Abstract
This study investigated the influence of mid-year staffing changes on the process of building a relationship between an ECEC teacher and a young child. I interviewed a female teacher with 7 years of ECEC experience regarding her relationship with a 2-year-old girl, and analyzed the data using the Trajectory Equifinality Model. It became clear that the teacher was struggling with feelings of guilt for being unable to continue teaching the child due to staffing changes. Additionally, even if the teacher sought to maintain the relationship with the girl, conflicts were likely to be caused and perpetuated by the teacher’s past failures and her hesitation to the new teacher.
