18 September 2013

The Creche (day care) episode

When I came to Germany six months ago, I didn't have the slightest idea of what was in store for me with regards to the day care scenario for my boy.

The day care system here is very different than in Indian. I had the responsibility of taking my lil boy to the day care, sitting with him there for some time and bringing him back and it was a different experience all together.

My boy is a stranger friendly person, he doesn't get intimated with new faces. Initially he liked the new toys and new friends to play, but when he realized that he was going to be left alone there without me or his daddy, he started crying his heart out. It pained a lot to see him cry like this, but I thought, there is no way out. He will learn to be there. He will like it there. His care-taker took a lot of efforts on him. Language was the biggest barrier, which I thought was a hindrance in the feeling of being at home. I spoke to him some words in German, but basically, it was German the whole day through and that was the reason, perhaps, he took the longest time to get adjusted there.

When I look back now, I feel relieved that those days are over and my boy is back to his usual cheerful self even in the crèche. He is the most talkative and also the loudest kid there, he is very expressive, he picks up words spoken to him very fast, and he remembers the names of his friends and often mentions them at home too. There are many activities which are conducted for these kids besides the usual disciplinary and day care routine. One day he brought home his first ever drawing, lines drawn here and there with crayons. And the other day I was asked to decorate the photo frame for his photo, which would be kept in the crèche as his profile photo. I decorated it with whatever limited resources I had that time and returned it to his care-taker. She liked it very much. His care-taker plays guitar for all the kids sometimes and all the kids sit quietly listening to it. That is very heartening to watch! Like good, disciplined kids, everybody sits around her and hum with her too. They all look very cute and adorable! They are taken out to the Wald (forest, jungle, rather a place where there is a lot of greenery along with place to sit and talk) to play areas when the weather permits. They are packed in the buggies, food is taken along, jackets, shoes and off they go! There are many play things in the crèche itself for them to play. E.g. there is a big see through, go-through tunnel or a small see-saw. There are regular activities with parents too. On the coming week end, there is an activity of kite making with daddies around. There was also a brunch organized in Summer, where the kids were showcased, with their photos and profiles.

Now, when I go to leave my boy in the day care, he no longer cries, he himself walks to the breakfast room and runs to his care-taker who offers him bread and butter, his favorite food! Also when I go to pick him up, he is not very willing to come home. He wants to spend time with his friends and the care-taker. He lovingly embraces his care-taker before signing off and tromps out smiling, saying Tschüß to his care taker.

After two and a half months, he has finally settled there and seeing him settled and happy there, has made my life easier and happier too!



The dilemma

My mother-in-law left for Pune today after spending two and a half months with us in Germany. And suddenly the house seems empty without her...