Page 26 of Second Chance with the Single Dad Goalie
“Okay,” I exhale. “What would you do if one of the kids throws a tantrum?”
She pops her gum. Loudly. “Ignore it.”
I blink. “Ignore it?”
“Yup.” She grins. “They’ll tire themselves out eventually.”
I glance at Mom. She’s staring at the woman like she just insulted her entire bloodline.
“And if ignoring doesn’t work?” I ask.
She shrugs. “Give ‘em candy.”
Mom’s hand twitches on the table. "Tell me, because I’m really interested, how many places have you worked?"
Miss Martins tilts her head, thinking. “Like…, three? Oh, and I babysit my cousins sometimes.”
“And those places you worked,” Mom continues smoothly, “how long did you last at each?”
Miss Martins shifts in her seat. “Uh…, two of them? A month. The last one…, maybe close to two?”
Mom hums, nodding like she just got confirmation that the earth is, in fact, round. Then she leans forward with a small, polite smile.
“Well, Miss Martins, I sincerely hope your next job lasts longer than your last three, but itdefinitelywon’t be here.”
Miss Martins blinks. “Wait…”
Mom stands. “We won’t be needing you. Thank you for your time.”
I fight the urge to laugh as Miss Martins huffs, snatches up her purse, and storms out. The door swings shut behind her, leaving a blessed silence in the room.
Mom sighs. “I need tea.”
I rub my temples. “I need a miracle.”
I sigh. “Next.”
The next applicant enters - a woman in her mid-thirties, dressed neatly, her résumé typed and professional. Already an improvement.
I sit up slightly. “Miss Carter, tell me about your experience.”
“I’ve worked as a professional nanny for six years,” she says. “Before that, I was a preschool teacher.”
I nod, interested. “And how would you handle a child having a meltdown?”
“Depends on the reason. If they’re overwhelmed, I’d remove them from the situation and help them calm down. If it’s attention-seeking behavior, I’d redirect. Tantrums usually have an underlying cause.”
Mom and I exchange glances.
“Interesting,” I say. “And discipline?”
She folds her hands. “Children need consistency, not punishment. Discipline should be about teaching, not control.”
Mom beams. “That’s a lovely philosophy.”
I glance at the résumé again, suppressing my first hopeful feeling in days.
“We’ll be in touch,” I say.
