Editor's view

Have you ever thought that the way mums are honoured on Mother's Day ought to be extended to honorary mothers too? Nannies, for instance, are expected to bring to their jobs many of the same personal skills that mothers are traditionally celebrated for - as in this month's issue, things like looking after everyone's health and hygiene, preparing good food, having a knack for keeping playful children entertained, being able to comfort and care for any child at a moment's notice, while gradually cutting the apron strings and urging them on to independence. Add to that the business nous and enterprise of modern women, like nanny Liz Jones, featured on p14, and you've got someone who far exceeds the cosy domestic role Mother's Day idealises. Of course, mothers would point out that nannies get paid for it, and can walk out of the job at the end of the day; while nannies would say that mothers don't know the pain of parting each time they change jobs from young children they've been a great influence on but who may never remember them. Nannies are not surrogate parents, after all. So how about a Carers' Day?