The Nanny's Son

May 07, 2014 | Pulitzer Center

Alice Proujansky, for the Pulitzer Center

Blanca Conde works as a nanny. The two-year-old boy she cares for in New York is same age her son was when she left him with her mother in Paraguay ten years ago. Image by Alice Proujansky. United States, 2014.

Blanca leaves her home. Image by Alice Proujansky. United States, 2014.

Blanca holds the two-year-old child she cares for. She loves him; he reminds her of her own son. Image by Alice Proujansky. United States, 2014.

The view from Blanca's hallway. Image by Alice Proujansky. United States, 2014.

Blanca worries about her son's impending arrival. They have lived apart for 10 years while she worked as a nanny in the U.S. and he lived with her mother in Paraguay. Image by Alice Proujansky. United States, 2014.

Blanca waits anxiously for her son to arrive at the airport. She couldn't afford to take time off from work so a friend of hers accompanied him from Paraguay. Image by Alice Proujansky. United States, 2014.

The doorway that Blanca's son Guido will come through after going through immigration. Image by Alice Proujansky. United States, 2014.

Blanca waits for her son to come through immigration. He was delayed and she began to worry about him. Image by Alice Proujansky. United States, 2014.

Blanca cares for a two-year-old boy. Image by Alice Proujansky. United States, 2014.

Blanca and her son Guido play in Corona, Queens. Image by Alice Proujansky. United States, 2014.

Guido comes home in Corona, Queens. He didn't want to move to the U.S. because he worried about leaving his elderly grandmother who raised him in Paraguay. Image by Alice Proujansky. United States, 2014.

Blanca and Guido shop for a soccer ball a week after he arrived from Paraguay. They're both nervous about his adjustment to life in the U.S. Image by Alice Proujansky. United States, 2014.

Blanca and Guido laugh with the two-year old boy she cares for as a nanny. Blanca's boss allowed her to bring Guido to work before he started school. Image by Alice Proujansky. United States, 2014.

Guido holds hand with the two-year old his mother cares for as a nanny. The two boys are affectionate with each other. Image by Alice Proujansky. United States, 2014.

Guido plays a game on the iPhone Blanca's friend gave him. He misses his friends at home. Image by Alice Proujansky. United States, 2014.

Blanca tries to convince Guido to go play outside. He made a few friends on his first day at school but doesn't yet have anyone to hang out with. Image by Alice Proujansky. United States, 2014.

Guido comes home. His mother has had the plant on the left since she came to the U.S., and jokes that it's her family. Image by Alice Proujansky. United States, 2014.

Blanca sits with her son Guido in the house where she works as a nanny. The two are glad to be reunited, but have been apart for so long that they have to create a new relationship. Image by Alice Proujansky. United States, 2014.

Blanca and Guido embrace. Image by Alice Proujansky. United States, 2014.

Guido plays with his new basketball outside of his home. He's learning how to speak English, navigate a 2,000 student school, make friends — and play American sports. Image by Alice Proujansky. United States, 2014.

Since leaving Paraguay for the U.S., Blanca has been caring for the children of others as a nanny. Her own mother raised Guido, her son. After ten years apart, Guido has now come to the United States to live with her. He's learning how to speak English, navigate a school of 2,000 students, make friends and play American sports.