We’ve now lived a full year as honorary Vikings, ebbing and flowing, with all that has been necessary to adjust to our new home. One key component – our son’s vuggestue – has become a large part of our adopted community. We’ve met so many genuine and lovely people who’ve gone out of their way to help us feel welcome. Always willing to have a chat. Interacting with us and our son in both Danish and English. Curious about our previous life and interested in how we’re settling in Denmark. It’s a beautiful village we’ve happened upon.
Our sweet little boy is becoming a ‘big boy’ as he likes to remind us daily. He’s full of stories and adventure. Mischief and make-believe. He shares his ever-changing perspective and invites us into his remarkable world. He insists on taking his little backpack everywhere (even if it’s empty). He remains adamantly against eating cucumber, but loves to tell me how much he likes broccoli (I have yet to see him eat it). He’s a bit obsessed with ice cream, hummus and crispbread … not usually enjoyed together. He often stops to point out garbage trucks, diggers, machines of any kind, a good sneglehus (snail shell) and lille peter edderkops (anything remotely spider-like). He’s a sweet soul, a true gift, and I’m grateful every day to be his mum.
As with most things in life, just as you pause to appreciate where you’re at … life comes knocking with imminent change. Our son has just celebrated his 3rd birthday. A milestone for him, and for us as his parents. With this, comes the transition from vuggestue to børnehave. In our case, our son is enrolled in a forest børnehave, which means he will rotate 2 weeks out in the forest with 1 week at the institution. This is something we dreamt of when we envisioned our life in Denmark.
For those who are wondering the difference between the two:
– Vuggestue is the equivalent of nursery or daycare. The ratio of adults to children is 1:4. The ages range from 6 months up to 2 years and 10 months (pushing closer to 3 years old, at least at our institution). All institutions are legally required to follow a curriculum focused on social skills, language and movement.
-Børnehave translates to kindergarten, but elsewhere in the world it would be referred to as pre-school. The ages range from 3 to 6 years. Essentially children attend until they start school. The ratio of adults to children is 1:6.
Thankfully he will remain in the same integrated institution, but we now have new routines, new teachers, new parents and new kids to welcome into our lives. It’s bittersweet, it’s exciting, and just a little bit terrifying. His days will be spent with the big kids, exploring the forest and learning new skills. With new routines, come so many messages and updates, schedule changes and reminders. It feels a bit like chasing a moving target. Flying blind. Google translate is working overtime with anything I can’t decipher. I’ll text friends for assistance where needed. It’s a full-time job and I’m so excited to be here, living this life. Albeit, a bit flustered and sweaty at times.
Tusind tak to our vuggestue village, for accepting us into your world. I know it takes extra effort. Especially switching between languages and partaking in small talk. Trust me, your English is fantastic, don’t ever apologize. My comprehension of Danish is decent, I mostly know what you’re saying but I’ll panic respond in English. It’s a process. Thank you for sharing your lives with ours, scheduling playdates and swapping phone numbers. It has made settling here tremendously easier. To develop a familiarity with others and curb the loneliness and self-doubt that sometimes creeps in. The questions of ‘how long will you stay?’ have quietly faded away and we’ve just become one of the many. Our son may not be Danish by birth, but he is becoming a full-on Viking by immersion. Here’s to the start of a new journey: Fra vuggestue til børnehave.
Again very interesting and spell binding. I would have enjoyed that life style as a young woman and mother. It certainly seems less demanding, but all without a car. That would have been difficult, having 3 young children in tow. But the bike was always a dream of mine as a child. We finally did get one in our mid- forties.
Love looking forward to your next musing.
Love , Grandma