She hadn’t needed to rush back.
They made a cozy picture. Not sure digging in the dirt would have been her first choice of pastime, but she had to admit Mani looked pretty content. So did Mack. Who’d have thought? Add chatting to children and babysitting babies under a year of age to his list of talents. And that was just as appealing as his beautiful smile and hot bod. Her chest swelled. She’d have to repay his kindness.
Mani grinned up at Joey. He’s enjoying the playtime with other kids, she thought with a pang. She’d have to start sharing him. He needed the company of other kids as much as she needed the company of other adults. She sighed. One more milestone.
She stepped into the backyard, almost sorry to interrupt them.
Annie jumped up and ran to hug Kalia. “Hi, Kalia. We’re playing with Mani.”
“Hi, Annie. I see that. It looks like he’s having fun.”
Joey looked up and wrinkled his nose at Kalia. “Mani stinks. He has a poopy diaper.”
Kalia laughed. “Uh-oh. I guess I better change him then.” She looked at Mack. “How’d it go?”
“Good. He slept until a few minutes ago. Then he guzzled down the bottle, and we came outside to play.”
“Annie? Joey?” Teresa called out from across the yard.
Kalia turned toward the sound of her voice. “They’re here, Teresa.”
“Oh, hi Kalia. I hope they’re not bothering you?”
“No, not at all. Mani loves their company.”
Teresa smiled as she walked a little closer. “And they enjoy his. Come on kids. It’s time to get changed if you want to go swimming.” She looked at Kalia. “I promised I’d take them to the pool before dinner.”
Annie and Joey jumped up with a whoop and ran across the yard.
Teresa waved good-bye as she shooed them inside.
Kalia waved back and turned to Mack. “They never move slowly,” she said, shaking her head. “Thanks again, Mack. I really appreciate you watching Mani for me.”
Mack shrugged. “I enjoyed it. How did it go at the hospital?” he asked as he stood up.
Kalia reached down to pick up Mani. “Really well. The patient was very relieved to have someone there to interpret for him. He knew some English, phrases to get by when he’s traveling, but the medical jargon was a bit too complicated. He seemed a lot less anxious once he understood what was happening.” They walked together toward Kalia’s deck.
“I’m sure they appreciated your help,” Mack said.
“I think so. Both the surgeon and the patient. I really like Dr. Hayes. I’ve been called in a few times to help her. I was disappointed to hear that she’s finished her residency and she’s moving up north to a small town.”
“Onto bigger and better things?”
“I suppose. Or smaller and better,” she said with a grin. “Anyhow, it felt good to get involved and help out, so thanks again.”
“Anytime. Mani’s a great kid.” He picked up the guitar that he’d left on one of the deck chairs.
“Thanks.” She kissed the top of Mani’s head. “Whew, you do stink, little one.”
Mack backed up with his hands in the air. “Beyond my scope …”
Kalia laughed again. “It’s good to recognize when you’re in over your head.”
Mack smiled over his shoulder and waved as he headed home.
Chapter 18
The days flew by, and Kalia watched Mani skip through milestones. She started looking into daycare with a heavy heart.
At seven months old, he seemed so little, was still being breastfed. All the germs he’d be exposed to. Would she find adequate supervision? He was so fast when he crawled. She’d need to find someone who would watch him like a hawk in a safe, baby-friendly environment.
She knew in her heart it would be good for him to play with other children. Or, at least, parallel play with other children, in the same room. And when she worked, she needed to focus. Now that Mani was seven months, watching him with one eye wasn’t enough.
So she put the ball in motion and luckily started early. A two-year waiting list? Who’d have thought? By the time she got him into daycare, he’d have outgrown it.
The Internet was a wealth of information about daycare. Questions to ask, things to look out for. For a neurotic parent, it was great.
She narrowed down her list of acceptable daycares to four. She tried the patience of one with all of her questions, so she struck them off the list. If they couldn’t be bothered to reassure her about the details, they weren’t meticulous enough for her.
The parents at the playground weren’t wildly enthusiastic about another place, so it was axed too.
That left two – Bay Window Childcare and Rattle My Cage. Kalia called two references for each and got a stamp of approval.
The next step was to go and see them in action, so she made appointments to visit.
Two weeks later, she changed Mani and pulled a long-sleeved shirt over his head. “Well, sweetheart, today we’re going to visit Bay Window Childcare.” She slipped a pair of pants over his diaper and wrestled with socks and soft running shoes. “We’ll see if they have toys to play with and space to run. See if we like the vibe.”
With Mani on one hip, she went downstairs and found his winter coat. They’d had a mild winter so far, but the temperatures had dropped below freezing in the last few days. She zipped up Mani’s jacket and tugged a hat over his ears. She tossed his mittens and scarf in the diaper bag. They’d be off before she had her coat on, and since they weren’t going to be outside for long, she’d just take them with her. She secured Mani in his car seat, and after putting on her winter coat, she shrugged the diaper bag over her shoulder, grabbed the car keys, and carried him out to the car.
Bay Window Childcare was a convenient ten-minute drive away. It was a low red-brick building on a busy street with plenty of parking off to one side. Beyond the front doors, a huge bay window gave a sunny view to a colorful play area.
Kalia lifted Mani out of his car seat and made her way to the entrance. They stepped into a small waiting area.
“Welcome,” the receptionist said behind a wall of glass. She adjusted her glasses and looked at them without smiling.
“Hi. I’m Kalia Beck, and this is my son, Mani. We have an appointment with Shelley Thompson.”
“Have a seat. I’ll let Ms. Thompson know you’re here.”
Kalia sat down with Mani on her lap and took off his winter jacket. He plucked off his winter hat and started to wiggle and squirm.
The door opened with a buzz and a tall, thin woman, her gray hair pulled back off her face in a bun, strode briskly through the doorway. She wore a long brown skirt with sturdy shoes. “Hello. I’m Shelley Thompson,” she said, holding out a hand. “I’m pleased to meet you.”
“Hi,” Kalia said, as she stood. “I’m Kalia Beck.”
Ms. Thompson gave a thin smile. “Come this way.” She nodded to the receptionist, who buzzed the door open.
Kalia followed, carrying Mani, a bit surprised that Ms. Thompson didn’t acknowledge him. She shrugged it off and hurried to keep up.
Shelley Thompson walked down the hall and stopped at the first door. “I’ll show you around first, then we can sit and I can answer any questions you may have. Can I take your coats?”
Kalia handed her their jackets, and Ms. Thompson hung them on a hook. “This is our cloakroom. Each child has a hook and cubby with their name on it. Communication between parents and staff occurs daily, and the journals are kept in the cubby. Crafts to go home are kept here as well. As you can see, the door is locked at all times, and the receptionist must buzz parents in. That way we control who is coming and going. We encourage older children to meet their parents in the waiting room, but obviously the younger ones have their parents meet them here.
“Currently we have the equivalent of thirty full-time children, six months to five years old, with six staff. You preferred part-time for your son, if I recall?”
�
�Yes, that’s right. I was looking for two days a week.”
Ms. Thompson nodded. “Yes, we could fit him in.”
Fit him in, Kalia thought with a frown. Made him sound like an afterthought.
Ms. Thompson moved on down the hall, so Kalia quickly followed.
The woman stopped and opened a door on the right, and they walked into the playroom that was visible through the bay window. It was a colorful room with soft mats underfoot and a variety of toys. There were big balls, ride-on toys, a child-sized workshop with tools, and a painting easel tucked into the corner of the room. Everything looked clean and orderly. But there were no children.
Mani squirmed in Kalia’s arms, so she let him down to crawl.
Ms. Thompson followed Mani with her eyes as she explained. “We use this room for two daily breaks for the children, each half an hour long. It gives the children a chance to develop their large motor skills and learn cooperative play.”
Mani crawled over to a ride-on toy, and Ms. Thompson tensed and indicated they should move to the next room. Kalia scooped up Mani, cuddling him close.
“The children are in the classroom right now. We can poke our heads in briefly, but I don’t want to disturb them.”
She opened the door to a classroom, and Kalia looked in. A dozen little heads, bent over their desks, printed out the alphabet. Two others quietly put together a giant puzzle of the world on the floor, and one little girl sat and poured rice into a jar.
Pretty studious, Kalia thought. “It’s very quiet.”
“Yes.” Ms. Thompson beamed proudly. “Our mission statement is to enrich the minds of our children through play. We take that very seriously. By the time the children are old enough to attend kindergarten, they are very well prepared in their fine motor skills and their ability to read, print, and understand basic mathematical principles. We introduce social issues and enrich our students with a global perspective.”
Kalia stared. Seriously? They’re four years old. Where’s the play? Where’s the fun?
“Let’s continue this way, and I’ll show you the area for the younger children.” They continued down the hall. “The children are having a quiet time. Every morning and afternoon, the children have a quiet recess break.”
They entered a room with the lights dimmed. Three children were sprawled on the floor on mats. Two looked up when the door opened. Three young women sat drinking coffee across the room.
Is the break for the children or the adults? Kalia mused.
One woman with short blond hair, wide brown eyes, and a welcoming smile walked over and looked at Mani. “Hello there. What’s your name?” she asked quietly as she reached for his hand.
Mani peeked at her from under Kalia’s arm.
“This is Mani,” Kalia said.
“Hello, Mani. Welcome. Would you like to come in and see our toys?”
Mani hugged Kalia closer and buried his face in her shoulder. Kalia smiled and looked over at Ms. Thompson, who was frowning. “We’re just taking a quick tour, but thank you.” Kalia looked around the room. A child-sized table and three chairs sat off to the side. A shelf of toys, all neatly stacked, and a shelf of books, artfully arranged, lined the walls. All very neat and tidy. Not much like their house when Mani was playing, she thought with a sigh.
“The program for the younger children is structured with musical activities, reading time, and arts and crafts, and once a week, weather permitting, the children are taken over to the park across the street. And play time, of course,” Ms. Thompson added.
“Of course,” Kalia muttered, wondering when the fun was scheduled.
The little children on the floor were rolling and restless. Ms. Thompson gave them a stern look, and they stilled.
Kalia had seen enough. This wasn’t what she wanted for Mani. She wanted play to be a priority. There was plenty of time in his little life for structure and learning, but at this young age, she wanted more fun and laughter to be involved. This was one serious daycare.
Ms. Thompson stepped back out into the hallway. “We take a limited number of students each year. However, one of the children will be graduating to the older group and a space will be available. We’ve had two other enquiries, so if you’re interested, let us know right away. This outlines our mission statement, policies, and fees.” She handed Kalia a pamphlet.
“Thank you,” said Kalia, taking the leaflet.
“We can sit in my office if you have any other questions.”
“Thank you, but I think I have all the information I need. I can let you know when I make a decision.”
“Very well,” Ms. Thompson replied, with a strained smile. “I’ll show you the way out.”
Not very difficult. It’s one hallway. She followed Ms. Thompson down the corridor and collected their jackets when they passed the cloakroom. Kalia waited while the receptionist buzzed them out.
“Thanks again.” She scooted out the door, sat in the reception area to fasten Mani’s coat, and then walked out into the fresh air. She sighed loudly as she strapped Mani into his car seat and got behind the wheel.
Really? Is that what daycare was all about? Serious and structured, and pushing your child to grow up and get ahead? Is that what she was supposed to want for Mani? Because she didn’t. And who did arts and crafts with a child less than a year old? She felt slightly depressed. Maybe she should. Reading and music she understood. But surely there was a lot to be learned by letting a child explore and play. She hoped so.
Maybe the next day would be better. They’d be visiting Rattle My Cage. She had driven by it and was startled to see the front decorated like a cage with bars. Colorful children’s faces smiled out between the bars, but still.
Maybe her expectations were too high. Maybe it would have a higher fun factor. They’d find out.
She pulled into their driveway.
“Well, Mani,” she said as she carried him inside. She unbuckled him and lifted him out. “Let’s go play.” Mani squealed and clapped his hands.
The next morning, as she prepared to leave, the phone rang.
“Hello. This is Jackie from Rattle My Cage Daycare. I know you had an appointment to visit this morning, but one of the childcare workers and two children are sick with a gastro infection. We’ve sent the children home, and we’re closing so we can clean and disinfect.”
“Oh,” Kalia said. “That’s unfortunate.”
“Very. I want to reassure you that this doesn’t happen very often. We have a protocol in place to deal with severe infections, and part of that is to thoroughly disinfect. We’ll be back up to snuff by tomorrow. Would you like to make arrangements to come next week instead?”
“Yes, please.”
“One week from today? Would that work?”
“Yes.”
“See you then.”
Kalia hung up the phone. How often did daycares make children sicker? Not a ringing endorsement for a daycare center, but at least they were on top of it. Should she consider other options? No, she was overreacting. She wouldn’t worry about that just yet.
One week later, Kalia sat in her car at the side of the road. She banged the steering wheel in frustration. Okay, time to worry.
She had been on her way to Rattle My Cage, with Mani in the backseat, and had run out of gas. She shook her head. How did that happen? She’d had a quarter of a tank the day before. The low fuel level light had come on when she’d pulled out of the driveway. What kind of warning light came on when the tank was already empty? she fumed.
She pulled out her cell phone and called for roadside assistance. Half an hour. She peered at Mani in the rearview mirror, hoping his good mood would last and the inside of the car wouldn’t get too cold.
She also called Rattle My Cage to let them know she would be delayed.
“It’s not a problem,” the cheerful voice reassured her. “We have another parent coming. We’ll show them around, and you can join us when you get here. Thanks for letting us know.”
&nb
sp; Kalia relaxed a little. It was fine. Roadside assistance would bring some gasoline, and she would be on her way.
But how odd. The car had never run out of gas so abruptly before. Last week, the problem with the infection. And now this. Was it a sign? A bad omen? Alex warning her off? She frowned. That was too fanciful. She dismissed the idea with a shake of her head.
It was close to an hour later when she was finally ready to go. By the time the gas tank was filled, Mani needed to be breastfed. She was buckling him back in his car seat when her phone rang.
“Hello. I’m calling from Rattle My Cage daycare.”
“We’re on our way,” Kalia said.
“Oh. I was calling to tell you that the last position for your son’s age group has been filled. It turns out we won’t have a spot available, after all.”
“Really?” Kalia slumped in her seat.
“Yes, it was filled this morning. You’re welcome to visit, but I don’t anticipate any openings for the winter or into the spring.”
She sighed in frustration. “Oh, well, thanks, but maybe we’ll leave it for now.”
“Sure. Feel free to call if you change your mind.”
Kalia hung up and shook her head in frustration. Now what?
She turned the car around and headed home. Try to look at the bright side, she told herself. She wouldn’t have to drop Mani off two days a week at a daycare that looked like a cage. And she still had a month or two before she really needed to get back to work. She glanced in the rear view mirror. Mani was happy. And she had a full tank of gas.
She hadn’t thought arranging childcare would be this difficult. Maybe she needed to look at other options. One of the moms at the park had a live-in nanny. Would that work for two days a week? The easiest would be shared babysitting with another child. There were certainly a lot of families in the neighborhood to tap into for that. She pulled into the driveway. Sounded like she needed to do more research and a little creative thinking.
Chapter 19
Perfectly Unpredictable Page 10