JJ Byrne Park in Brooklyn, New York

Received Monday April 9, 2007
This happened at JJ Byrne Park in Brooklyn on Easter. The occasion was an Easter Egg Hunt and most of the people there were families. A few families brought their nannies. Most of the nannies are the great nannies, but one nanny was completely out of line in her reprimanding of the older child in her care. I had originally assumed she accompanied a parent but she left with both kids by herself so perhaps the family she works for was out of town. The children were a little girl of about two and a boy of about 5. The girl had on reddish hair, a ski style headband over her ears and a pinkish jacket. The boy was wearing a grey sweatshirt hooded blue jacket. (Two materials-one jacket). He had brown hair, brown eyes. Both children were Caucasian. The nanny was about 50 years of age. She had on a long red coat (knee length) and wore ballerina flats with a leopard print and had a hair style that I would imagine an older woman gets done once a week at a salon. Her hair was dark, she had a medium complexion and I am unsure of her ethnicity. This is what troubled me. The little boy was so excited to be hunting for eggs. He wanted to help his little sister find eggs. He had the sweetest smile and you could tell he loved this little girl but nanny didn't want the boy anywhere near him. She kept pushing him off. He wanted to take her hand and lead her away, she literally "karate chopped" his hand away. She was very ornery to this little boy. She picked up the little girl in a huff and carried her away from the little boy. The little boy wasn't even looking at or for eggs. He was just by himself. He slumped to the ground and just watched nanny dote on his sister wistfully. I felt so bad for him. I tried to get my son to go over and play with the child, but the boy buried his face in his jacket sleeve. Unfortunately, I think he perceived the pity I was feeling for him. To the parents of these children- you have two beautiful children, please know how great your little boy is to his sister and how awful your nanny is to him! It was heartbreaking!