Another day at the daycare centre

Ester
Today as I was picking up my oldest son at kindergarten, it suddenly dawned on me that you have never been in a similar situation. When you were about my age (or to be honest had children in the age of 0-3) day care centers weren’t even invented. In fact I believe that the first, organized institutions for taking care of other peoples babies in Sweden were founded in the1970’s. As I struggled with my headstrong three-year-old, trying to convince him to put on his outdoor outfit in order not to freeze his buttocks off, meanwhile my 10 month old boy was tasting (with delight) dirty mud from the entree floor I asked myself what you would have said if you had caught me in the action? Would you have blamed me for losing my temper, ending up bribing my son with ice cream if only he’d put that damned wellington boot on? Would you have tried to help me out in that awkward situation that only a three year old, sulky boy can create? My firm belief is the latter, at least if I resemble you in the slightest way. The sad thing though is that I also think you would pity me. Me and all other mums in the busy world of today, where family is run like a company.
Every single day I dread the near future of our family, The future where I too will work full time, hurrying to and from kindergarten, desperately tryimg to have some sort of quality time with the family. The harsh truth is that my sons’ teachers will see more of my boys everyday than I and their father will. And this will go on during their most vunerable time of life, their childhood years when family is supposed to be more important than ever. Surely they will have the nicest teachers and surely they will turn out utterly skilled in social competence, but still…
Even so I walk my oldest son to kindergarten every day, although I’m on maternity leave and am lucky enough to live in a country where it is possible for parents to stay at home for a good 18 months if they wish to. The reason to this is not that I don’t want to have him at home with me and his baby brother, but because it’s customary and you will not see another kid in his age around the neighbourhood during daytime.
In a way I envy you, Ester. Even though you didn’t have the same chance as I did to choose a career and to strive for equal rights between the sexes I still believe that your life sometimes had more quality than mine. At least I’m sure it was less stressful.