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New Jersey Diary

 My town is captivated by "the hell nanny."


Hell Nanny had a bad afternoon at pre-K pickup. She was in charge of identical twins, but she forgot this fact, and she secured just one of the two children in her SUV. Then she sped off, leaving the other child alone in the parking lot, where, apparently, an accident almost occurred.

Dramatic footage was posted online. Then other allegations surfaced. One former client made a vague reference to this hell nanny, and to "a moment of violence involving our cat." Another said that the hell nanny had sent a child to sleep, then disrupted the sleep and demanded that the little child search for an iPhone charger.

My spouse and I have different views. Marc is more sympathetic to the Maplewood mob. I'm skeptical. What is "a violent incident with our cat"? (As moms* begin foaming at the mouth, I'm reminded of Professor Harold Hill. "Trouble! Right here in River City! RIGHT HERE! Remember the Maine, Plymouth Rock, and the Golden Rule!!!!")

Also, a child was old enough and poised enough to recall, in a dispassionate way, what happened with bedtime and with a particular iPhone charger? I can't help but wonder if there is more than one side to this story. In the Kathy Bates reboot of "Matlock," a wealthy community recently ganged up on a nanny, and it turned out that the nanny was fully innocent of all charges.

I've debated making a post about Kathy Bates and "Matlock," but I can't see that "enriching" the conversation. I do think the "iPhone" story would make a really fine scene in a Cameron Diaz movie. One can hope.
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