FINALLY.
This week Autumn finally began going to "school". Remember, "Kindergarten" here is not at all what we think of as Kindergarten in the States. It's really not school. It's really not even school prep (like we think of "preschool" as being). Kindergarten is a German word already, right? Meaning? A garden of kinder (children). So, what is a garden of children over here? Daycare.
Yep. This stay-at-home-mom now sends her child to daycare. And it's largely paid for by the government. That was part of the big ol' delay in why she's been home with me since May: we needed a "voucher" from the government to give to a Kindergarten.
First I wanted the boys to get a school, of course. Then they did. I also used this time to apply for this voucher. It takes at least 2 months to get the voucher, according to their website. Parents apply when they are still pregnant, actually. Then we had to move. And then I began the search for a Kita ("KiTa" a combination of Kinder and tagestate and is what people usually seem to say here). I needed a place to be either close to home, Jason's work, or the boys' school.
And one day, playing at the park right next to the boys' school, there was a sign about a "free place" for a "2009 girl". Yes, they get this specific. This is not America, folks. So yes, they totally discriminate based on age and gender when trying to find the right balance for their garden. Anyway, I have a 2009 girl! So I had Jason call them. They sent us an application (in German) to fill out and they said they could probably get back to us right away. They never did. Hmmmmpf.
Time went on. Still nothing.
Then a dad from the boys' school said, "Hey, I happen to know of a Kita that is in _____ that is looking for a 5 year old girl, should I pass along your info?" And I was all, "Yes! Definitely! Please!" and then he came back with, "One thing though . . . it's a Waldorf school, would you still like to proceed?" and I was all, "Oh, the Waldorf in ____? Yeah, we already applied there. They must not want us." But he had a contact who was sure Autumn would be a good fit and he'd pass us along.
Again. We never heard anything for awhile. And eventually I got an email saying that "No, there was no place for Autumn."
And then suddenly the next day they asked if we could come for an interview. I guess we passed because a couple of days later Autumn was offered a spot only, first we had to get through Autumn break, and then another boy had to start, and then Autumn could start. November 18th. (Happy birthday, G-ma!)
She woke up super excited that morning after having slept in foam rollers. She put on her new dress and sat down to breakfast.
I had a Schultüte for her, just like the boys' got on their first day of school. In fact, I had bought all the stuff for it back when I was buying the stuff to fill the boys. I had it waiting near her breakfast spot.
She was excited to dig in.
We posed for her quick picture...I often do her hair on the train so we can save time at home.
And then we were off:
The boys start school at 8:00 and Autumn is supposed to start between 8:15 and "half past". So, the plan is to walk to the boys school, then walk through the park and down the road to get to Autumn's Kita. It takes about 10 minutes.
We got there and no one was in the first room and we didn't know what to do. But we noticed this welcoming sign:
Then a mom and her two kids walked in. She was so friendly. Like, super friendly, excellent English. Offered me her email address right away and told me she was off all that day if I needed anything and she ran me through what Autumn should do: change into her house shoes, go to the bathroom and wash her hands. At that point one of her teachers came out and Autumn rushed right in. They all seemed surprised she wasn't sad at all. I wasn't. Duh, she's 5. She's done two years of school and she was desperate to start going back already. Heck, she was all registered for full day kindergarten back in Colorado.
Anyway, Autumn went off right away and she and the other 5 year old were allowed to go in a special "big kid" loft area and they played. I had to stay there in the room, but not really interact with Autumn. I folded some napkins/towels and cut some slices of birthday cake. Another new child was also starting that day and his mom was there cutting slices of fruit.
They played, they cleaned, they had snack which Autumn did not have any of. Then they had a special birthday celebration for a couple of the kids. Autumn did eat the cake. ;) Then we went to get ready for the park. They go to the park every day, no matter the weather. So, Autumn borrowed some rain pants and got herself all ready:
The other 5 year old in the group actually helped one of the one year olds get into her outside clothes and all the while I was thinking how much Autumn will also love that gig. Maybe soon.
Because Autumn was doing so well, they sent me away for the park time. I snapped this as I left:
I had one hour and fifteen minutes and then I'd come back. They sort of wanted us to leave after I came back but Autumn was desperate to stay. So they let us. We had a fabulous lunch of autumn vegetable ratatouille over cous cous and a red beet and pear salad. Seriously delish. Autumn ate a tiny bite of cous cous and spit it right out. But she tried.
Then it was time for the little ones to have their naps so they did send us away for the day. They're afraid of too much too soon. I appreciate that.
The next day they wanted me to drop her right off with a quick goodbye and then come back for the park time. So that's what we did. Of course she did just fine other than being hungry because she didn't want any of their snack. At the park I noticed she was being a little excluded by the other 5 year old. You see, obviously this other girl has major seniority. She's been there since she was 2. Her two year old brother is in the group. Technically Autumn is older--by 3 days. And I'm thinking this girl feels threatened or annoyed by Autumn's constant English speaking. That day, after the park, they had us leave. Again, too much too soon and she was hungry.
On Thursday I woke up not feeling well. At all. Jason took over and took the boys to school but Autumn and I decided to stay home. I wasn't sure I'd be able to go get her in 2 hours time.
But Friday we were good to go again. Jason came along with us this time so that he would know where the school is and the morning procedures and all that too. We take turns taking the kids to school. It's nice. After we did Autumn's "quick drop off", Jason and I went out for coffee before he had to head to work. Lovely. I ran by a new-to-me grocery store and then headed to meet my little miss for park time.
She was being majorly excluded by the other 5 year old. She was even asking one girl to play, that girl agreed, but then was stopped by the other 5 year old. :/ Autumn began pouting about it and the teacher saw, asked me what was going on, and then went to talk to the other girls. They said they were going to finish their quick game and then play with Autumn. Yeah right. That time never came. And when we left the park Autumn cried that she never got her "surprise". I guess each time she came near the one yelled at her. I'm not sure what they yelled but Autumn seemed to think they were working on a surprise for her. :(
She's got to pick up the language soon.
But she's excited to go each day and never wants to leave when they want us to. On Monday she gets to stay through lunch but they're worried that she's going to think Kindergarten is a place where she has to feel hungry all the time and they don't want that for her. Hopefully she'll learn to eat their stuff, learn their language and find her spot in this already formed group.
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