While getting dressed this morning, I heard the news of the Upper Westside nanny, here in Manhattan, who stabbed to death two of the children in her charge with a kitchen knife and then unsuccessfully tried to kill herself yesterday evening. The children were two and six years old!!! Now I don’t know these people but this is just horrific. The mother came home with the third middle child to discover this scene. How could this possibly happen? If the nanny was obviously distraught and wanted to take her own life, why in the world would she have to take the children with her, and do it in her employer’s home?

I had nannies for my kids for twenty some years. Most were great; one was terrific and stayed with us for 10 or 11 years. One, early on, had an alcohol problem re-occur, and upon discovery, by marking the liquor bottles, we promptly fired her and gave her a position cleaning our office so she wasn’t completely down and out. But this, this is unspeakable and heinous. I don’t know how this family will continue. We must send them lots of strength and courage to carry on – for the remaining three year-old middle child in particular. Please, send your prayers and loving thoughts to this family.