Alleinerziehend.net e.V.

Sorry, to write in English, but my German is still not that good… but maybe someone can help me.

I have been living in Germany for a few years. Last year I got divorced, and I’ve got two children. As I became “Allein erziehend”, and my son was not yet 3 years old, since separation I am getting ALGII.
I have already tried to leave my son in pre-kindergarten (Miniklub), but it was very hard for him, he cried almost the whole time, a couple of times I had to pick him up after an hour, as the Erzieherin called me and said I should. Which for me means, he is emotionally not really ready for Kindergarten yet. Also, he is not completely toilett trained yet. I thought he would stay at home with me for a couple of more months, and that I will only send him to Kindergarten in September. But last month I was told by the Arbeitsamt, that as my son will be 3 years old in April, I MUST put him into Kindergarten, and look for a job. Is that really so? Do I really HAVE to put him into Kindergarten, even though he is not really ready for it yet? Also, now, that I am divorced, and I still don’t speak such good German (which would make it a lot harder for me to find a good job) I am considering moving back to my country… I’m already looking for jobs and accomodation, but it will also take a couple of months. My question is, what will happen from April? Will I get into trouble with the Arbeitsamt if I don’t put him into kindergaten? Is there such a rule, that one is not eligible for the Sozialhilfe, if the child is already 3, and the Alleinerziehende Mutter is not actively looking for a job? I also have a 5 year old daughter.. so at the most I could only do a part time job anyway. Also, in the Kindergarten where my daughter goes to is no free place, I would have to put him into a different Kindergarten. He is however already enrolled in my daughters Kindergarten from 2007 September. Can I apply for a delay till September (until then I’ll have either already moved to my country, or my son will be hopefully a bit more emotionally, socially, and physically ready for the Kindergarten here)?

Thank you for any suggestions.

Best wishes,
a worried single mum

P.S.: The answers can be in German as well; I understand a lot more than I can speak.

Hi,

yes it will really be like that that u have to c that ur son will be staying alone in the Kindergarden till April. Normally u just got 2 or highest 4 weeks to put him into.
But sometimes it will take longer but if u stay hard and leave him there every day he will be okay after some times. Don`t be woo much worried but till April is still some time and if he is really making too much problems there i would ask the Erzieherin to write a paper for the Jobcenter that they know that he got some problems there.

I hope the answer will help ya a lil.
And i wish ya all the best. If u still got some querys just write to ma email nena281182@yahoo.de

Hallo Frank,

Danke SEHR fuer die Uebersetzung!

Die "worried single mum"