Happy National Child Care Provider Appreciation Day!
If you weren't already aware, the friday before Mother's day has been named "National Child Care Provider Appreciation Day". Bobbin and I brought muffins and a thank you card in for the staff at her daycare, and an orchid for her regular teacher.
I don't know what we'd do without the teachers and staff at her daycare. They're an absolutely amazing bunch of people, and Bobbin' is thriving in their care. I know first hand from spending a lot of time there in the mornings the quality of care and attention she receives, and the learning that she is exposed to. But I also see it more and more in Bobbin's pretend play. To be sure I see a lot of Tim and I in Bobbin's pretend play too, but there are some subtle things that I know come from school and it's both joyous and reassuring to watch her reinact them. It is like a little window into what happens in her world when I'm away from it. And it's all been goodness, kindness and gentleness, and safety.
Like how she cups my face in her hands and stares into my eyes and says softly, with a genuinely concerned look on her face, "Mommy, ah you ok?" when I've stubbed my toe on one of her toys or stepped on one of her crayons or legos. It makes me melt.
And how when she's pretending to put Millie Moo down for her nap, she lays her gently on her "bed" face down, covers her with a blanket, and then sits down next to her, pats her on the back in a soothing rhythm, and whispers "Ssss ssss... moo... ssss... nite-nite moo.... ssss sss..."
And how she admonishes her dolls and Tommy (and Tim and I) firmly but gently with "No. Not nice" and "Not ok" which are two phrases I hear pretty regularly in the morning when I'm dropping Bobbin off; invariably someone has just hit or pushed or taken something away and these two phrases are Bobbin's teacher's trademark admonishments.
And how she tells me with great enthusiasm and pride about how she "go Sudi's cass" when she spends most of the day in Miss Sudi's Toddler2 class, and how "Christopher go potty at school! Good boy Christopher! Hooray!", and how so-and-so hit, "not nice" and other-so-and-so pushed, "not ok", and how "stand on chair not ok".
And how she'll reach up to wipe my forehead with a tissue, while peering into my eyes and gently holding my chin up with her little hands and say "Bump head? Let me see".
We're very fortunate, and I remember that daily, whenever I'm dropping Bobbin off or picking her up.
Comments