FIRST DAY AT CHILDCARE
Fairfield, 30 January 2012: Most toddlers started childcare last week but for Namtrung it is his first day today after almost one year anxiously been on the waiting list.
He starts one week late because he went to Perth to visit his father’s side of the family.
From today, Namtrung will be attending Childcare 2 days a week, Mondays & Tuesdays.
He is quite excited as he is being escorted to his childcare class by his father, mother, uncle J and grandma. His face lights up with much joy and cheerful smile as he enters his class and sees toys on the table, books on the shelves and friends. His mind races with many questions and perhaps, some confusion: “What is this place? It’s Childcare, but what is Child Care? But doesn’t matter it’s going to be a very fun day because I’m here with tía, mẹ, bà woại & uncle J!”
Namtrung’s happy smile and twinkle eyes start to quickly disappear as his family wave goodbye and wish him a lovely day at Childcare. His tears that are filled with much confusion start to roll down his cutie face and out comes his scream of feeling unloved and unwanted like he wants to ask “Why are you leaving me behind?” Twenty minutes passes by, Namtrung’s confusion tears continue to fall.
His father, Toan, hides outside the classroom door witnessing him holding the teacher’s hand, sobbing and calling out: “…muốn daddy, muốn daddy” 5 minutes passes, he’s still asking to see daddy.
At the front office where Grandma, Uncle J and Mummy are nervously sitting waiting for daddy to come out, Grandma sadly claims “Namtrung loves to play with other kids but he is a bit shy to new environment and new friends”.
“Namtrung has never stayed with anyone else besides people in our family, it is so hard to leave him here especially when he cries and calls out for us, I am heart broken.” Mum continues with a sobbing voice.
“If he doesn’t stop crying, can we not send him to school …for now? I think he’s too young”. Grandma says with such hope that this question is the medicines that will save Namtrung from attending Childcare.
Namtrung will be picked up at around lunch today.