Xiao Cheng: The Destructor. After the first meal, she broke a porcelain spoon. When she left a week later, eight bowls and two spoons were broken. I have a favorite pot of camellia flowers that have bloomed over several springs. But it didn't survive the frequent watering of our new nanny.

All this is nothing compared with my best cashmere sweater. Xiao Cheng hand-washed it and hung it without dehydrating. The sweater grew into a one-piece skirt.

Xiao Ruan: She never seems to have enough salt. My relatives brought me a pot of green olives. The tradition is to preserve them with salt and the snack can help diminish swellings in the mouth.

She went overboard with the salt. My unwary husband gulped down a bunch of olives and couldn't speak for a day.

Xiao Ran: She is an enthusiast with flowers. When she arrived, our balcony was suddenly covered with plants. Even the kitchen was full of them. Recently, she developed a fondness for garlic and Chinese onion. And how fast they grow! We have been eating meat fried with Chinese onion for days.

At first, I was quite anxious to open my door to total strangers. Soon I discovered that these nannies are scared of the city, which is so different from their rural homes. Before my baby grows up, I must learn to accept any nanny and try to find fun.

Thanks, my dear nannies.

(China Daily 03/04/2008 page20)