Both writers convey similar attitude to looking after other people children where it concerns the
parents, both writers find that the parents themselves have conflicting views which makes it harder
to look after their children. In source A the writer presents a conflict between the nanny and the
children, and the parents and the nanny. The writer describes how commonly “parents come with
problems, opinions and expectations” the use of listing here suggests she is much less comfortable
with the parents than the kids. It shows that she views what the parents want as a long and
laborious list of demands that often aren’t that helpful to her or how she does her job. The use of
the noun “problems” has negative connotations suggesting she believes that her own methods and
opinions work best and that parents who are “often in conflict between themselves” aren’t that
helpful when it comes to children. The writer presents the parents as the biggest problem when it
comes looking after other people’s children. Similarly, in Source B the writer presents one of the
parents as an obstacle while she presents the other as completely different and amiable. The writer
describes how Mr. Sedgwick “never asks me to wipe the children’s smutty noses or tie their shoes or
fetch their pinafores or set them a chair.” The repetition of or here has a similar effect to the listing
in Source A: suggesting that these requests are a bother and ridiculous to ask so often. The writer
also wants to demonstrate the contrast in parenting styles again similar to source A however the
writer in Source B is more subtly and simply gets the reader to infer that they are very different than
out right tell us.
Furthermore, the writers show different attitudes towards the communication with the children and
the parents. In Source A the parents are very open with what they want and use the nanny as a
confidant. The writer describes how Lesley “once confessed” ““I’m not a good mum,”” The writers
use of dialogue is so the reader can understand the emotion of the situation and the honesty in this
conversation. The use of the verb “confessed” connotes intimacy and wrongdoing and invokes in the
readers mind the image of a secret being whispered. Even if the nanny doesn’t fell particularly
comfortable with them Lesley at least felt she could confide in her suggesting her trustworthy
nature. However, in Source B the writer is distant with Mrs. Sedgwick she writes that “she does not
intend to know me,” This suggests a distance between them that she is simply an employee not
someone who cares for her children but someone who doesn’t need to know. She goes further to
say “I do not think she likes me at all,” the conversation tone of this suggested by the “at all” implies
that is does not bother her, perhaps because her job is to care for the children however it does show
the difference between the two nannies as in source A she seems to be well liked and trusted while
in source B there is a clear distance and dislike.
The writers are most clearly different in their attitudes towards the children themselves; in source A
the nanny seems extremely attached to them while in source B she is also distant with them clearly
seeing them in a negative light. In source A the writer states “The kids and I had bonded,” the use of
a short sentence to get this point across implies that this is an entirely factual statement, its short
because there’s no questioning it. The use of the word bonded suggest something unbreakable and
strong that has formed between them. She then describes how the parents “felt threatened” by this
furthering the idea that her bond with the kids was very strong and that she in a way was replacing
them. She asks the rhetorical question “had we bonded too much?” repeating the word bond to
emphasise it but this time in a more negative light, this question shows her insecurity in her bond
and whether being that close to them was helpful. Whereas in source B the nanny seems distant
with the children to the point of disliking them. She discusses how “The children are constantly with
parents, both writers find that the parents themselves have conflicting views which makes it harder
to look after their children. In source A the writer presents a conflict between the nanny and the
children, and the parents and the nanny. The writer describes how commonly “parents come with
problems, opinions and expectations” the use of listing here suggests she is much less comfortable
with the parents than the kids. It shows that she views what the parents want as a long and
laborious list of demands that often aren’t that helpful to her or how she does her job. The use of
the noun “problems” has negative connotations suggesting she believes that her own methods and
opinions work best and that parents who are “often in conflict between themselves” aren’t that
helpful when it comes to children. The writer presents the parents as the biggest problem when it
comes looking after other people’s children. Similarly, in Source B the writer presents one of the
parents as an obstacle while she presents the other as completely different and amiable. The writer
describes how Mr. Sedgwick “never asks me to wipe the children’s smutty noses or tie their shoes or
fetch their pinafores or set them a chair.” The repetition of or here has a similar effect to the listing
in Source A: suggesting that these requests are a bother and ridiculous to ask so often. The writer
also wants to demonstrate the contrast in parenting styles again similar to source A however the
writer in Source B is more subtly and simply gets the reader to infer that they are very different than
out right tell us.
Furthermore, the writers show different attitudes towards the communication with the children and
the parents. In Source A the parents are very open with what they want and use the nanny as a
confidant. The writer describes how Lesley “once confessed” ““I’m not a good mum,”” The writers
use of dialogue is so the reader can understand the emotion of the situation and the honesty in this
conversation. The use of the verb “confessed” connotes intimacy and wrongdoing and invokes in the
readers mind the image of a secret being whispered. Even if the nanny doesn’t fell particularly
comfortable with them Lesley at least felt she could confide in her suggesting her trustworthy
nature. However, in Source B the writer is distant with Mrs. Sedgwick she writes that “she does not
intend to know me,” This suggests a distance between them that she is simply an employee not
someone who cares for her children but someone who doesn’t need to know. She goes further to
say “I do not think she likes me at all,” the conversation tone of this suggested by the “at all” implies
that is does not bother her, perhaps because her job is to care for the children however it does show
the difference between the two nannies as in source A she seems to be well liked and trusted while
in source B there is a clear distance and dislike.
The writers are most clearly different in their attitudes towards the children themselves; in source A
the nanny seems extremely attached to them while in source B she is also distant with them clearly
seeing them in a negative light. In source A the writer states “The kids and I had bonded,” the use of
a short sentence to get this point across implies that this is an entirely factual statement, its short
because there’s no questioning it. The use of the word bonded suggest something unbreakable and
strong that has formed between them. She then describes how the parents “felt threatened” by this
furthering the idea that her bond with the kids was very strong and that she in a way was replacing
them. She asks the rhetorical question “had we bonded too much?” repeating the word bond to
emphasise it but this time in a more negative light, this question shows her insecurity in her bond
and whether being that close to them was helpful. Whereas in source B the nanny seems distant
with the children to the point of disliking them. She discusses how “The children are constantly with
