Back in 1998, I was working in an international organization that had a wonderful child care center 🏠 for employees’ kids — full-time care till 3 years of age, and during school holidays up to 12 years.
Every day, my little daughter and I traveled in the company bus 🚌, and I dropped her off at the center, where about 8–10 children played together. The place was like a mini paradise — cradles in one room, a toy/play room full of games 🧸, a mini garden 🌸, a playground with a slide and see-saw 🎠, even bath tubs — everything was neat, hygienic, and cheerful.
My daughter loved playing there with her friends. But almost every evening, when I picked her up, she’d complain in her tiny voice:
👉 “Amma, Ashwin is beating me!”
This became her daily report card 😅. I noticed that the ayas (caretakers) and the Head were very responsible, and my daughter was otherwise happy and well taken care of. But still, this Ashwin matter was troubling me.
At first, I thought of discussing it with my colleague (Ashwin’s mother) — but then worried it might strain our cordial work relationship. 🤔
So one day, when my daughter once again opened her “complaint cell” 📢, I casually told her:
💬 “Why don’t you do the same to him?”
Oh. My. God. 😲
The very next evening, when I went to pick her up, the Head and ayas came running towards me, half laughing, half panicking:
“Your daughter was on mission revenge the whole day — running after Ashwin like a mini action hero!” 🎬💥😂
I couldn’t stop laughing, but quickly put on a straight face before my colleague arrived, pretending as if nothing had happened. 😇
And that’s how my little one learned self-defence — in her own mischievous way! Even today, whenever I recall that moment, it never fails to make me laugh and share the story with friends 🤭💖.
--Devi BS
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