My daughter who cried at daycare, and me who was asked for an autograph at elementary school

My daughter cried.


The moment I saw that, my chest tightened with pain.

This happened on a day I used paid leave to attend both my daughter's daycare observation and my son's elementary school class observation.


First was my daughter's daycare observation.


My daughter often talks about daycare.

“I played with so-and-so today”
“I played princess with so-and-so”

She has become good at talking, and lately she even talks back to me and her big brother.


My daughter is mischievous and innocent.



I had always wondered how she spends her time at daycare.



The day of the observation was a gymnastics day.
After the children put away the toys they were playing with, they moved to the hall following the teacher's instructions.

My petite daughter was second from the front.
When her name was called, she energetically raised her hand and said “Here!” before lining up.

Just watching her listen to the teacher and think and act for herself filled my heart.


She is still such a baby at home.
To think she is working so hard in group life with such a small body.


Doing mat exercises, playing tag.
All the children looked like they were having fun.

However, about halfway through the gymnastics.
My daughter's expression began to cloud over little by little.


She pursed her lips, and the next moment, tears began to fall.
It seemed she had remembered the time I was leaving.


In the morning,“I'm going to daycare today, but after that, Mommy is going to elementary school, so I won't be coming home with you”


She had remembered exactly what I told her.


She would come to me from time to time to hold my hand,
or say in a small voice,
“Mommy, don't go home.”

That sight was heartbreaking and made me feel sorry.
But at the same time, it was also endearing that she felt that way about me.

In the end, she went off to play tag while holding the teacher's hand.
I really wanted to take her home right then, but I left her at the daycare and headed out.

The next place I headed was my son's elementary school.
It was just during his English class.

“What’s your name?” “When is your birthday?” “See you!”

It was a class where they read conversations like these to each other and presented them in front of the class.

When I arrived at the classroom, there was one other mother there besides me.

I observed the class from diagonally behind my son, who was sitting in the back row.


Then, my son's close friend beckoned to me.
In the notebook he showed me were the words,
“See you next time”When I laughed and said, “That's Hikakin!” he gave me a thumbs up and

“See you next time!”

He even showed me a signature pose.


So cute.



And when I went back to my son, he had the same“See you next time”written down.
As expected of a close duo.
It seems they were on the same wavelength.

My son gathered his courage, raised his hand, and gave his presentation in English.

While I was thinking to myself, 'I wish I could have recorded that,' the other mother had left at some point, and I was the only parent left in the classroom.


Then suddenly, the teacher pointed at me and said to the children,
“Special guest! Get your sign!”

Wait, me?

While I was still surprised, the children started forming a line one after another.


I had never been asked for an autograph in my life, so I was bewildered, but I decided to go along with it for now.


“What’s your name?”
“Just a moment, please.”
I was speaking in Japanese as usual, but thinking about it later, it was an English class.


I felt a little regret that I should have replied in English while I had the chance. Haha.

Even so, every time I finished signing, the children would politely thank me, saying, “Thank you very much.”


Even though they are in fifth grade, they are still so cute.
I couldn't help but grin at that sight.

By the way, as for my son, he didn't line up.
Was he embarrassed to get an autograph from his own mother?


Looking closely, it was only boys lining up, so perhaps the teacher had instructed them to do so.


Since it was an English class and I was in a state of panic, I couldn't ask and never found out the truth. Haha.

Daycare and elementary school.

It was a day where I was able to see my children spending time in different places.

The face they show when they are with friends.

The face they show when they are doing their best.

The face they show when they are lonely and crying.

All of these were precious signs of their growth.

It was a day where I received so much energy from my children and felt motivated to work hard again.


Taking paid leave once in a while to participate in school events is actually quite nice.