“Women should be able to be independent”: Sibilla Geuenich-Lorscheid on role models

On the occasion of today's International Women's Day, we talked to the long-time director of the Miesbach parish kindergarten about the establishment of the crib in 2010, the role of women - and about boys in princess dress.

Miesbach - women and men have equal rights, but different: All political measures for equality do not change the fact that it is women who have children - and as a result usually shoulder the bulk of the upbringing.

In Miesbach, Sibilla Geuenich-Lorscheid (68) made a contribution to a better work-life balance.

On the occasion of today's International Women's Day, we spoke to the former and long-time director of the Miesbach parish kindergarten about the establishment of the nursery in 2010, the role of women - and about boys in princess dresses.

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“Women should be able to be independent”: Sibilla Geuenich-Lorscheid on role models

Ms. Geuenich-Lorscheid, you founded Miesbach's first daycare center in 2010.

Why?

My concern was to accommodate women who wanted their children to be well and professionally cared for.

We knew that there would be a legal right to a daycare place, but that was not my motivation.

My aim was to offer support to women.

There are many single parents who have no other option than to have their child cared for outside the home.

It was also important to me to integrate the crèche into the kindergarten.

So that the little ones can stay in their facility when they move on to kindergarten.

After all, a change involves getting used to it and getting used to it.

How did the people of Miesbach react to the crib?

At first we felt reservations.

There was still a conviction in people's minds that it was not good to take such young children out of the home.

Especially the grandparents, who come from a different generation, thought that such small children belong to the mother.

Back then, our educators were even insulted when they were out and about in the city in the crib car.

Whether it has to be that such small children are already going to kindergarten.

Whether the mothers cannot look after their children themselves.

Didn't you have any reservations yourself?

But.

I grew up in the west.

The image of women was that the mother would stay at home and take care of the children.

To be able to offer a crèche with a clear conscience, I had to go through a process for that.

That didn't happen overnight.

At the time, the specialist advice service suggested that we adopt children from six months.

I couldn't bring myself to do that.

But care from one year on, that's where I'm still behind it.

Because I knew we were providing good support.

Which women used the crib in the beginning?

Well-trained women who wanted to continue working in their profession and for whom it was very important to have good support.

Usually academics.

As an educator, you have seen the change in the image of women and the family at first hand.

Thank God a lot has changed in the partnership.

Many men and women now share responsibility for their children on an equal footing.

Also the practical part, like bringing and picking up the children in kindergarten.

I was also able to call the fathers without any problems if a child got sick during the day and had to be picked up.

In some families, both work only 60 percent so that everyone can take care of the children.

I think that's very good.

What role do kindergartens play in teaching equality between men and women?

I think the family is more influential there.

Children learn above all from role models.

However, if a five-year-old in kindergarten says this or that is only for girls, then we have to talk.

For example, during my time in kindergarten, I kept having boys who wanted to come as princesses during Carnival.

Here it was up to us educators to convey to the other children that it is okay for boys to dress up as princesses.

That was the end of the subject.

By the way, my six-year-old grandson loves pink and purple (laughs).

You are a mother and a grandma yourself.

Have you always been at work?

Yes.

I only took a short break after the birth of my daughter.

When she was five years old, I went back to working full-time.

That is why I am also aware of the need for good support.

I myself was very lucky with the compatibility of work and family.

My daughter was allowed to come to kindergarten after school and do homework there.

The management at the time, Sister Helga, made this possible for me.

Later, however, my daughter didn't feel like going to kindergarten anymore, the children were too young for her.

She was then allowed to stay at home alone.

I came home during lunch break and then went back to work.

What image of women did you want to convey to your daughter?

It was important to me to convey an independent image of women.

Women should learn a good job that enables them to support themselves.

Only when they are independent can they make free decisions.

I know older women who have separated from their husbands and now have to get by on a minimal pension because they have been in precarious employment all their lives.

Some women make a conscious choice to stay at home and take care of the children.

How do you find that?

I can understand that and also respect that.

Every woman can decide for herself how she will shape her life.

All women should respect each other - no matter what model of life they lead.