The Trajectory of My Life ① Why I Aimed to Become a Childcare Worker☆☆

I believe that I am who I am today because of every event that has occurred since I was born, my interactions with people, and the accumulation of my learning.

And there are the parents who brought me into this world, and they too had parents, and so on...

I feel as though my existence as a living being is a collection of many lives.

It is so mysterious that if any one of those encounters had not happened, I would not be who I am today...☆☆

That is the same for every human being.

The workings of life are truly mysterious.

From now on, I plan to look back on "The Trajectory of My Life" on note from time to time.

My life was by no means decided and created by me alone; the presence of my parents, who raised me and lived alongside me, is also significant.

In this installment, among "The Trajectory of My Life," I would like to talk about something that holds a major place in my life: why I aimed to become a "childcare worker," and how I became involved in "childcare for children with disabilities" and "welfare."

Why did I aim to become a "childcare worker," and specifically one for children with disabilities?

To explain why I aimed to become a "childcare worker" and chose the path of "childcare for children with disabilities" and "welfare," I cannot help but talk about why my mother aimed to work in "education for children with disabilities."

Both of my parents were teachers. When I was born, maternity leave was still only four weeks, and it seems my mother returned to work after leaving me, a mere one-month-old, with my grandmother (her mother-in-law). Although she had worries and hardships as a mother and a teacher, it seems she managed to get through each day because I was healthy.

My younger brother born with a disability

My younger brother was born when I was four years old. He had a disability in his right foot.
It was clubfoot.
Apparently, the obstetrician did not tell us about that fact.
When my mother changed my brother's diaper, she noticed that his foot was bent extremely inward. When she asked the nurse, she was told coldly,
"It is not our fault. Please take him to an orthopedic surgeon after you are discharged."

Twelve days after my brother was born, my mother took him to an orthopedic surgeon.

After the examination, the attending physician told her, "It was too late to bring him in. If it had been right after birth, it could have been cured easily. Since 12 days have passed, he will not be able to walk normally for 12 years."

When she learned that fact, my mother was quite depressed. But she had no choice but to do it!
Rehabilitation for the newborn baby began on the 12th day.
Maternity leave was four weeks. My mother was devoted to my brother's rehabilitation.

I loved my brother from the bottom of my heart and simply couldn't help but adore him.
Even when he walked wearing orthopedic braces, that too was cute.
With his adorable charm and the way I doted on him, my family also gradually came to think,
"Even with a disability, he is who he is."

Thanks to my mother's dedicated rehabilitation, my brother was able to walk normally, although there is some awkwardness because his legs differ in thickness and length.

I still remember it even now.

The day my brother was able to skip for the first time...

Generally, children learn to "skip" around the time they are in nursery school or kindergarten.

However, my younger brother was able to skip (though it was awkward) only when he was in the fourth grade of elementary school.

I can still picture the scene of my fourth-grade brother coming home from school and skipping around the house for the whole family to see...

Growing up in that family environment, I grew into a child who loved my brother, of course, but also loved other children and enjoyed taking care of little ones.

My Mother's Determination

Going back a little bit... My mother apparently visited "special needs schools" and "welfare facilities" during her maternity leave.
She did this to understand, "What kind of lives do children with these disabilities lead?"

At that time, she learned about the existence of children with even more severe disabilities, and about children who were exempt from compulsory education (schooling exemption).

In short, school exemption meant that children with severe disabilities did not have to go to "school"... Their right to receive an education was being deprived.

Seeing that reality, she felt, "Living for these children might be my mission..."

Immediately after returning to work, my mother continued to request to work at a "special needs school."

Then, after a few years, my mother fulfilled her long-cherished wish and became a teacher at a "special needs school."

By the time I was in the fourth grade of elementary school, I was even being dragged along to help at the special needs school's sports day.
And I, too, was given the opportunity to meet many children with disabilities.

I saw a student with cerebral palsy playing the organ using their toes under my mother's guidance.
I even started exchanging letters with a student who had muscular dystrophy.
Perhaps my mother was using me as a teacher, but for me, it became an opportunity to think about life.

My mother often invited children who had graduated from the special needs school to our home.
Mothers of children with cerebral palsy or other disabilities would rely on my mother, coming to her for advice or to talk.
Even after they graduated, the connection between my mother, the children with disabilities, and their parents never broke.

And, carrying on that spirit, my mother and father would eventually build a "workshop for people with disabilities."

While the loneliness, sadness, and the feeling of "Look at me too!" as a "sibling of a child with a disability" never disappeared, I think my love for my parents and my affection for my brother grew within that environment.

My Determination and Higher Education

Growing up in such an environment, by the time I graduated from elementary school, I wanted to become a "childcare worker."
I didn't want to be a "teacher"; I wanted a job where I was the one providing care.

And not just to become a "childcare worker," but wanting to "study welfare," I went on to Japan College of Social Work in Aichi.

At the welfare college, I studied philosophy, economics, social security theory, welfare policy, sociology, education for children and people with disabilities, and labor issues. When it came time to decide on my career path, I chose the "childcare worker course" instead of the "teacher training course." In the "childcare worker course," I also learned about child development, the circumstances surrounding children and parents, childcare center issues, music, and crafts.
My studies at university were eye-opening... It was an exciting time every day.

And then, employment!

During my job search, there was an invitation to become a city hall employee.
But I had a strong desire to work in the field, so the first place I worked was a "facility for children with disabilities."
I think my starting point was indeed my encounter with my brother, and my encounters with children and people with disabilities and their guardians.

Then, upon getting married, I resigned from the "facility for children with disabilities," which involved night shifts, and began working at a nursery school.
Even at the nursery school, I continued to be involved with "children with disabilities."

After my own child was conceived in my womb, my conflict about returning to work became intense. I intend to write about those feelings in my next article...

After returning to work, I spent a few years working in elderly day care, but I eventually returned to working with children. My involvement with children with disabilities and their families, in particular, became the foundation of my career.

It wasn't just 'care' as a 'job'; I truly loved those children, and supporting their development alongside their families was a joy.

Of course, I loved all the children.
I was always moved to tears by the wonderful things the children did.
Because I cry easily when I'm happy or moved, one child once told me, 'Teacher, it looks like you have a water faucet in your eyes; water comes out right away. You should turn off the faucet soon.' That child is now a mother herself, and she still enjoys telling that story.

A society that supports both parents and childcare workers!

The appeal of a nursery school lies in its role as both 'education' and 'welfare'—supporting children's development and supporting parents' work.

I believe that childcare workers in nursery schools need to provide affectionate and attentive care in place of parents, and it is important to thoroughly support working mothers.
Of course, I cannot replace a parent.
The primary responsibility for a child's education lies with the parents.However, since the parents entrust their children to us during childcare hours, I believe it is a responsible job to pour as much love as possible into them and raise them so that they are smiling and happy.

That is why there is no simple method of childcare or a 'do this and it will be fine' approach. The most important thing is to think about what can be done for the development of the children right in front of you while facing each one individually, and to consider what needs to be supported for the parents, either by yourself or while learning with your colleagues at work.

We must not forget the essence of childcare for the sake of immediate concerns.

It is a fact that the childcare field still has old structures and customs.
Due to the history of each nursery, it may be difficult to apply what was learned in vocational schools or universities.

The gap between what was learned and reality... childcare workers may also find themselves at a loss as to what to do.

I hope that each nursery will become a workplace where learning is respected and where new perspectives and opinions can be accepted.

Furthermore, childcare workers and educators also have families and children of their own. I want a society where their relationships with their families are valued and can be prioritized.

I want a warm environment where childcare workers and educators can acknowledge each other taking time off for their own children's school events.

Growing up watching my mother, my studies at university, and my experience in facilities and nursery schools—that history has made me who I am today.

I have considered it my mission to care for children, support children with disabilities, support parents, and even support working childcare workers. While it was never enough, I believe I have walked my path sincerely, doing the very best I could.

Therefore, my wish was that the happiness of the children's parents and the happiness of those working in the childcare world would lead to the happiness of the children. With that thought in mind, I lived in the world of childcare until the day I retired.

Although I have left the front lines, I am still given strength when I see children, and I love children dearly.

Finally...

In the course of my life, I had an encounter with a new family that is precious to me.

That was meeting my current husband and meeting my own child.

I would like to write about my life with my new, precious family, my thoughts on my family, and my thoughts on my work next time.

There is a reason why I decided to start writing this article this time.

It is because I read this article by Naomi-san...

Before writing about parenting and work, I decided to write about my own trajectory and thoughts on my career this time.

Next time, I would like to write about parenting and work.

Thank you for reading again today.

【書いた人】
江村恵子＠終活ワーカー／ゆるふわおしゃべり相談所

「恵子」さんと呼んでください(*^-^*) 

保育業界を退職して、
縁あって 
『終活』に関する学びと広める活動をしています。

今は、群馬県の 
『終活アドバイザーサークルの代表』を
担っています。 

Noteでは、 
『喜んで豊かに生きる素敵な人生』 
について、 
『終活』（人生の終わりのための準備） 
について、 
また趣味である畑仕事や旅行、
家族のこと・エッセイ 
などを書いています。


終活ワーカー（終活のお手伝いをする人）
終活コーディネーター（リンクワーカー）として、 
「素敵に生きる人生について」
オンライン、オフラインで
「ゆるふわに」お話し会や 座談会、雑談会
相談会などを開催しています。

Twitterもしています。 
Twitterでは、
特に自分で撮った花や自然について 投稿したり、 
同様の投稿をしている人をフォローしたり 
RTしたりしています。 

Noteとも共有で投稿することも多いです 

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よろしくお願いいたします<m(__)m>

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