The Third Week In the Krippe

Yes, the acclimatization to the kindergarten is slow... It is Fräulein's fourth week in the Krippe and we are still not done. But there has been some real progress!
(You can find my previous posts about this subject under the tag 'Krippe').

Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday
After the long weekend, Fräulein was happy to go back to the Krippe. Almost no whining at all, when I left her there and she had been on a good mood and played happily with the other kids. Yay!

Thursday
It was finally the time for Fräulein to eat her lunch at the Krippe. She didn't actually eat anything, but she sat nicely in her own little chair while the others were eating. When I went to pick her up about an hour later than on previous days, she was crying a bit. When we got home she was very hungry and tired.

Friday
The first day when Fräulein did not whine AT ALL when I left her to the Krippe! She just waved and walked to her favorite teacher. Unfortunately, she had not eaten or drunk anything all morning.

Fräulein in her new favorite hobby: running around something

A peek into the fourth week
On Monday, Fräulein had eaten both breakfast and lunch in the Krippe! When I went to pick her up, she was spooning up her soup like all the other kids. Slowly she seems to learn how things are done there.

It was first planned, that Fräulein would take her first Krippe nap on Thursday this week, but as my mother is coming to visit us, it might be best to leave this experiment to next week.

*****
Hiljaa hyvää tulee... Fräuleinin päiväkotipäivät ovat jo pidentyneet tunnilla ja hän syö lounasta hoidossa. Tällä viikolla oli tarkoitus aloittaa myös päikkäreiden nukkuminen päiväkodissa, mutta koska äitini on tulossa loppuviikoksi meille kyläilemään, jätetään tämä uudistus suosiolla ensi viikkoon.

The Second Week In the Krippe

Fräulein's 'acclimatization' in the kindergarten continues...

Monday

After the weekend, Fräulein seemed to be more happy to go to the Krippe. She walked in to the small children's room and was already starting to take part of the playing, when she remembered that mother was leaving and this was the time to cry. The day (or the two hours) had been even better than the previous Friday and she had eaten her breakfast.

Tuesday

Again 15 minutes longer day than yesterday. It there had been some good and some not so good moments.

After starting in the Krippe,
Fräulein's nap time has prolonged from one hour to two and a half...

Wednesday

Wednesday was a very rainy day (and the temperature had suddenly dropped from from Sunday's 30C to 18C). The group spend the morning in the play room, where there are balls, mattresses and cushions, and the children are allowed to run and jump around freely. The favorite activities for Fräulein! As a result, it was really difficult to have her leave the Krippe... 

Thursday

On Wednesday evening, we got a great guest: my grandmother! But the downside was that Fräulein didn't really like to go to the Krippe. She had also been more whining than usually during the morning. It was agreed with the teachers that Fräulein would spend Friday morning home enjoying the visit of her great-grandmother.

*****

Fräuleinin toinen viikko Krippessä alkoi jo paremmissa merkeissä. Keskiviikkoiltana saimme minun mummoni meille kylään. Ymmärrettävästi Fräulein ei enää torstaina ollutkaan innoissaan menossa päivähoitoon, joten perjantaina pidimme vapaapäivän.

The First Week In the Krippe

So, the first week in the kindergarten is now over for Fräulein. As I have told before, it is normal here in Germany that the 'acclimatization' to daycare is very slow.

Here is the summary of Fräulein's first week:

Monday
A half an hour of playing at the Krippe playground with the other kids. I was present, but sitting on a bench further away. Fräulein enjoyed herself, but was a bit confused why mum was just sitting there and didn't go and play with her.

Tuesday
Two hours of taking part of their normal morning routines. Fräulein followed everything with interest, but wanted me to join in, too.

Wednesday
Much like Tuesday. The group leader asked, if it had been this difficult for Fräulein to be without me when we started by the Tagesmutter. I told her that whenever I was present, Fräulein wanted me, but when I wasn't there, she was happy to play with the other kids.

When the group was at the playground, I left Fräulein for ten minutes. For the first five minutes she was crying, but by the time I was back, she was playing with the other kids.

Thursday
Based on my discussion with the group leader the day before, I just dropped Fräulein to daycare and said bye bye. She was left crying. I was actually sitting in the room next door in case they needed me, but 1.5 hours passed before they told me, it was enough for one day. She had settled after I left, but all changes in the program, like going outside, had made her cry again. I think that is totally understandable, as she cannot remember the daily schedule at this point and she doesn't understand everything that is told to her, so she must get a bit confused. All in all, it had been quite OK.

Friday
On Friday morning I was talking to Fräulein about how we take the buggy to daycare, how she will leave her shoes and jacket to her own spot, which is marked with sun, and how she will see all the other kids and the teachers. And Fräulein added "bye bye mummy" and waved! So, she clearly knew what was going to happen and didn't feel at all stressed about it.

I dropped Fräulein to daycare for two hours and was able to spend the time in the city. She had again had some good and bad moments, but I think we are at a good point after this first week. Lets see how she feels after the weekend!

How to spend the two free hours in the city? 

*****
Fräuleinin ensimmäinen sopeutumisviikko päiväkodissa on nyt takana. Ensimmäisenä päivänä olimme mukana ulkoleikeissä puoli tuntia ja seuraavana parina päivänä osallistuimme ryhmän aamurutiineihin. Fräuleinin tuntuu olevan vaikea ymmärtää, miksi äiti on mukana, muttei osallistu leikkeihin. Torstaina jätinkin Fräuleinin puoleksitoista tunniksi itsekseen hoitoon. Hän oli välillä ollut itkuinen, mutta rauhoittunut kuitenkin aina välillä. Päivystin koko ajan viereisessä huoneessa mahdollisen katastrofin varalta. Perjantaina pääsin jo itse käymään kaupungilla. Pidetään peukkuja, että ensi viikolla menee vielä mukavammin!

Never Say Never

In the beginning of this year, I started to look for some daycare possibilities for Fräulein.

I had previously heard that it is almost impossible to find a kindergarden place for your child here in Wiesbaden. I knew that there are a very few places available especially for the under 3 year olds. Previously, the German mums have stayed at home as Hausfraus with their small children. But I guess  more and more often the mothers now hurry back to work. However, the availability of childcare places is not increasing fast enough (just my own thought, not based on any facts).

In Finland, the city is required to find a daycare place for all children. Although it might not always be the place closest to home or otherwise desirable, there must be at least some sort of place for each child.

But in Germany, you must search for the place by yourself. And as most of the kindergartens are private, you must apply to each of them separately.

I found a handful of places close to our home.

We took part in one introductory evening. There were about 20 families there and these evenings were held every month. So roughly, there were about 100 families applying for a place that year. And we were told that, at the beginning of next August, there would be 5 openings in the Krippe (kindergarten for children ages 1-3 years).

100 kids, 5 places. That kind of took our hopes down.

Anyway, I applied for several kindergartens. Most of them made their decisions in March/April, but I didn't get news from any of them. Only one of the kindergartens takes the children in based on the order they had received the applications, instead of the reputation of the children's parents. Fräulein would be able to start there during summer 2013.

Thus, thinking that we would not be able to get a place in a Krippe for Fräulein in the near future, I was happy to go forward with the Tagesmutter option.

But a month ago, I got a very surprising phone call. It was the kindergarten of our local church calling. They had a place for Fräulein starting the first of September. September this year! All I managed to say was "Danke schön!".

So, we have really exciting time ahead of us. And we need to start all over again with that adjustment program we already went through with the Tagesmutter... But this Kindergarten is in the walking distance from our home. And I guess there are more activities there and the days are more structured for the children, so I hope Fräulein will benefit from it, too.

Although the place is for full time, I hope we can have shorter days in daycare. And I am actually planning to continue some studies I have started a while back, so there is actually something 'real' for me to do while Fräulein is in daycare (like before, I need this excuse for myself, not to anyone else).

So, never say never!

I have also other great news for you, so stay tuned for another episode of Frau Welle - the Expat Hausfrau ;)

*****
Päiväkotipaikan saaminen etenkin alle kolmevuotiaalle on todella hankalaa täällä Wiesbadenissa (ja vissiin Saksassa yleisesti). Suurin osa päiväkodeista on yksityisiä, joten niihin on kaikkiin haettava erikseen. Lisäksi päiväkodit voivat vapaasti valita, kelle paikan antavat, joten oletin prosessin vaativan jonkinmoista aktiivisuutta, että hakemuksemme huomioitaisiin. Koska hakijoita on paljon enemmän kuin päiväkotipaikkoja, päädyimme Tagesmutter-vaihtoehtoon.

Nyt kesällä sain kuitenkin yllättävän puhelun seurakuntamme päiväkodista: Fräuleinille on siellä paikka syyskuun alusta lähtien! Aivan loistavaa, sillä toisin kuin Tagesmutterimme, päiväkoti sijaitsee kävelymatkan päässä kotoamme. Eli taas alkaa uusi sopeuttamisjakso...

Ja lisää hyviä uutisia luvassa... ;)

Feeling Loose

What is it about this spring / early summer that makes me want to do other things than sit by my Mac and write the blog? Go figure...

Actually, in quite many blogs which I follow, there has been some more or less intended breaks and many bloggers are apologizing for neglecting their readers. And now it is my turn.

I do have millions of ideas for blog posts. I have thought that I should get a dictaphone and a secretary so that all those ideas could be published here. But with my Hausfrau's income, I guess I must just apologize for blogging so infrequently.

I told you earlier about the funny feeling of being home alone, while Fräulein was with her Tagesmutter. Today I spent the morning in the city by doing some shopping and running errands. I finally posted the gift I had bought ages ago, bought Fräulein a pair of shoes and enjoyed a peaceful moment with a cup of coffee.

Trying on her first pair of Crocs (am I allowed to call them shoes?)
No matter how hideous, they are perfect for playground!

It feels so strange to go out all on my own! For 19 months, I have been pushing a buggy. That loose feeling when your hands are free! Although the downside is that you have to carry everything by yourself...

During all those 19 months, I haven't really been able enjoy shopping as I have always worried about when Fräulein is going to get upset and we must head home. I must plan the visits to the city so that the most important things are done first. Luckily, the city visits are a bit easier nowadays, as Fräulein can be quite easily bribed with a pretzel - and those are sold in every corner here!

But today there was no stress. I could just pop into any store if I felt like it. And I didn't need to find an elevator to get into the other floors!

And in the meantime, Fräulein spent the whole morning in garden playing with the other kids and enjoying the sunny summer day. Lucky us! :)

*****
Kummallista kyllä, jostain syystä näin kesäkeleillä ei tee mieli istua tietokoneen ääressä blogia kirjoittamassa... Pyydän siis anteeksi, että täällä on ollut niin hiljaista! Ehkä jonain päivänä minulla on varaa sanelukoneeseen ja sihteeriin... ;)
Fräulein oli taas tänään Tagesmutterilla ja käytin aamupäivän kaupungilla kiertelyyn. Ihan kumma tunne kun ei tarvitse työntää rattaita ja kaupoissa pääsee helposti toisiin kerroksiin. Eikä tarvitse stressata, missä vaiheessa tytöltä menee hermot.
Ja minun nauttiessani tästä shoppailuvapaudesta, Fräulein nautti aurinkoisesta kesäpäivästä leikkimällä päivähoitokaverien kanssa puutarhassa. Täydellistä! :)

Home Alone

Finally an update about Fräulein's start in the daycare!

I guess it is a common practice here in Germany, that children start with the daycare veeeryyy sloooowlyyyy.
According to the stories I have heard from Finland, the practice is to go and visit the daycare place once or twice and after that the child is left there possibly for the whole 8 hours.

But not here.

During the first three visits, I was present the whole time and we played there for an hour.

On day 4, I went to the hallway for 20 minutes. Fräulein was first crying a lot, but started to calm down slowly. The Tagesmutter (child minder) told me later, that the crying started again whenever Fräulein spotted my handbag and remembered her mum...

The following three times, we played together for 20-30 minutes and then I went outside for half an hour. What a freedom! I spent the time at the local cafe.

All those times I left Fräulein there crying, but she had always calmed down quite quickly with the help of her pacifier and some cookies. Fräulein uses her pacifier normally only when sleeping, but I think that, in this case, the end justifies the means.

This Monday was the first big day, when I actually drove home! What a funny feeling to be home alone! Fräulein spent two hours at the daycare. After one hour I got an SMS telling me that Fräulein was not crying but playing with the other children.

When I went to pick her up, the Tagesmutter showed me some photos and a short video she had taken of the children playing. It had been better than I could have hoped for!

Is that a smile behind the pacifier?

Today is the second day when Fräulein spends there the 'whole day' (from 9am to 1pm). And I am proud to inform you that I have actually done something useful with this free time that I have! I have seen a dentist (subject for another post) and, ummm..., now I'm writing this...

And I have already made plans for next week: visit the bank, dye my hair, and stop by at the post office to send a baby-gift, which I have had ready for ages...

If the baby girl who will receive this package is reading this (or her mum),
don't be disappointed if it won't look as nice as this,
because I'll need to open the package in order to fit it into an envelope...

*****
Fräuleinin päivähoito on alkanut mukavasti. Hitaan alun jälkeen olemme nyt päässeet rutiiniin kiinni. 
Ja minulla on kovasti suunnitelmia tämän vapaa-ajan täyttämiseksi...

Mixed Feelings

A couple of months ago, there was a big debate in the Finnish media about children's daycare. Apparently, there were parents who took their kids to daycare even when they were on vacation themselves.

I can totally understand the anger this has raised. Why to have children, if you don't like spending time with them?

But now I have started to think, if I am going to do something similar.

I have found a wonderful Tagesmutter (childminder) for Fräulein. We are planning to take Fräulein to this Tagesmutter two mornings and one afternoon per week, ten to fifteen hours per week in total.

The main reason for this is that, we would like Fräulein to learn German, and the younger she starts the easier it should be. I would also like her to learn how to interact with other kids.

Fräulein playing with a friend after the Finnish music group last autumn.

But I must admit, I have also more selfish reasons. Herr Welle works long hours and travels a lot. On weekdays, I cannot really count on him taking care of Fräulein, so that I could have some time for myself. I would really appreciate a few hours to run any errands, have appointments, or just simply enjoy a cup of coffee in peace.

So, am I actually as bad as the parents, who take their kids to daycare on holidays?

I have tried to reason this and have come to the conclusion that I'm not. But even when I feel relieved and happy about this new arrangement, I cannot help feeling a bit ashamed in taking my daughter to daycare, although my "job" is to be a Hausfrau...

We just had the first 'orientation day' today. I'll keep you posted.

******
Joku aika sitten Suomessa kohuttiin perheistä, jotka vievät lapsensa päiväkotiin oman lomasa aikana. Mielestäni se on väärin, mutta nyt minua on alkanut mietityttämään, olenko tekemässä jotain samanlaista. 
Olen nimittäin löytänyt tytölle Tagesmutterin (perhepäivähoitajan), jonka luo Fräuleinin on tarkoitus mennä muutamaksi tunniksi kolmena päivänä viikossa. Tärkeimpiä syitä ovat, että tyttö oppisi saksaa ja kommunikoimaan toisten lasten kanssa. Mutta voin kyllä tunnustaa, että yhtenä etuna on, että näin saan itse arkisin vähän "vapaa-aikaa".
Tänään oli ensimmäinen "sopeutumispäivä". Palaan aiheeseen myöhemmin.