As I sat at the breakfast table, sunlight streaming through the window, I couldn’t help but feel frustrated. Three babysitters had quit after just one day of working for my family. It didn’t make sense. I was determined to find out the truth, so I set up a hidden camera, never expecting the shocking revelation that followed.
My phone buzzed, interrupting my thoughts. I reluctantly picked it up, already expecting to see another message from a babysitter quitting. And as expected, there it was.
“I’m sorry, but I can’t continue working with your family. Thank you for the opportunity,” the message from Megan, the babysitter I had hired just the day before, read.
My chest tightened. Megan had seemed like the perfect fit – responsible, kind, and enthusiastic. What could have gone wrong? But this was the third time this had happened in as many weeks. Something wasn’t right.
I looked over at my kids, Lily and Max, playing happily in the living room. They were good kids, so why did no one want to stay and take care of them?
My best friend Julie came over for coffee that morning, and I poured out my frustrations to her. “I just don’t understand. The kids are great, and I pay well. What am I doing wrong?” I exclaimed as I set my cup down.
Julie furrowed her brow. “It’s strange, for sure. But have you considered that it might not be about you or the kids? What if it’s something, or someone, else in the house?”
My stomach churned at the thought. Could she be right? Was someone sabotaging my efforts? I couldn’t help but think of my husband, Dave. But no, that couldn’t be it. He had been nothing but supportive of my decision to go back to work.
That night, I retrieved an old nanny cam from the back of my son’s closet and set it up discreetly in the living room. I told myself it was just for peace of mind.
The next morning, I hired another babysitter, Rachel. She seemed sweet and perfect for the job. As I left for work, I parked my car a block away and watched the live feed on my phone.
Everything seemed normal at first. Rachel played with the kids, and then Dave unexpectedly came home. My heart sank as I watched him approach Rachel.
“Hey there,” he greeted her with an overly warm smile. “How’s it going?”
Rachel looked up, surprised but polite. “Everything’s great. The kids are wonderful.”
“I’m glad to hear that,” Dave said, his tone changing. “But can we talk for a moment?”
They moved to the couch, and I leaned closer to my screen, feeling a sense of dread wash over me.
Dave’s voice softened as he adopted a concerned tone. “I just wanted to give you a heads up. Sarah’s been struggling with postpartum depression. It’s been hard for all of us.”
My breath caught in my throat. Postpartum depression? That wasn’t true. I listened in shock as Dave continued to lie to Rachel.