Finding a nanny is a lot like online dating.

You put up a picture, enter a bio or a description about your family, and describe what you’re looking for.

And then, you scroll and scroll and scroll ’til your fingers are tired, you get super high hopes about someone only for them to let you down in real life, or you straight up get ghosted.

(Online dating isn’t always a bust. I’ve got a 5-year marriage and a baby as proof that it works!)

But there are a lot of annoying things about it.

Similarly, finding someone to be with Ishu for parts of the day hasn’t been the most enjoyable.

People saw the job description and sent in applications on care.com. I would respond and these same exact people that messaged only hours before stopped responding.

Okay…

And then we actually connected with someone through Facebook and she seemed like a pretty cool, recent college graduate that was looking for some part-time work.

We met up at a coffee shop and then walked to the park. She commented on how it seemed like we were going to be a great fit for her schedule. We live two blocks away from each other. She seemed to like Ishu and loved how independent he was at the park. I thought we got along great and we made plans for her to come over a few days later to meet Ankur.

She woke up that morning with a cough and asked if we could postpone the meeting.

In these crazy times, I’m going to go ahead and give her the benefit of the doubt that she truly was trying to make sure we weren’t exposed.

But then what?

Radio silence.

SO, we continued the search. (Meanwhile, work has already started and, fortunately, there aren’t a ton of meetings on the calendar. But it’s picking up quick!).

Well, last week, we connected with Bella on Care.com.

We met her at the park and chatted for a few minutes and then she wanted to walk over with us to the apartment to see how long her walk would be, what the situation at the apartment would look/feel like if I was working from home.

This initiative on her part – to already move things along quickly – may seem scary, but similar to dating, “when you know, you know!”

It didn’t take long for me to fall in love with Ankur. And, similarly, it took me seconds to love “Auntie Bella!”

Yesterday was her first official day with Ishu.

When she left, I texted my family that she was all sorts of things. A wizard, a child whisperer, a fairy godmother.

She’s wonderful. In so many ways. She’s soft spoken and kind and connects with Ishu in a calm, sweet way. But also, she PUT HIM DOWN FOR A NAP.

Which is something that’s really hard to do for anyone that’s not me.

She’s magical. And I hope she wants to be a part of our family as much as I want to adopt her into mine.

Sissy jokingly texted me, “Happy Bella Day!” yesterday.

And, well, I’m pretty sure that’s accurate.