My kids started long day care with Auntie Ruth when they were 2 years old. They stayed for 4 years till they were ready to start prep. I want to write about her today because we have been friends a long time. Her family recently had to experience a terrible unexpected heartbreak, and this is my way of telling her that they mean a lot to our family and we are willing to help in any way we can.
It was all by accident, that we found Auntie Ruth to be our daycare mum. Our usual daycare lady had to stop her business due to an emergency, and with 1 week to spare between Christmas and New Year, OH* and I cast around desperately for someone to take her place. Thankfully, the internet came to the rescue, and OH managed to ring someone called Ruth to ask about vacancies.
At first, she didn’t have any spare spots for us. However, luck struck when she felt that she really wanted the experience of caring for twins and she rang us back for an interview. And the rest is history.
OH and I will always be grateful that our little ones had a wholesome and grounded upbringing with Ruth and her family. They had lots of pet animals, ducks, chooks, guinea pigs, a dog and a cat, with which all the kids enjoyed interacting. They had plenty of excursions to fun places. They learnt their first book lessons and crafty skills. They learnt to appreciate a good cup of babycino! They learnt heaps about manners, and thankfully also managed most of their toilet training with Ruth. Given that they used to spend Monday to Friday 8 am to 6 pm in Ruth’s home, I am so pleased that we are still all in touch and the girls still talk about their daycare mum and family so fondly.
So here, I have a painting of Ruth’s home and her menagerie, which has brought so much warmth and comfort to the kids’ lives. This painting is now proudly hanging in Ruth’s home playroom.
*Other Half
