Fight Club

Matthias has started this week his time in Månen (The Moon) – for the time being in a group of small children, who are too young and too quiet for him (average between 8-12 months old) with only 1 child around 2 years old. This has been a challenge for all of us, the place being new, they are introducing 3-4 children at a time, therefore the group is not yet formed and he is still the oldest and most active out of all. They have not yet started using the playground either, which adds extra frustration to the situation, given that the windows are large French doors, so he can actually see the swing but is not taken out yet… It feels like being in Eastern Europe behind the iron wall at times, I believe he will have an Indian dance once he is taken out (planning to do it myself today when I pick him up) – on the positive side: he has accepted the teachers, eats well, takes naps, which all point to some sort of feeling of safety he has come to associate with the place. Also, he loved their activity room, and at times he is allowed to go into the bigger kids’ room – which is clearly the place where he belongs, but being as it is all newly started, and he misses the age limit by 1 month, he was placed in the younger kids’ room ( we are working on it). I have mixed feelings this week, we will continue talking to the staff and ask for him to be moved up, hopefully with success. Welfare is challenging at this point, I wish we could decide what we get for our money, but it just seems not to be the case: stand in line and wait for your turn is the policy, if a consolation, for all of us and other parents with children in the same situation. I can’t wait to report his first day outside, his first friends, his first Danish words of politeness. So far it resembles a fight club, where we try to empower Matthias, speak up for him and his rights, taking the daily challenges, powergames with the head teacher and manager of the place. But he is among kids, which is an important aspect of his daily life – if not the most important one. Hang in there, munchkin! And keep positive!