“What happened here? My house… is unrecognizable. And why aren’t the kids screaming and running around?” I asked, so confused and shocked.

“Lucy is napping, and Christie and Johnny are in their rooms, reading,” he told me, and I swear, my jaw hit the floor.

“What? Are you kidding me?”

“No, go see.”

I had to go, and my eyes couldn’t believe it either. But Bob had told me the truth. “How did you do this?”

“Oh, Dr. Sanders. I was a single father raising kids once. Mine were ten times worse than these three angels,” Bob laughed. “I taught them to pick up after themselves and narrated them fairy tales. Your kids ate that up. You might want to buy them more books.”

I nodded, starstruck. No one in my life had ever called my kids “angels,” and they had never been interested in the few books I got. “I can’t believe it,” I whispered.

“It was easy. But now I have to go,” Bob said, picking up his work jacket from the back of a chair.

“Oh, yes. I’m so sorry about being late. I’m so embarrassed,” I said, touching my forehead. “I’ll pay you triple for that.”

“No. No. I don’t need money,” Bob shook his head, raising his hands.

“Please. For your time,” I insisted with my stern look. People at the hospital were afraid of that look, so I knew Bob would not be able to reject the money.

“Ok, I’ll treat the kids to something nice,” he laughed. “Goodbye, Dr. Sanders. Have a nice day!”

“Thank you!” I yelled out, exhausted.

***

My kids behaved for the rest of the day, and I almost cried. It was the best day ever.

So, I called Bob and offered him a full-time nanny job, tripling his current salary and adding more health benefits since I had connections at the hospital. He accepted in the end, and I was so thankful that I gave him a Christmas bonus and plane tickets to his family could visit Disneyland in California later that year.

With Bob’s help, I quickly realized that my kids needed a caretaker who felt like family because that was what they had with their father. They hated daycares and being around strangers. I couldn’t fault them for that. But I was so pleased that I had finally found the solution to our problem!

Bob spoke to my kids like equals, his voice gentle and patient. I had never been like that, but I tried my best. I started being a lot more understanding with them, mainly because they weren’t screaming or destroying the house all the time anymore. I spent more time with them, and we got closer and closer every day.

Bob was my hero. Over the years, I became even more sure that Bob came into my life because the universe knew my children would need him.

What can we learn from this story?

• Even the loudest and most active kids can change with proper care and attention. Unlike Opal, Bob knew how to speak to the children and taught them how to behave.
• Some people are like angels sent by the universe when you most need them. Bob was the best thing to happen to Opal’s family after her husband passed.

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