The Nanny Diaries

By Nicola Kraus & Emma McLaughlin

Every season of my nanny career kicked off with a round of interviews so surreally similar that I'd often wonder if the mothers were slipped a secret manual at the Parents League to guide them through. This initial encounter became as repetitive as religious ritual, tempting me, in the moment before the front door swung open, either to kneel and genuflect or say, "Hit it!"

The novel portrays the struggles of a young nanny who cares for a poor little rich boy who is emotionally abandoned and rigidly programmed by narcissistic parents. It is based on the two authors’ real experiences as professional nannies for over 30 families in New York City. It is a funny book with many hilarious episodes. But also sad, because the children seem to be forgotten and neglected by their parents, who just shuffles them off to their nannies and baby-sitters instead of spending time with them themselves.

The main character, Nanny, is a child psychology major at NYU. In order to make her monthly rent payments she accepts a position with the incredibly affluent X family caring for their 4-year-old son Grayer a few hours a week. She runs him to his constant stream of French lessons, ice-skating lessons, play dates and other activities. Mrs. X treats her son as a fashion accessory and does not clean, cook, work or much of anything except shop for herself, schedule incredibly complicated days for her son and then neglects him. Nanny is treated less-than-human by Mrs. X and is just someone to keep her son out of her hair and see to all her personal errands.

Nanny perseveres despite the growing demands on her schedule and her heart. An adulterous father brings added stress to the household, sending Mrs. X. deeper into self-obsession. Grounded and good-hearted, Nanny stays in an untenable situation much longer than most would because she cares deeply about the fate of little Grayer.

The ending is wonderfully funny. Mrs. X suddenly tells Nanny she has to leave – and this leads Nanny to give Mrs. X a piece of her mind. But it also broke my heart that just a few moments earlier little Grayer had looked into Nanny’s eyes and said he knew she would be leaving him, just like all the others did... and Nanny had assured him she would not...