According to a Nova Scotia government news release, 70-year-old Viola Cain of North Preston, Nova Scotia has learned a lot over the years, caring for so many children.
One of the things she has learned is how to cope with a multitude of nicknames. Some of those names include Nanny Viola, Auntie, the Big Vee and Auntie Blow How. She says the trick is simply to answer them all. Her home in the African Nova Scotian community of North Preston is even named Nanny’s House.
Many young people have crossed her threshold ranging from toddlers to teenagers and she is presently taking care of three school aged children plus her adopted 33 year old son who has an intellectual disability. Ms. Cain says, “As soon as they come to the door I tell them, it’s up to you what you call me. That’s so they don’t get mixed up with their own family.”
She says the children make her feel 10 years younger. It’s a good thing, since every Saturday her main activity is basketball. She laughs when she says, “They are all playing and all on different teams. It’s, c’mon nanny, everyone else has parents there. So out we go, all together. I tell everyone that on Saturday, I’m an unfit mother. On Saturdays, it’s eat what you can catch day.”
Ms. Cain draws happiness from doing what she loves. She says, “I can’t wait for each morning to come. I rise at 5 a.m. and do my devotions until 6 a.m. Then the next time is devoted to my son and getting him ready. Then, there are the other children to get ready for school.”
Viola has her house rules as well. “Sundays are a special day. We always have a big dinner after church. We sit down together as a family.” And she says to insure this goes as planned, “There’s a phone check here – no cellphones allowed up my stairs. They would even try to text and set the table at the same time. It’s not good for the kids to see that. So now we have our family chat time and that’s good.”
Ms. Cain is somewhat of an activist and would like to see more foster homes in African Nova Scotia communities.
She says, “That would be the best thing that could happen, having more foster families. We’ll be gone – we need new blood. So I’ve been recruiting others already.”
