said, “Let’s follow them tomorrow after school. I want to see it with my own eyes.”
Following the Clues
The next day, Sandra and Andrew parked their car down the block and waited outside Matteo’s daycare. When the door opened, they saw him laughing with Patrick and Freddy in the sandbox.
Anthea came to pick him up. Matteo looked up and said, “Can we just play for five more minutes?”
“No,” Anthea snapped. “We’re leaving now.”
Sandra’s hands clenched the steering wheel. “Why is she being so rude? It’s not even late,” Andrew muttered.
They quietly followed Anthea and Matteo home. When they reached the house, Sandra’s heart dropped.
Matteo was outside, playing all alone in the front yard. No toys. No snacks. Just sitting there, poking at the dirt with a stick.
Then they saw Anthea—inside the house, in front of a mirror, putting on makeup and taking selfies. She was giggling and filming herself for social media, not even looking outside.
“She’s not watching him at all!” Sandra gasped. “He looks so lonely.”
“That’s it,” Andrew said. He pulled the car into the driveway, and they both got out.
Time for a Change
“Mom! Dad!” Matteo smiled and ran to them.
Sandra hugged him tightly. “Are you okay, honey?”
They walked inside. Anthea turned, surprised. “You’re home early!”
“We saw everything,” Andrew said firmly. “You’re done here. Get your things and leave.”
Anthea didn’t argue. She grabbed her bag and left without a word.
Later that evening, Sandra called Mrs. Deborah. “Thank you so much for telling us. We had no idea.”
Mrs. Deborah replied warmly,
“I’m just glad Matteo has parents who care. Next time, ask me—I know a few wonderful professional nannies in town.”
Finding Gabriella
A few days later, Sandra and Andrew met Gabriella, a trained and kind nanny who had worked with kids for years. She had glowing references and even knew how to make homemade gnocchi.
“She’s more expensive than Anthea,” Andrew said.
“I don’t care,” Sandra replied. “Matteo’s happiness is worth every penny.”
Gabriella started the next day, and right away, Matteo adored her.
“Do you like Gabriella?” Sandra asked him that night.
Matteo’s eyes sparkled. “She’s the best! She even played in the sandbox after school. She’s just like Mrs. Deborah!”
A New Family Tradition
One day, Gabriella brought Matteo to the restaurant just before closing. Sandra and Andrew were surprised but thrilled.
“Mom! Look what Gabriella helped me draw—a spaghetti monster!” Matteo giggled.
Since that night, they made it a tradition: every week, after closing the restaurant, the family of four would sit down and enjoy a quiet dinner together.
They found their balance. They kept their restaurant running and their family strong. All thanks to listening, trusting their instincts—and a little help from Mrs. Deborah.
What Can We Learn from This Story?
If something feels off, don’t ignore it. Speak up. Thanks to Mrs. Deborah, Sandra and Andrew found out their son wasn’t truly happy—and they did something about it.
And if life feels unbalanced, don’t give up. There’s always a way to make things better. Sandra and Andrew found the right support and created a new, joyful rhythm for their family.
Because when love, food, and family come together—you can always find a way forward.