Mum Brought To Tears By Childminder Who Left Comforting Note Before She Went Back To Work | HuffPost Life

'For you today will feel so long, so here's a little something to keep you strong.'

By

Life editor at HuffPost UK

A mum has expressed how grateful she was when her childminder left her a comforting note the first day she left her 10-month-old for a full day at work.

Charlie Kirkaldy, 38, from Wokingham, shared a photo of the note and goodies from her childminder on Instagram, writing: “It’s Sam’s first full day with the childminder and as I held back the tears, she slipped this into my hand. What a legend.”

The childminder had left a note alongside a packet of tissues, some coffee and some chocolate. “For you today will feel so long, so here’s a little something to keep you strong.”

The note continued: “Tissues to wipe away your tears, invisible reassurance to ease your fears. Coffee to drink and take a while, to paint back on a make-believe smile. Chocolate to make it a bit more okay, and to help you get to the end of the day.”

She ended the note with: “Sam will be fine - happy and loved - I promise xx.”

Speaking to HuffPost UK, Charlie explained her 10-month-old son Sam had previously been for a few, two-hour “settling in” sessions with the childminder, but this was his first full day with her.

This day was different for Charlie as once she had dropped him off, she was catching a train into London (a one hour 15 minute journey away) and starting a new job.

“It’s always so hard leaving your child when you go back to work but for many it’s a necessity,” she explained. “This morning I experienced a range of emotions: nervousness and excitement at the prospect of going back to work, but the overriding feeling was sadness and guilt for leaving my son in the care of somebody we’ve only recently met.”

CharlieKirkaldy

Charlie and her son Sam.

Charlie said she knew from her first meeting with the childminder that she was the right person to look after her son, adding: “The thoughtful gift she gave me this morning just goes to show that. Her kindness and understanding of how hard it can be for parents brought tears to my eyes and has made my first full day apart from him a little less painful.”

Other parents commented on the post praising the childminder for easing the stress of the day for Charlie. “This is awesome, fantastic childminder,” one wrote. Another commented: “Wow, what a wonderful person she is!”

Have you gone back to work after having kids? What tips and tricks helped ease the process for you? Comment below or share your experiences by emailing ukparents@huffpost.com.

Before You Go

Yes, You CAN Make A Family Walk Fun

Don't say 'who wants to go for a walk?'(01 of08)

Reframe a walk so it's enticing and exciting using words like explore, play, adventure.Who wants to climb a castle or who wants to find some treasure or skim stones? (credit:Alexander Nicholson via Getty Images)

Don't plod in a straight line - and back again.(02 of08)

Choose a wiggly walk and terrain made for adventuring. "It's all about keeping children's minds off putting one foot in front of another," says Clare Lewis. (credit:Stephen Lux via Getty Images)

Always have an appealing destination - and make pit-stops along the way.(03 of08)

It could be a café with their favourite hot chocolate or their 'secret' place like a climbing tree. Make regular stops to admire natural curiosities, make a den, whittle a stick or play in water or whatever you fancy. Encourage your kids to take photos. Clare Lewis's family always take 'scroggin'; a New Zealand name for a hikers' mix of nuts and seeds, dried fruit and chocolate to keep energy levels up. (credit:ArtMarie via Getty Images)

Join forces with another family or get the kids to bring their friends.(04 of08)

Children love the sociability of a walk and bringing friends increases their activity as they challenge each other to jump the highest or widest, splash in puddles, climb trees or find the best stick. (credit:Alistair Berg via Getty Images)

Walk together in a chatty clod, not a single line with you barking 'come on, keep up'(05 of08)

There may be times you have to walk in a line, but take turns with who's the leader. Also, let your children choose the route (within reason!). (credit:Bounce via Getty Images)

Play games as you go.(06 of08)

Hide-and-seek, capture the flag or ambushes - sending kids on ahead so they can jump out on you - are all favourites. Bring a ball or a Frisbee to play with too. (credit:JLPH via Getty Images)

Turn your walk into a treasure hunt. Or an obstacle course.(07 of08)

Children love places to clamber over like a rocky beach or challenges like climbing trees or jumping over streams. Challenge children to touch that tree and run back, hopscotch between the pavement cracks or run along the low wall. "You could go on a shape walk, finding stones, shells and leaves that are all the same shape," suggests Clare Lewis, co-author of Adventure Walks for Families in and Around London. (credit:Imgorthand via Getty Images)

End on a high.(08 of08)

Match a walk to your kids' ages. You don't want want to leave them exhausted. Talk up what fun you had, so next time you suggest an adventure walk they leap at the chance. (credit:ArtMarie via Getty Images)

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