Team of Angels

"The angels on the bus say - Layla's here, Layla's here, Layla's here.  The angels on the bus say Layla's here and off we go to play....."

These lyrics are sung to the children's song "The Wheels on the Bus".

The bus picks up Layla and takes her off to daycare two times a week.  There are many many things that are special about this daycare like how it is run entirely by volunteers.  The bus picks Layla up and takes her in her wheely and she sits all proud and safe in the back of the bus with all of her little cuddly little buddies secure in the bus along with her for the ride.

The bus crew heads all the way out to East Richmond where The Carefree Society runs with - what is to me - a large number of very young children, all who have a variety of needs, and there are no parents on board.

The bus crew is brave.  Very brave.  I couldn't do it.  And not to mention, the crew is a happy bunch that start their day very early in the morning. Seriously, at that time in the morning alls I'm looking forward to is my cuppa coffee and going back to bed later that evening.  Not being on a bus with 16 kids 3 and under.  Not a chance.  Just ask Maya and Sabrina.  Sabrina would tell you straight.  Put my mommy in that bus and she will "lose her mind".  But I digress....

They get to the centre and they offload all these munchkins and out rolls Layla like she is the Queen of Richmond.
Time to play, read stories, have snacks, enjoy circle time, play games, partake in music therapy, do the goodbye song and load back up on the bus.  Homeward bound.  Each one quickly falling asleep - crashing after a long morning of commuting and play.  Busy bunnies!!

They do this all and change diapers!

These men and women of Carefree are angels.  They are real life angels.  It's like they are the ghosts of Christmas present and I'm Ebenezer Scrooge blinking my eyes in disbelief.

When I first told Maya and Sabrina that Layla was starting daycare, they were pretty excited.  Entirely different story when I broke the news about the bus coming to get her and take her.  They were not having any part of that business.   But you are a parent participation preschool mom!  You hover!  You never leave!
So off we went with Layla to check out the centre and the bus so that big sisters could get their wee heads around this unusual arrangement and sign off on it.

They too watched the process and were totally mesmerized.  "Who are all these nice people doting so kindly on our sister?"  "Layla is having a tea party with one of her little friends", and "can this bus drop us off to school too?".
Sisters approved.

Now the other children on the bus wave to us as they pull away. We look forward to the morning ritual of Layla's departure to Funland with her friends.  Her extended kin.

As the bus drives away, I am at peace.  

The Carefree Angels are kind hearted, compassionate, nurturing and make playing and caring for children of all walks of life look easy peasy.  There are more volunteers than there are children most days and these kids welcome the attention and care.  These kids thrive on extra love and supports.  These Angels of mine give me something sweet - their time.

This daycare is meant to bring benefit to the parent / guardian as much as to the child.  I am benefiting by knowing that my daughter is adored, treated with utmost kindness and respect.  They are angels giving their time, energy and goodness to our angels.

Layla continues to open up doors to places I could have never imagined.  And these places are filled with the best people.

When the Layla bus pulls up at my door it is like a dose of sunshine.  Sunshine over me and Layla.  

She's lucky to be surrounded by so many angels.  Shouldn't we all be so lucky.

Therapy

I have a really good therapist.  I believe her to be good anyway.  She is kind and repeats my thoughts and self-reflections in a certain manner.  The best way to describe it is like this:  Do you know when you talk to yourself ?  Be it out loud or in your head and there is no one (conveniently) there to answer back except for you.  With "C" she is the one responding to those voices in my head.  And she says stuff that my inner voices don't.  Wow.

It helps to have a sounding board for all those things that have nothing to with my childhood, my parents, my upbringing, teen years, the 20s (really, who needs drugs when you are in your 20s).  Because really, my past is just fine.  No, it all has to do with me right now.  Dealing with me and all that is me right now.  And the moving forward part...... that's tricky.

We take pictures to capture all the good times and good experiences, for all the other not so pleasant stuff we seek help.  Rather we can if we choose to.   And you know, it has it's benefits.  Seeking counsel that is.  I'm learning a lot about myself:

That I talk a lot
That I am slow
That it takes me a loooooooong time to get to a point if there is one.
That I love me.
That I am good