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22.08.2011, 21:48
| Newbie | | Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Dietikon
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| | How to manage? working Mum; child has to go from Kindergarten to Hort.
Hi everyone, I really need your help here. My son started 2 Kindergarten today and I've just found out that he has "classes" from 8:00 until 12:00 from Monday to Friday and than from 13:30 until 15:00 on Tuesday and Thursday. I asked at the kindergarten, at the ort and at the Gemeind if someone would take him, on Tuesday and Thursday from Kindergarten to Ort but they told me this is my responsability. So... To live in CH I have to work, and my question is: shall I quit my job because I have to pick my son at Kiga at 12:00, give him lunch and take him back there at 13:30 to pick him again after one hour and a half?! Or shall I keep my job and let him cross, completely alone, Dietikon, from one side of the railwaystation to the other, crossing the bus station and a lot of streets, tree times a day, two days a week?!
Don't get me wrong but how are supposed women to work when they have children and are not supported by a man?
I'm trying to find a tagesmutter but it's quite hard to find someone that can go for your kid at 12, return him to Kiga at 13:30 and than pick him again at 15! I swear I'm thinking on a dogsitter - while she walks the dog maybe she could do all this journeys with my son.
This also made me think that maybe I should move from Dietikon to Winterthur - but I'm not sure this would solve the problem. I just don't feel safe letting a 5 years old boy hanging around Dietikon... or maybe I should stop reading 20 Minuten at the train, I don't really know.
Any ideas?
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22.08.2011, 22:13
|  | Forum Veteran | | Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: out n about - it's summer!
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| | Re: moving from KIGA to ORT
Do you have a mittagstisch where the children go for the entire lunch break and also get fed? We have one in our tiny village on Tuesday and Fridays precisely because these are the days where the largest proportion of children have afternoon school. But it would still not assist with after school.
For after school, if you cannot find a tagesmutter, have you thought about a babysitter - particularly if there is a senior school nearby, you might find a local girl willing to collect your son, take him home and give him a snack and wait until you come home. Red Cross does a babysitters course for young people, and they recommend a rate of between 10 and 15 Chf so it might not be such a costly option.
As to whether you let your son cross the town alone, well that is for you to judge, but my own personal belief is that until my children are old enough to appreciate that a stranger is a stranger (even though they may claim not to be - saying they are a friend of the mother etc) and to judge that irrespective of the position that adults normally occupy in their world (where the child can trust the adult/do as it says) this particular adult is a danger, then I will not let them travel to and from school alone. This is not however the attitude that other parents in the village take, but on this point, it really is each to our own.
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23.08.2011, 12:42
| Newbie | | Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Dietikon
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| | Re: moving from KIGA to ORT
Thanks for the reply. Today I went to the Gemeind and explained the situation. It's quite hard to find someone who can pick him at 12 to take him to the place he has luch, and than takes him again to school at 13:30 and than picks him again at 15:00! This place where he can eat is the same place where he can stay after 15:00 but the problem is that it is far away from his Kindergarten and he can't go alone - I totally agree with you. He would have to cross Dietikon by himself: Banhof, bus station where 6 bus are allways coming and going, big streets and also a tram... not to mention he can't speak german so, in case something happens, he can't communicate with anyone. I'm trying to change him from that kindergarten to another, closer to the place he eats and stay after 3 but now I have to wait for their answer.
Do you think Dietikon can be dangerous for children? In the englishforum I read some nasty things about this town but I don't really know if moving to another place would make a big difference...
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23.08.2011, 12:46
| | Re: moving from KIGA to ORT
How do the other kids make this journey? If there are mums or older siblings taking the little ones, could you ask one of them if they can see that your child gets there safely?
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23.08.2011, 15:09
|  | Senior Member | | Join Date: May 2009 Location: Zurich
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| | Re: How to manage? working Mum; child has to go from Kindergarten to Hort.
Is there no Mittagstisch or Hort closer to the school?
Another idea might be to see if you could sort something out with a stay at home mom whose child goes to kindergarten with you - I think I'd be pretty offensive here and just approach parents.
As others have said, each parent knows their child and the surrounding area best, so if you don't think the journey to and from kindergarten is safe, then it just isn't safe, and Dietikon is a pretty big and busy place, so though it's no one's business, no one should be faulting you for whatever decision you make!
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23.08.2011, 15:23
|  | Forum Veteran | | Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Meilen
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| | Re: How to manage? working Mum; child has to go from Kindergarten to Hort.
I know that the kids from my daughter's kindergarten who went to the lunch club or after school care were picked up by someone from the Hort, at least until they were considered old enough to do it in a group ( it was only a very short way with no busy roads).
I agree that there must be other small kids doing this so perhaps you should contact the Hort, if you haven't already, and ask them if they have any arrangements for this.
And if you don't feel comfortable with having your son go by himself then you really need to follow your instincts here.
Good luck with finding a solution.
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23.08.2011, 17:29
|  | Newbie 1st class | | Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Limmattal
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| | Re: How to manage? working Mum; child has to go from Kindergarten to Hort.
Hi,
I know this must be a difficult situation for you. My daughter starts kindergarten next year and its good to hear other people's experiences. I live near Dietikon, but in a much smaller town, but I still worry about my daughter walking alone somewhere. Here, the child is responsible for getting to the mittagstisch, so I guess the school thinks a 4 yo can walk there alone, but I would be very concerned especially the first year.
I think the idea of a babysitter or other mother from your child's class is the best one. Don't worry about quitting your job, you will find a solution!
-good luck,
Angelique
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23.08.2011, 18:47
|  | Forum Legend | | Join Date: May 2008 Location: Around Lake Zurich
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| | Re: How to manage? working Mum; child has to go from Kindergarten to Hort.
have you asked your school what they recommend ? The teachers are probably the most knowledgeable about what options parents use.
Also, try the local Gemeinschaftzentrum (community centre) - they often have a variety of services as well as knowing what is out there...
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16.09.2011, 13:52
| Junior Member | | Join Date: May 2009 Location: Thalwil
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| | Re: How to manage? working Mum; child has to go from Kindergarten to Hort.
crazy as this may sound my neighbour had a smiliar problem and solved it by getting a taxi driver (female) to drive her daughter twice a week from the Kindergarden to the Day care! Would that be an option?
They agreed on a flat fee that was below the metred price, of course.
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16.09.2011, 14:20
|  | Member | | Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Basel
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| | Re: How to manage? working Mum; child has to go from Kindergarten to Hort.
I will face a similar situation starting from August 2012, but the creche my daughter is currently attending will take care of it. They have a preferred kindergarten and as long as she will attend it, I will have no problem. Why don't you have a look at daycares. They are also a resource during the long holiday periods that public kindergarten usually have.
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