The daycare’s small program for the September birthday celebrants fell right smack in the middle of our P&ID review period. And luck of lucks, my unit got scheduled on the very morning that the daycare program was gonna be held. When one of the Leads saw my pained look though, he asked if I wasn’t available. And so, right in front of the whole team, I said the reason. Before I realised what was happening (I was still debating in my head whether my conscience will forgive me in case Yui ends up the only celebrant without a parent), the unit leads of the team started to volunteer shifting the schedule of the units. Now who wouldn’t love a team like that?! Of course I told them so too; of how I love the team. In my almost 17 years at work, I have never heard of big review meetings schedules being shifted because of a parent needing to attend his/her child’s event at school (see, these meetings involve many other people from different companies hence most teams are less compromising)
life with a kindergartener: Yui got the gold medal
When I arrived at the daycare and was putting on my owabaki, as I glanced inside the Teachers’ room, I saw another class’ head teacher signal to your head teacher that I have arrived. Your head teacher then got out and approached me with a serious face.
Her first line was that she has a good news for me. But I was very confused because her face was very serious and hence I could not expect there really is a good news coming. And as she went on, I understood why her face was serious.
It was because you got the Gold medal in a drawing contest among almost 300 four- and five-year olds.
Your daycare have 13 branches and on September, there will be a festival gathering all daycares. As part of the program, there is a drawing contest. Sometime in this August, all four-year-olds and five-year-olds were asked to draw something. I understood that the theme was to draw what each of you would like to become. You drew an ostrich. And your drawing won, not only because of the quality of drawing but also because of the composition.
Your head teacher asked if I’d like to see a photo of your work on their camera or whether I can wait during the awarding ceremony during the festival. EQ test!! I chose the latter and goodness, how difficult it is now. Awarding is still a month away!!!!
But, oh baby, I am soooo proud of you. And to think I never did anything at help you in this contest endeavour. You did a great job. Your head teacher, Sugawara, doesn’t even think it’s due to her teaching.
It’s all because of your own effort and imagination.
I’m proud of you. And thank you for working hard.
life with a kindergartener: slightly not fun
As we walked toward the bus stop, I asked you how was your day. With twinkling eyes and a beautiful smile, you said it was such a fun day today at daycare.
And I smiled back, thankful that you enjoyed your day with friends.
But you suddenly said, that somehow, it was slightly less fun.
Concerned, I asked you why.
Hugging my arm tightly, and looking up at me with those round, expressive eyes, you said, “it would have been more fun if I were with you”.
You melt my heart baby.
Life with a Kindergartener: Hello Work
For an hour my 5-year-long wish came true – to be a teacher at your daycare.
Your daycare has this program on introducing parents’ work to senior class. I inquired about it and so principal took the chance to ask if I could present something about my mother country. Told her I agree with her idea but that aside from that, I will also teach them some songs and introduce them to STEM.
IT-WAS-DIFFICULT to simplify engineering to kindergarten level. But at least your class was squealing and giggling during our experiment when we mixed the vinegar and baking soda and CO2 bubbles formed. The food colouring we added made it more fun.
You were also beside yourself with giddiness by the mere fact that I am your class’ teacher for the afternoon. You wanted to hug and cuddle me. I am touched to see how proud you are of me. Thank you.
But I am so much more proud of you because you confidently got in front and taught your friends the song “Under the spreading chestnut tree”.
Keep it up, baby. 🙂
PS
Our effort bore fruit. The principal, teachers, my beloved mentor at office, parents all said we did a great job/ we were “subarishii”. That we took the challenge of being the first ever to do this Hello Work activity in the entire daycare history; despite me being a none-Japanese speaker. Thank you Lord, for the inspiration.
our first Hanabi-by-the-park
”Twas full moon.
You insisted on being traditional and wanted to wear your yukata. And because I was worried your sleeves would pose a hazard, I decided not to hold a sparkler but hold the igniter instead, to light up your sparklers and then keep watch. It was good to see you ecstatic about our hanabi.
baby diaries: you really are my daughter
Apart from our shared dislike with peach, I learned recently that you have some traits that seemed to be a mirror of mine.
I bought you some new leggings and you pointed out that somebody-chan at daycare have a blouse with the same print as your leggings. I used to remember what somebody (at the office) wore at which day.
Then today, when you were playing with a branch and you called it えだ, I asked you what is it in English. You tilted your head sideways and said, “it starts with a “b””. This had me laughing right out loud because that’s what I do when I forget words. I often remember what letter it starts with, what letter it ends with, and how many letters are there on that word but I-could-not-remember the actual word. How weird is that?!?
You are my daughter alright.