Tag Archives: daycare

baby diaries: the first time you shared your broken heart

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No, this isn’t about your first crush. And I know as well that this isn’t the first time that you got broken hearted with a friend. I still remember that morning during your second year in daycare (1 yr old class Futaba gumi) when you reached out to embrace your girl best friend when you saw her arrive, only to be pushed away roughly, just because she was still not in the mood. How you cried then. My heart cried with you too. 

Your broken heart today was also with a friend. For the first time, you shared with me your feelings about something that happened to you at daycare. That how one of your girl friends laughed at your right big toe that still has the flaking blue nail polish. You said you were both embarrassed and angry. I hugged you then and asked you again how you felt. Was happy when you said you feel better with the hug. 

Saw it as a chance too to teach you the lesson that we should not laugh at other people. That it’s not funny. That you should make a stand and tell the other person how it isn’t funny. 

And I warmed as I see you getting passionate and saying that in daycare, Japanese is spoken so you should speak in the language. Asked you how to say in Japanese. And then you translated what you ought to say, perfectly (笑った、だめ!!); complete with the right expression on your face and your hands in your hips. 

We did still remove your nail polish but I hope that you learned and will stand up for yourself against bullies. 

Be brave my lovely little one. 

Oh, the Places You’ll Go! Daycare Year 4

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My secret wish has been granted. We have our favourite sensei as your head teacher for this year (さくら組)! Happy! She was one of your head teachers too during Year 2, and you bloomed then.

I pray you’ll have a great year of fun in learning about life and love with young Sakura gumi classmates under the tutelage of your redoubtable head teacher. 

We are excited for you! We love you. 

life with a kindergartener: moving up day

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You’ll be moving to your new, upper grade classroom tomorrow so I’ve been looking for your “Oh, the Places You’ll Go” book for an hour but to no avail. Looked for it on your bookshelf, on my bookshelf, in daddy’s library, in our bedroom’s book nook. It’s nowhere to be found. 

Thankfully we technically still have a week for our yearly tradition since your class will still be with your previous head teacher for this week and your moving up ceremony is still this Thursday. But I still couldn’t be at peace knowing that I couldn’t find your book. Told you about it and you tried to ask (and understand) why I was looking for it. 

Then you sang “Remembering, remembering” from the series “Land Before Time”, in which save for those two words, you altered the lyrics to suit how I am trying to remember where we put your book so we can have our little tradition in your moving up to Sakura class. 

And you know what, you did comfort me. Your thoughtfulness and creativity and sweet voice soothed me. 

Thank you our dear little one. Indeed, you’re moving up in so many ways. Thankful. 

life with a kindergartener: when I grow up….

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On a visit to our daughter’s daycare, one of her girl classmates suddenly exclaimed  albeit with a serious expression while looking so self-assured at me: I’ll be a pianist when I grow up!

Boy classmate then piped in, “I’ll be a Godzilla or dinosaur when I grow up! Really, really big!!” (His voice then changed to emphasise how big he is gonna be)

Of course my daughter wouldn’t allow herself to loose ground. She also has to say her own piece. 

Yui: when I grow up, I will be a….FLAMINGO!!

There’s a golden rule: never, ever laugh at someone else’s dream. And so of course, I tried not to. 

A few weeks later…

Yui: I will be a prime minister. Flamingo prime minister! 

Well, at least she’s consistent. 

life with a toddler: lunch at daycare

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This week, parents for older classes (3,4,5 yr olds) were given the chance to stay at daycare around lunchtime to get to experience how your usual lunchtime is at daycare. I didn’t tell you I’m going today. I just told you since last night that I have a big surprise for you today. 

And surprised you were, indeed. The delight on your face at seeing me there (there were two other parents there, with max four per day) is priceless. You were beside yourself with happiness. Your eyes were twinkling, your smile from ear to ear and you couldn’t let go of my hand. We were seated for lunch with three of your other classmates and they too wanted to talk to me. But you always wanted to talk to me and would grab my face. It was a treasure to keep in the heart. 

By the way, you did this for the Setsubun. That handle is pretty! I’m might proud of you little big one!