New series:
Monthly essay of students who have chosen to study while they raise their children
Child-raising Parents' Effort 1: Helpful Nursery in the University

Ryohei Mabuchi, a Sophomore at the School of Political Science and Economics

Niko's favourite place - a special seat of the bicycle!

My life - father, 20, mother, 20, and daughter, two months

Nursery school teachers heartily helped us at the beginning of our life in Tokyo

I got married in 2002, and my daughter, Niko, was born that year. When I entered the university in 2003, our childcare, which was the first experience for us, has started. It was the teachers in a nursery of the university, Momochan nursery that I found after I came to Tokyo. Thanks to the nursery, which had taken care of my daughter before it opened officially on 7 April, I could clear up my new house and visit some places around Tokyo. When my wife, who was not used to the life in Tokyo, got pneumonia, and we were away from our parents, we were encouraged by the teachers, and we managed to overcome difficult situation. The hardship knitted my family together.

My family vitalizes me. A life which was totally unimaginable when I was a high school student.

The only holiday for three of us is Sunday. When we were taking a nap, Niko, woke up the earliest, was standing at my bedside smiling all over her face and wearing her hat and holding her jumper under her arm. These were her expression of intension that she wanted to go to a playground. I feel so happy whenever I think that Niko, who had not been able to even tumble in bed when we moved to Tokyo, has begun to show such signs of intelligence. When Niko got tympanitis and seldom smiled, I had a feeling of deep unease. The life like that is far away from the campus life which I had imagined as I was in a high school. I have to struggle with so many difficulties, but now I appreciate even short conversation with my acquaintances. If I did not lead the life like this, I would not have such a feeling over other people. I was a naughty boy -dropped out of a high school, and thought that social morality, which adults tried to teach me, was really ridiculous. But now, I am learning the importance of social manners and keeping regular hours to cultivate a child's mind. To study and to maintain my family at the same time might be different from a usual way of university life. If, however, I am asked which campus life is more stimulating and make my life fuller, an easy life without a family, or a life cheered by my family? The answer is obvious.

Waseda University opened-to-area nursery Momochan Nursery Waseda Room
Home Page http://www.waseda.ac.jp/student/hoikusho/
Address 162-0042 47 Waseda-cho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
Capacity about 30
Opening 7:30-22:00