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WRITE 2 THE HEART
Stories that are aimed "Write 2 The Heart"
May 23, 2001 Volume 1, Issue 19
Cheryl Speir, Editor, moderator@write2theheart.com
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By subscription only! Welcome to your next issue of
"WRITE 2 THE HEART"
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Do you have a story you would like to share with our
readers? We are currently looking for new writers.
To submit, send your story as an email to:
moderator@write2theheart.com
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When we face moments of great obstacles, the Lord
gives us strength, courage and sometimes people to
help meet the challenge. Rose received a beautiful
helper in a time or family blending and transition.
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The Nanny I Couldn't Afford
By: Rose Wade-Schambach
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Just a week or so ago over the roar of the Greyhound
bus, I hugged her and told her goodbye. The ripping
sensation I felt in my chest was just as if I were
saying goodbye to my own daughter. Her name was Gina
and she had been my live-in nanny for almost a year.
But she had become much more than that.
Gina had come to me in my summer of greatest
transition and upheaval. I was a single mother who
was trying desperately to stabilize herself by
relocating and venturing into a new career. I had
been accepted into flight training school and would
have to train for four and a half intense weeks to
become a flight attendant. I arranged for Gina to
come and be my live-in nanny. She was my cousin’s
daughter, also in transition. She was twenty years
old with time on her hands, no clear-cut plans for the
future, and a thirst for adventure that she was
certain Atlanta could provide. The plan seemed
feasible and a good trade-off. For me: child-care I
could feel good about. For her: room and board and
the possibility of fulfillment for her adventurous
side.
After I sent the children to stay with their Dad for
the duration of my training, I began to sense that
there were too many holes in my plans. Flight school
was grueling and although I enjoyed flying and serving
others; I began to have serious doubts that I could
leave my children for up to four days at a time even
in such capable hands. The very week that flight
school ended and I had finally earned my wings, I
decided to resign my position of flight attendant.
The time had come for Plan B, which was really the
right plan for my life after all. My fiancé John
suggested we move up our wedding and combine our
already huge separate families. Together, we would
have twelve children and we would still desperately
need a nanny.
The day we met Gina at the airport I was nervous. I
had not seen Gina since she was five years old. I
shouldn’t have worried. After a few minutes her
infectious laugh convinced me that we had made the
right decision. Right from the start she became part
of the family. Had she realized then what a difficult
job she would have ahead, though; she might never have
decided to join our army. It’s a good thing there
were no previews of coming attractions!
During the next two weeks we accelerated into warp
speed as we moved into the house that John had
miraculously found that was big enough for our huge
brood. Then we managed to throw together a simple and
beautiful wedding with nine of our children and Gina
standing together with us at the altar the day of my
forty-fifth birthday. Gina and nine of the children
honeymooned with us before school started and reality
set in.
Immediately, I took a temp job at the medical
practice where my new husband worked, and Gina plunged
into the task of taking care of children that she had
just barely met. While I worked long hours, Gina
comforted, cajoled, cleaned up after and creatively
cared for the troops in my absence. (Not to mention
the hoards of neighborhood children who always seemed
to find the way to our house.) She doled out cookies
and Kool-aid, tissues and hugs. She fixed boo-boos
and peanut butter sandwiches by the dozens. She
delivered children to practices and ran to the store
for bread and milk daily. And not once did she ever
complain!
After almost a year, she left us on that Greyhound
bus to get on with her life. We knew we couldn’t ask
her to stay, but she left a huge hole in our hearts and
lives when she left. Even though she only received room
and board and a tiny amount of spending money each week
from us, I am no fool when it comes to figuring out what a
bargain she was.
If I were to calculate how much I should have paid
her, just at minimum wage and overtime on the
weekends, not to mention all the other extra tasks she
completed over and above the call of duty, the cost
would have been three times as much as my wages! (And
some things you simply cannot put a price tag on. Just
how much is a hug worth?)
A month or so before Gina left; I was given the
opportunity to teach some college English courses at
night. Now I am able to stay home more with the
children and accomplish all the things that a mother
must. But I won’t forget that it was Gina, who
graciously stepped up to bat in my absence and scored
several home runs for this family! Thanks, Gina! I
owe you!
Rose Wade-Schambach
schwadeton @ yahoo.com
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Rose lives with her husband John and their combined
tribe of twelve children. She teaches creative writing
at a college in her area. She has written many stories
for Write 2 The Heart. Her work may be found in the
archives at www.write2theheart.com
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From Our Readers
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I forgot to tell you how much I enjoyed your story. I think it
must take a tremendous amount of work for a parent to home-
school a child. I think you are to be commended. I have a friend
who home-schooled her two sons until they were in 6th grade, then
they started to attended our local Christian school. From there
they will go to our local public high school.
Our three daughters attended public school, and they got
through fine. I doubt if I'd have the brains to teach them
myself. Our oldest (49) is a teacher in Florida, our middle
daughter (44) is a firefighter/paramedic in Tacoma, WA, and the
youngest (41) is an Engineering Technician with the Public
Utility District. She lives here in Ephrata, WA where our
grandchildren attend public schools. She has a teaching degree,
but the PUD job was such a good one that she couldn't pass it up.
We are lucky to live in a small town.
Now your Jeremy can look forward to a new beginning.
Blessings,
Pat
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Cheryl's Corner
As I told you last week, we are remodeling our old house
to put it up for sale. I decided to remove the old, tired
paneling in the boys old room and paint the sheetrock
underneath. When I removed the wall where Aaron had helped me
close off an old doorway, I found a spot where he had written
Aaron&Junie. He did that in 1992 when they were still in high
school. I smiled at the memory of teenaged love. My husband
walked in, looked at it and smiled also. Then he took out a pen
and under it wrote & Drew & baby on the way. He so sentimental,
and romantic too!
God Bless
Cheryl
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Copyright 2001 Write 2 The Heart
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