Family’s small gesture showed nanny they valued thought over money: 'All I could give...'

Wealth is a relative concept, defined differently by people from all walks of life. While some associate it with having top-notch financial stability and being able to afford luxuries in life, others link it with good health, strong companionship, and enriching social ties. Likewise, when Rita, a nanny who goes by @ritazhng on TikTok, witnessed an overtly sweet gesture by a wealthy family she worked for, it, perhaps, shifted her perspective about true wealth.

Since the family Rita worked for was already wealthy and had almost everything one needed, she never really knew what could be an ideal gift for them. However, finally, she decided to create hand-painted animated family portraits and gave them as a present. Interestingly, Rita, the nanny, included not only the kids she was babysitting and their parents, but also their dogs, demonstrating her deep love and admiration for the entire family. What was meant to be a simple gift turned way more memorable when Rita saw how the family she was working for had replaced their old family picture with her paintings. This small yet thoughtful gesture reflects how much they loved and valued their nanny's present.

Notably, when the woman was sharing glimpses of her hand-made paintings, hung carefully on the walls, she was clearly overwhelmed by the family's heartfelt gesture. Revealing more about the precious moment, Rita wrote, "Worth a thousand words," in the caption. Needless to say, instances like this serve as a constant reminder that when it comes to caregivers, kindness and compassion matter more than compensation. While Rita was fortunate to work for a family who valued her for her impeccable contribution in raising their kids, not all nannies experience the same.

A shocking survey conducted in 2019 revealed that 75% of nannies, as claimed by the US Nanny Institute, feel that while their profession is generally respected, people, particularly in their work environments, don't practice it. "I think society views nannies as professionals, but the families who hire us don’t. They just don’t think what we do is an actual profession," the outlet quoted an anonymous individual.

The video quickly went viral on social media, with close to 2 million views online. Many people appreciated the rich family for their small yet meaningful gesture. Echoing the sentiments, a user who goes by @sisiii717 on TikTok revealed, "This is so sweet! As a nanny, I always do keepsake crafts with the kids or take cute group photos of the kids." Similarly, another person, (@emilias.adventures) shared, "Finding good, rich families to nanny for is such a blessing. I used to nanny many kids, and one kind among them, whose parents had a music studio, let me play their instruments! It’s truly the small things!"

@stylesbyyuli commented, "This is so cute! I was going to be a nanny for a rich family when I was younger, and it was an amazing fit except for the fact that I am a DACA recipient & she wanted the nanny to also travel with them on their international trips & I can’t do that." On the other hand, @kaitlinkomalley said, "Ugh! This is so amazing; it's such a good feeling when you find a family that adores and appreciates you. Love my nanny family!" 

You can follow Rita (@ritazhng) on TikTok for more lifestyle content.