Where I live, Germany, it is very common to spend weeks, sometimes even months, trying to slowly get a child used to going to day care. In my home country, the Netherlands, this wasn’t really a thing when I was younger and, from what I’ve learned from people with young children there, isn’t common even today. That got me thinking.
Are there many differences between countries when it comes to day care and specifically getting your children to go to day care in the first place?
We’re currently getting our second child used to day care. For our first child the entire process took six weeks and represented the Idea trajectory - nobody was ill, she liked going there, she liked eating there and she didn’t make a fuss when it was time to sleep there. Still, this represents a significant investment of time (and therefore money) for any working parent. Sometimes it seems really absurd and impractical. I get the impression that the entire day care system in Germany revolves around the idea that mothers don’t work or, if they do, it’s only ever part time.
How does this look like in other countries? I’ve linked an article (in German, but translation services are available) about the system we’re stuck with here, if anyone wants to dive deeper.
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I’m sorry that happened to your child and to you by proxy. Sounds like a really bad time. Hopefully it wasn’t all bad.
Take care.
Thanks. It’s been ten years, I’ve learned to advocate for my son and myself over this time, and found a support system.
I felt trapped then. Thanks for understanding.
Love to hear that you came out stronger. I have two kids about to “graduate” preschool, I can definitely relate to the stress.
It’s really some of the hardest years I think.
They say parenting doesn’t get easier, the challenges just change, which is true to an extent. The first 5 years or so, I’d say, the challenges can push you pretty hard.
It becomes much easier once a kid understands reason and can fully communicate. Before that, aye. I certainly sympathize.
Yeah, later year problems are more complicated, like convincing the child that what it wants is not possible, or that it has to learn to take responsibility, like getting dressed and going to school, being on time, wiping their own ass, stuff like that. There’s gonna be power struggles…
I want to know when they start to brush their teeth unprompted lmao. My 12 year old still has to be propted, fuck if I forget to remind him
The best thing, because lord I know about power stuggles, is that my kid genuinely trusts me. And that matters the most.
😆❤️ I feel all that.