At a loss

There will always be some sources of distress or loss within family life.

Even those who experience a happy and secure childhood will still have some troubles. As a nanny, you are part of family life in a more intimate way than even the closest day nursery practitioner. Nannies are one of the household, so dealing with any feelings of loss for children will be part of your role. Of course, nannies need to reflect on the boundaries to that role and what is not your direct responsibility.

So, what kind of loss might children experience?

D Four-year-old Liam says to Mark, his nanny, 'Every time I have a friend in my nursery, they go away.' Marcus responds to Liam's words and his sad expression and asks, 'How do you mean, Liam, your friends go away?' Mark then hears how Liam has made three close friends since starting nursery and the family of each of these children has moved out of the area. Liam is upset at losing his friends, in the most recent case with no warning at all. He now fears that this pattern is normal life.