- I have had anxiety for the most part of the year, worried about how he will adapt at kindergarten.
- Deep down, I know he might have a hard time for the past couple of days but he will adjust. Yet, I cannot help but worry.
Image: PEXELS
Parents are made to worry. I don't think a parent stops worrying about their child until they die. Even in my mid-thirties if I do not contact my parents for more than 24 hours I will be bombarded by texts and calls.
My son has been going through the tantrum stage recently. Tantrums are not always meltdowns on the floor while kicking and screaming. For instance, my son does this thing where he pretends to cry by making this sound that is not a real cry and has no tears, and he won’t stop until one of us pacifies him.
He had been doing that for us for over a month now. When he went to daycare last week, I was nervous. I got out my phone to text the daycare lady to ‘explain’ the situation just in case… You see, there is this inherent need for parents to explain their children’s situation or behaviour to others because we know what is going on. Meanwhile, outsiders would merely judge without knowing the real reason. Fortunately, I was too distracted by my day and forgot to text the lady.
During pick-up, I could not help but ask how his day was. The lady was just gushing with praises and stories of a wonderful day. I was gobsmacked! My child? The one that has been having meltdowns every twenty minutes for the past week was the perfect child at daycare?! I had spent my day as a nervous wreck waiting for the phone to ring…
My son is scheduled to go to kindergarten later in the year. Unlike daycare, he cannot carry his own food at kindergarten and the menu at the school are strictly vegetarian. My child does not eat vegetables or fruit, especially those I give him.
When we are in Kenya, he will eat sima and omena, fruit, sukuma and chapati like the born Kenyan he is. Immediately we step foot in the diaspora and he has turned into a nugget-eating carnivore; meat dishes only.
As such, I have had anxiety for the most part of the year, worried about how he will adapt at kindergarten. Deep down, I know he might have a hard time for the past couple of days but he will adjust. Yet, I cannot help but worry.
Will he adjust to the food? Will he learn the language fast enough? Will the other children want to play with a kid who looks different? Will the teachers treat him any different? I guess this is what they call parenting, we worry about our children even in our sleep.