I am the mother of a child who was minded by Zuzana for two years, from the time Simon was 6 months old, until Zuzana returned to the UK from Ireland. We have seen Zuzana as a member of our family since that time, for very good reason – and Simon is now 16 years of age.
Zuzana minded Simon as carefully as if he was her own child, and they had a close bond. Zuzana had endless patience with Simon, and she never seemed to get tired of reading to him or doing jigsaws with him, for example. She also taught Simon to be mannerly and how to tidy up his toys after playing with them. I felt free to go to work every day without any worries about his security or happiness.
When Zuzana was planning to return to the UK, it was actually she who interviewed her potential replacements until she found someone whom she trusted would mind Simon properly. This must be an unusual quality in a childminder.
Two years later, and with planning by another childminding friend in Cork, Zuzana made a surprise appearance at our doorstep one weekend. Once she sat down at the kitchen table, Simon, now four and a half years old, silently climbed up on her lab and put his arms around her. He was devastated when she had to return to the UK after the weekend, and the only consolation that worked with him was the assurance that he would see her soon again. The idea that children forget experiences quickly at two years old is a myth – Simon remembered Zuzana two years after she had left us.
Since then, we have had regular contact – it was to Zuzana that Simon made his first trip without his parents, two years ago, to stay in Manchester for some days. We have been to the UK and Zuzana has been to Cork on visits.
The person who has Zuzana to look after their child will be fortunate, as will their child, obviously, and I really recommend her as a childminder and as a very good person indeed.
Brigid