It was never in the plan to end up in childcare. But living in a foreign country it was my opportunity to get a behind the scenes glimpse of what forms the natives. Extremely independent with loose knit ties to family but lifelong friendships(if you could be counted among the lucky few) and fierce loyalty to mommy and daddy government(a good description of a social system)
I remember how surprised I was that first day seeing a baby not old enough to walk or talk, pulled screaming from the mother's arms to spend the next 7-9 hours being raised by perfect strangers. Not allowed to have any personal belongings from home(other then a pacifier and blanket or teddy bear for nap times) it reminded me more of a detention center then a place for nurturing children. The clump I felt when those little faces were pressed against the chain link fence just hoping they would see mommy or daddy arriving.
I do have to brag on my colleagues. Despite a demanding and somewhat manipulative boss, they are some of the most giving, caring people I have met in this country. It is because of people like them that the system of state raised children has any success at all. They go the extra mile every day to try and make each child feel seen and appreciated. They are unsung heros for sure. Doing the tight rope act between child and parent(I will explain more later about this).
I think my biggest bone to pick in this whole daycare thing is with the parents. The absolute selfishness I have seen from so many of them is truly sickening. It's like having a child was just an item to check off on their self-realization list. The kid is born and nine to ten months later the parent(s) drop them off for their 5 year internment. Leaving my colleagues scrambling to take pictures of babies first steps for these absentee parents, or worse, pretending it didn't happen at all so they can repeat this once in a lifetime milestone in the few precious hours these kids spend at home everyday.



© Tripleja