Received Saturday, December 16, 2006
Walking today, I crossed the paths of many sitters and parents with children. Two of these encounters stood out.
One was a very cross, African American Nanny, over the age of 50 who demonstrated a lack of patience and even contempt for her three year old charge. (On 5th Avenue by St. Bernard's School). She said "you are a bad, bad boy" With this the boy apologized and then the nanny said, "You will be sorry when you get nothing from Santa Claus". This made the boy burst in to tears. The nanny was now just past me and I heard her say "oh too late, it is too late now, bad boy". The stroller was blue and had a striped seat, I think made by Volo.
As I pushed my daughter around the corner and through the park (across 97th) I pushed off to the side to dig for my cell phone. It was then I chances across a real live manny chasing two children, a boy and a girl- the boy about 8 and the girl perhaps 6. They were laughing hysterically and running. They had a Frisbee. He had so much energy. He was young with dark blonde wavy hair, a thin build and may have had a German accent. I am not certain about that. It was past time to go home and he then challenged the children to race to the tree for an extra ten minutes. He let them win the race. As I pushed on my way, he said he had to call their parents to let them know they were still at the park.
I wouldn't come down hard on any caregiver/parent on 5th Avenue. I heard they are rioting on 5th Ave because of some cop shooting.
ReplyDeleteplease provide more details in your description of the African American woman or tell me what color the stroller was striped with or more info about the child. This sounds not unlike my Mother in law who was out walking my child in that area around noon.
ReplyDeletee-
ReplyDeleteyour mother in law? I think the striped stroller liner had white and green in it. The boy was very fair haired, I didn't take note of much else. The woman had a heavy, lined face with magenta tinged dark hair that looked like something that she set on rollers or had done at a salon. I think she had on a short sleeved sweater. But now I am not that sure since I kind of let go of the sighting after I posted it. I hope it isn't your mother in law! She seemed quite cold & somewhat menacing. I'm glad I checked back.
i think she was kidding you about the whole mother in law thing. duh.
ReplyDeleteCold & Somewhat menacing?? Maybe it MY M.I.L
ReplyDeleteWhy would she be kidding about the MIL thing? There are lots of generational problems with child rearing styles.
ReplyDeleteMy mother-in-law has a soft face and easy smile. (Very deceiving). I have told her twenty times during this trip not to call our son a "bad boy". If her son would stand up to her, I wouldn't have to all the time! I can't wait for December 26th! (at 540 PM).
ReplyDeletemenacing is my mil! Does she walk with a swaggering and assuming stride? Was her voice like nails on a chalkboard? Did you smell Gloria Vanderbuilt perfume wafting through the air?
ReplyDeletea manny? was he hot?
ReplyDeleteyou should get a job and mind your own business
ReplyDelete