pc@hplabsb.UUCP (08/02/85)
It isn't clear how many people who are debating this childcare
issue have any first-hand experience taking care of children, so I won't
make the assumption that the percent is within epsilon of 0 (in spite of
indications in that direction).
In answer to the question "Who's watching the children?" there
seems to be a 1/0 debate raging: father vs mother. Having watched many
parents with their children, it's my observation that these children could
be served very well by mitigating the influence of the "parenting" they
receive with the influence of people who are actually knowledgeable about
early childhood development, people who've studied, who have experience,
and who are not trying to watch the kids while they take care of all kinds
of other things (household work, e.g.).
It seems to me that instead of putting energy into removing a
parent who wants to be gainfully employed from the workforce, one could
put energy into improving the quantity of available high quality childcare.
This means taking the time to follow developments in your community regarding
support for high-quality childcare, following legislation (California has
some unbelievable proposed regulations on childcare centers while children
can be in homes without any regulations at all), participating in a childcare
center as a volunteer (there are out-of-hours things to do).
Looking at the children I know who have had the benefit of excellent
childcare while their parents work, they are remarkably more verbal, more
able to understand and express their own feelings, and able to understand
a diversity of personalities and approaches. There are, of course, centers
which have an academic focus (tracing letters at age 2, enforced memorization
at age 3) and those kids surely miss the snuggles and warmth they *might*
have at home; and there are centers which have no focus and those kids may
feel lost. But potential parents and parents of young children can encourage
the kind of environment that nurtures healthy, happy, well-adjusted children.
There is still a lot of time for the special relationship between
a child and her parents; and children are in no way confused about their love
and respect for their parents just because they have other people who ALSO
care for them.
And since this is net.women...
A woman can be a wonderful mother, giving of herself to her child
from her heart and soul, without being around that child 24 hours a day
for the first 18 years. In my case, I know I have MORE to give and BETTER
to give because I am fulfilled in my job. I doubt that there could be
a deeper love than my son and I share, and it didn't require constant
contact to flourish.
Patricia Collin
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{ucbvax|duke|hao|allegra}!hplabs!pc