The Daycare Aunty

My daughter was 2.6 years old when I decided to leave her in daycare. It was in April 2014. She had to start her preschool in June and by August I had to join for work after completing my M.Tech viva. She needed time to adjust before August so, we sent her to daycare 4 months early. The changes were overwhelming for us but soon everything fell into place because of the "daycare aunty".

A friend suggested us a lady that was running a daycare for 15 years at her house. She had two girls to assist her. I cannot forget the day we met her. May be she was in her early 40's. She was wearing a cotton saree, big bindi and a broad smile. She spoke positively. There were kids of all age. Her house looked like one happy environment.

Initial three to four days my daughter cried badly melting my heart and making me feel guilty. But soon enjoyed going there. There were 3-4 kids of her age. Though she was happy, I would always ask her whether they feed her properly, will they scold her if she behaves mischievously, etc., 

But soon realized that aunty is very loving and caring. The lunch what I had sent was heated and given. Aunty gave me option of sending dosa, idly batter or chapati dough so that they prepare it fresh for my daughter. If she vomited or didn't eat, alternate food was given to her. Sometimes if I had sent jam or ketchup as sides, aunty would insist I should send sabzis as it is healthy. 

She would apply oil to my daughter's hair if it looked dry, gave head bath when it was smelly due to sweat. Many times, when my daughter was little sick, we were not able to send her to school but would send to daycare where she was given medicines at regular intervals and looked after well. Aunty never charged us extra for leaving the kid some extra hours. She would say, for genuine reasons she will not charge. 

In the evening due to work if I went late to pick, she would have already given milk and biscuits or hot dosas to my daughter for which we were not even paying. She took kids for a walk or to the park for playing.  My daughter became fond of aunty, her two girls and friends over there. She would ask me to pick her late as she can play for some more time. 

When I conceived my second baby aunty would tell me to ask for any kind of help without hesitation. Aunty never gave me any kind of stress. There are many wrong notions about daycare. Not all the daycare is the same. There are exceptions. I am lucky to get one. Now as I am at home after second delivery, my daughter miss aunty and her daycare.