Last year, Kaito moved schools.
My two year old changed from an English school
Where most people looked like him,
To a Dutch nursery where he looked like no one.
I was, understandably, very nervous.
One day, I came to pick him up from school.
I asked a class teacher how he was faring,
Especially how he was relating with the others,
As he is one of only two English speakers.
She explained that Kaito speaks a language
That transcends words:
Kaito hugs crying kids,
Welcomes his teachers with a joyful shout daily,
And shares kisses liberally when he’s happy 🤦🏽‍♀️
As she spoke, a tall man standing behind smiled.
When I left the class with Kaito, he met me.
He said, his son J had just joined the nursery.
It was his first time at school
And father and son were nervous that morning.
As J stood at the door, clutching his dad crying,
Kaito left his toys, came to J and took his hand.
Then led the surprised-into-silence J into class.
I was stunned and humbled,
Because I didn’t teach him that one!
Me, that Peppa Pig & George are responsible
For teaching my son his please & thank yous!
Tonight I was harassing Cj, worried about Kaito.
In these ‘quarantimes’, his routine is upside down
Cj said, let the child be. What’s there to lose?
(STRUCTURE, SIR!! STRUCTURE)
We worry so much about raising kids right,
There’s so much material to help us now.
Yet, the most important things to be taught
Are learnt by our example and their experience.
All we can really do, is create for our kids,
An atmosphere where they can thrive.
And that starts with us, parents,
Creating homes that are havens:
Safe spaces for each other as partners
Are loving places for kids as learners.
I think- and hope- that matters more
Than the million things
I suspect I’m doing wrong.
*Kaito please go to bed* 

Photo: Modern Affliction | Unsplash