I nanny for a family and look after a lovely little child in year 2 and have done for quite a while. They really are a pleasant child I enjoy being around and I really do care deeply about them however I’m noticing a lot of challenging behaviour.
I have a decade experience working with children and over time have worked out that the challenging behaviour is provoked by feelings of not having enough time with their parents.
Their parents work very hard, high responsibility jobs late into the evening and often work away. I have tried many things to address behaviour but it is mainly when parents are working from home and therefore around not able to pay the child attention or at school pick ups when they are disappointed to see me instead of mum or dad. I am confident this is the issue as they have cried everyone else’s mum and dad picks them up (of course this isn’t true as many parents work) and also behaviour is great over holidays when I just do small amounts of hours and they are with mum and dad a lot more.
I feel desperately sad that they are feeling like this but AIBU in thinking there’s really not much I can do in terms of behaviour? The parents can’t stop working nor is it my place to say to them that their child is feeling like this because they aren’t around enough in the child’s eyes. I’m starting to struggle with the behaviour as they’re starting to lash out more but I can’t see any other way to address it as the situation won’t change. I feel I just have to show this child as much love as I can while caring for them because mum and dad have to work.
any ideas would be greatly appreciated!