(Temporary authority, permanent impact) A babysitter occupies a uniquely vulnerable role in disappearance. They are entrusted with care but do not own the role of protector in the way parents do—yet the burden lands heavily, often without social recognition or long-term support. Core Mindset “I was responsible—but not entitled.” Babysitters often internalize responsibility for the outcome while being excluded from: Decision-making afterward Ongoing information Grief rituals N

(Shared attachment, unequal power) Siblings experience disappearance through a profoundly unjust frame: they are emotionally invested but structurally powerless. Core Mindset “I was there—but I couldn’t stop it.” Especially when the sibling was older, or “in charge” informally, disappearance creates a lifelong sense of failure: I was supposed to protect them. I was the last one who saw them. I should have fought harder. For younger siblings, the mindset may be: “If they can d

Below is a clinical–narrative exploration of the burden carried by caregivers when a child disappears, with particular attention to mindset and emotional responses. This is written to be usable both as reflective material and as a foundation for therapeutic or psycho-educational work. When a child disappears, the caregiver does not simply lose a child—they lose orientation, authority, and certainty all at once. Caregiving is an identity structured around protection, predictio