Nannies for the Young and Old

     Last week when I was riding the tram in the late afternoon I sat across from a schoolboy in his uniform--the white shirt, necktie, navy trousers and jacket with school badge.  Right next to him sat his bright-eyed amah, his nanny, who looked Filipino as so many amahs here are.  He was leaning his tired head against her shoulder and closing his eyes, quite the sweet picture.  On her lap she was holding the boy's great big backpack (no wonder he was worn out--I would be, too, if I was 8 or 9 years old like this boy and faced the prospect of doing all the homework inside that hefty thing).  There are lots of amahs--grandparents, too--out on the sidewalks at that time of day bringing home youngsters after school, usually carrying their backpacks and often stopping to buy them juice or a bakery treat.
     Elderly people who can't be independent anymore often have an amah, too.  Elizabeth from Calgary said that her brother who lives here in Kennedy Town has hired a "nanny" (her term) for their 92-year-old mother.  In the mornings I often see amahs out on the sidewalks or in the park taking older people out for their morning constitutional.  Getting out for a walk seems like it's important, even when walking looks like quite a challenge.  There are usually several amahs who bring elderly women to the exercise class in the park.  Some of the amahs are very good about helping their charge to move arms or legs in at least some semblance of the exercise, if the person can't follow the directions on her own.