Parent Teacher Night

Tonight I went to my son's day care to attend a parent/teacher night where the staff review what the kids have done and any major changes to the day-care itself.
Tonight's meeting was actually for the groups of kids who are older but because there would be a translator, they recommended I go tonight and not next week -when the parents of the younger kids go.
The translator turned out to be the lady who helped us out when we were getting our son diagnosed with Autism and was fantastic tonight as well.

What was the meeting about?

• Please tell the day care if your child will not be there for breakfast or certain meals or snack times (i.e. your child goes later or leaves earlier) - because they order their food a week in advance and it would greatly help their budget out.
• There's a new technical communication system coming out so that way parents are able to communicate better with the teachers without wasting so much paper.
• There are some sort of alternatives for day care help if parents are still working during Christmas holidays (not actually ON Christmas Eve/Day) but only in super mandatory situations and may not apply to all day cares.
• Day-care will be now accepting payments based on a "how much does your child use it and when?" system.  Not sure how income affects it - but that's one big thing.   Some kids go to day care everyday, half-days, 10-days a month or on a need-it basis (depending on the family's situation).
• Something about attendance for kids - I don't think there is a sheet for the kids in my son's group - at least I haven't seen it.  Once again it's so they can budget accordingly for food.

Then the main lady looked at me and said because I am new, she would love to hear my experiences with the day care thus far (Um...it's only been a week and my first child!).

So I told her the truth.

"Hi, I'm from Canada and day care is not only very expensive but as soon as you find out you're pregnant - you have to put your name on a waiting list for a day-care spot for your baby.  There is no guarantee or promise of a spot so many people don't go back to work or have to wait a few years. Also because day-care is so expensive many people cannot afford it because it doesn't matter what your income is.  So...I am very grateful for the day-care system here."

I'm blushing like crazy because I was put on the spot and felt slightly embarassed to say so much in 2 minutes...when the director said (translated):

"Thank you for sharing this.  The law was passed in 1973 that requires every child to be guaranteed a spot in a day-care.  I guess because we are all so used to this law - we take it for granted sometimes and I'm glad this service helped you and your family."

The looks around the room were amusing to say the least.  As soon as I mentioned putting an un-born baby - without a gender, a name or a due date really- onto a waiting list for DAY-CARE - some women had their mouths hanging to the floor.  Some people snorted out of disbelief because a child not in day care and staying at home with a mother (or father) for YEARS until they start school just seemed so ridiculous.

Then we moved onto the children's group rooms and I left.

So...Canada - when are you going to catch up?  Finland has 39 years on you....

Just sayin'.