THE NANNYS
CHAPTER. 1
I designed software systems and programmed some of them. I saved almost all of the money that I made over the last ten years. I wanted to start my own business, since I’ve solved different kinds of problems and i felt could make a living solving any new problem that crossed my path..
I had the money; all I needed were a few people who also enjoyed solving problems..
Helen was a college professor who taught robot design and construction and enjoyed solving problems.
I attended one of her seminars on robot design with the intent of hiring a few soon to be graduates from her school. I was about to embark on a new adventure; starting a
problem solving company.
When we introduced ourselves to each other, we had an instant connection. To be forthright, it was her house -on- the- prairie- dress and white sneakers with bright pink shoe laces that captured my heart. Apparently it was my bright red vest worn over a paisley shirt that captured hers.
After the seminar she made it a point to talk to me since she wanted to know why I was there. Once I told her about my business ideas, she invited me to have a cup of coffee with her in the school cafeteria ( I paid )
to discuss them.
I asked her out on a date. Most of the following dates ended up in her apartment living room watching reruns of Hallmark movies on TV,
We dated for about a year during which we planned for the business I envisioned. I would be remiss if I didn’t mention that we did nearly everything together!
We married during the summer and
honeymooned in Hawaii for two weeks; it was magic. However it was the last vacation we went on for many years.
We moved into a big apartment before we married, to prevent any conflict with the activity of starting our business venture, when we returned from Hawaii..
We took out a business loan, rented office space in New York City and hired a few recent graduates from Helen’s school to start our company, which we named The Problem Solving Company.
Both of us were sold on my idea of making a profit solving problems for various segments of the American economy.
Two professors, who are still friends of Helen’s, were hired as part time consultants.
The first year in business was a challenge. There was no profit, however the company didn’t lose any money, which encouraged us to continue the business.
The second year we made a profit which allowed us to expand into new fields.
The Most notable decision We made was to get into software related to law enforcement problem solving.
The reason for our success, we believe, was our business model. We encouraged employees to pick relevant problems, do the research, solve them, and personally market them!
Team efforts were encouraged.
A modest bonus was given to any one or team that brought in new business.
This management technique became the standard for the company.
A Christmas bonus, which was a week’s pay, was given out every year, except for the company’s first.
CHAPTER 2
Helen and I tried to have a child, but without success. The fertilization “consulting” was a bust.
We had a backup plan which we initiated when we started the fertilization protocol.
We submitted all the documentation from medical tests and background checks needed to become adoption parents. This process took eight months which was about the time our fertilization attempts ended.
Our goal was to have our own child was not to be.
A local New York City hospital was caring for a recently born baby girl who had no parents and was homeless. A number of couples tried to adopt the baby, but she would not let them hold her without a lot of drama.
We had interviews with the hospital staff responsible for the welfare of the baby, who
we wanted to name Lisa Amelia!
The chief nurse, Karen, just knew we would capture the baby girl’s heart, when she interviewed us. Karen was impressed that we had pictures of Lisa Amerlia’s bedroom. She loved that we had decided on a name, too. Meeting Helen’s niece, Alicia, who would be the nanny, was over the top for Karen! Alicia had a masters in child development and a couple of years experience working in a pre-k school, which impressed Karen to no end.
Karen had the hospital legal department representatives in attendance the day and time of our arrival to meet Lisa Amelia.
Helen and I decided that she should be the first to talk to Lisa Amelia.
The baby instantly turned her head towards Helen, who was repeatedly saying “Lisa Amelia.” The baby made cooing noises to me, also, when I softly called her name.
Lisa Amelia tried, in her own way, to d snuggle with each of us when we held her.
The hospital lawyer, who witnessed that tender scene in the nursery, said he would support us in our adoption process.
Alicia, who was at the meeting, claimed she wanted to be a big sister to the néw member of her family.
Moreover, she wanted to be a permanent nanny for Helen and our baby girl.
Alicia’s announcement caused the hospital lawyer to promise to pull out all the stops for us to adopt the baby girl. He referred to the baby as Lisa Amelia, also
!
CHAPTER 3
Cal and Alicia knew each other since eighth grade.
They reconnected with each other in Central Park.
She was jogging, while pushing Lisa Amelia in a stroller and he was walking around the park. She instantly recognized him, since he walked with a limp he sustained while playing football in high school.
He didn’t spend much time with her for a few years, since she was spending much of her time with Lisa Amelia and his drive to get a business degree.. He maintained two Jobs: one working in his uncle’s car body shop part time, and the other attending college to get a business degree.
He eventually wanted to own his own car body repair shop.
His business idea formed a desire in her to eventually have her own business, also; but one dealing with Nannie’s and Children!
When Cal graduated, he was able to take Alicia out on a date every Friday night; since he was now working full time at the shop.
Calvin planned to have his own car body shop, before Lisa Amelia started pre-k. They planned everything together. Most importantly, they planned getting married the summer before Lisa Amelia started kindergarten.
It took her nearly a year to decide on the name of the nanny business, which she finally named ‘The Nanny company.”
She hired Susan as her full time “Girl Friday,” which meant she would be the only one running the office.
Once the paperwork was approved and received, Alicia officially started her business two days after they married. The timing couldn’t have been better, since Susan booked two nanny jobs that needed to be staffed.
Their honeymoon had to wait. ’
The newly hired nannies would start their daily day time jobs immemeditely.
Alicia would care for Leah ( Lisa Amelia’s nickname), as needed when school started. This form of nannying lasted until Lisa Amelia was in eighth grade, when she became a latch key kid.
This gave Alicia and Cal flexibility in their daily lives..
Cal now owned a car body repair shop in the city and Alicia’s job and office were in Manhattan, also.
They moved out of his apartment, located in Brooklyn, into a new one in New York City.
.
Susan was manning the desk at The Nanny Company office, for our niece, on a full time basis and doing an impressive job. She kept the “books” and interviewed potential clients. Word by mouth, brought in more customers, hence more Nannie’s were hired. The company was finally at the point where it didn’t need our occasional financial support to keep it solvent.
Everyone was paid weekly, whether the customers paid weekly or not..
Every nanny had a vacation, but not when the host family had theirs. Then the Nannie’s were paid extra, which was the responsibility of the host family
Susan was also in charge of social planning, which she loved.
She liked making appointments for nannies on days when they weren’t working. They usually wanted a day at a spa.
Alicia and Sue made all the company related decisions dealing with significant amounts of money.
Susan was happy making decisions about running the office and stayed within a monthly budget, they both agreed on.
CHAPTER 4
There came a time during which a terrifying event took place; one of their nanny’s toddler was kidnapped in a nearby public pocket park.
All of the television stations and newspapers in Manhattan and the four other boroughs of New York ran daily reports on the abduction.
Edith, the nanny, was crucified for negligence, while caring for the little boy, by the child’s family.
The nanny company almost went out of business when some of their other nannies were fired by their clients . Helen and I managed to keep the office staff and the three nannies on the payroll, with our savings. until the crime was solved.
Our company was asked, by the toddler’s family, to help solve the kidnapping,
Susan recommended our company because of its problem solving reputation.
But we weren’t able to be of much help since this definitely was a police and FBI effort.
The police ruled out ransom after two days of the kidnapping. Though they had a city wide search, as best that could be done, they hoped to rule out homicide. After three weeks, their detectives were still at a loss as to the where- about of the toddler.
Eventually the Police tracked down the kidnapper and found the healthy, happy baby.
When apprehended by the police it turned out to be a friend of the toddler’s parents, who was a childless middle aged woman, living in the same apartment complex. She and her husband confessed to the crime,
The wife of the couple had babysat the toddler, before Edith was hired. The woman fanaticized that the child was hers,
There was a quick trial and the kidnappers were sentenced but first had to undergo therapy in a psychiatric hospital.
The toddler’s parents decided to take Edith back. They believed her story that she had been distracted for less than a minute by the guilty woman while her husband kidnapped the young boy.
Eventually the nanny business recovered.
Two years ago, Helen and I turned our problem solving company over to Leah and her husband, Jon. The number of employees was reduced somewhat, since some retired and a couple had started their own company. They decided to keep the company at the lower level of employment, because it was less stressful to keep it at that level, since they owned The Nanny Company as well..
Alicia and Cal, who sold his body shop business to their son,, took an early retirement to babysit their two grandsons,
.
Helen and I are delighted to have received as a joint gift from our family; a small bust of Rodin’s thinker!
So I talk a lot… 