Summary:
The paper investigates the issue of providing "day care" to children, by a non-family member, emphasizing on the mother - nanny relationship, by exploring mother's experiences and the way she relates. The research aims to: a) shed light on the aspects of the mother-nanny relationship, b) understand the feelings and thoughts prevailing in the narratives of the mothers,c) distinguish important issues concerning this relationship that may interest counseling (e.g. empowerment of mother's mental health, counseling for couples or family therapy, homeworker support, understanding of children difficulties). The participants in the survey are 9 women, aged between 35 and 45 who work full-time and have at least one child of primary or secondary school age and employ a woman to care for their children. The data were collected through semi-structured interviews, averaging 50 minutes. In the work, special emphasis is placed on selected research methodology (qualitative), thematic analysis in interviews is carried out in order to transfer and analyze what mothers have to narrate, perceive, understand, imply from their experience. The research refers to the needs of the modern Greek family, the transformations it experiences in recent years and the difficulties associated with maternity expectations. It illuminates in a different way the surveys on the dynamics of homework, with an emphasis on the system of interaction of members and their mental state. The emphasis on the mother, demonstrates conflicting feelings, anxiety and dependence, gratitude and strong bond with the child carer, a relationship that has not been "spoken", has not been "analyzed", has not been "illuminated".
Keywords:
Maternity, parental anxiety, domestic work, childbirth development, counselling, thematic analysis.
