Inge Nees

As a nursery school teacher, I work with the oldest toddlers. For more than thirty years I have been watching closely their

reactions to different situations. Watching these 5-year-olds grow and flourish while listening and talking to them, has made my job very fascinating.

In February 2023 I was taken with a fatal illness. One of my first reactions was: what about my toddlers?

How will I tell them?

On an emotional evening at the seaside I took a small notebook and wrote down this story. In my book Teacher where are you? I say farewell to my pupils and they say farewell to me. The loss of a grandpa, mama, brother or sister has been the theme of many nursery books. But I couldn’t find any story about a teacher or colleague who suddenly fades away.

Talking (or learning to talk) about death with young children should be done in a natural way. I hope that my story will be an eye opener in that process. Teacher where are you? should be present in every primary school, in every palliative care unit, in medical waiting rooms, in every family.

I would like to make themes such as illness, loss and mourning open for discussion and offer guidance to those who should need it.