How to tell a parent

[Anonymous]

[quote=
I also think hearing parents with normally developing children tossing off labels like PDD-NOS, Aspergers, and autistic, based on a nanny's one paragraph description, is really, frankly, quite disturbing. And yeah, I find it disturbing that a nanny comes on here and says she spends more quality time with a child than his parents do...based on the simple fact that, apparently, they work full time.




OP, I think you are right on track. This child, and his parents, are lucky to have you.

PP, Yes, I am a parent with "normally developing children." I am also a mental health professional and have been working with children and adolescents for 15 years. The OP needs to talk (delicately) to these parents, for the sake of this child.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here: to those who are being so supportive I want to say thank you. I do understand that this is a very delicate topic and that it can trigger different responses in different people. I think that I could both be nominated the nanny of the year or be fired for saying the same thing to different people.
I have been doing my research and planning on making a list of all the symptoms that I see that can be aa red flag so I can describe them carefully and tactfully with the parents. The mom, by the way, is very aware of the behavior and we have discussed it over time, I just don't think that it ever crossed her mind that something could be developmentally "off", but rather that those were little peculiar traits in her child. I also think that part of the behaviors go by unnoticed if you don't add them together.
Anyway, I am going to talk to her/them. I just need to prepare myself both for being in a rough spot, for causing the parents to be in a rough spot and even to lose my job.

OP again: Just wanted to add that I think the mom actually may have a gut feeling (like the PP before me said) that she is not sure how to handle, which actually makes it even more important to me to be delicate about the whole approach.

[Anonymous]

Let us know how it goes, OP. I'm wishing you all the best and no matter what happens, you're doing the right thing. Good luck!