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Spiffgirl · 08-03-2005, 04:58 PM

I have always planned on staying home with my kids which, in my opinion, is what's ultimately best for children, for a number of reasons.
First of all, why do so many families need both parents working? Our standard of living has gone way up in the past couple of decades. Today, families are paying so much more for stuff they don't really need than they used to pay in, for example, the 50's. Everyone's gotta have TVs with hundreds of channels, computers, super fast internet, huge new houses, new cars, etc. Unless your partner has a seriously pitiful salary, chances are you can cut back on the "extras" and still survive on one salary.
Secondly... you say it's better for your child to have a good role model because their mom's out establishing her career. Did you ever stop to think about the impact you could have if you let your child know you love them so much that you're willing to sacrifice your own desires and goals to spend those precious first years of their life with them? And if you're not ready to make that sacrifice..don't have kids. I know that sounds harsh, but there seems to be a prevailing attitude that we need to follow our dreams and do what's best for us (i.e., have an awesome and satisfying career). I think, however, that it's very honorable to give up what we want in order to do what's best for someone else.
Finally, for those of you considering daycare...I worked for a year in a supposedly high-quality daycare (it was quite expensive, if that indicates quality :-) ). God forbid something should happen to my husband and I ever have to send my (future) child to a daycare! The staff had their issues, but most of the disturbing things I saw were what the kids would do to each other. Socializing, hmmm? And the kids that were there five days a week, 8 hours a day, were the worst-behaved...a shocking contrast to the kids who only came for 2 or 3 days a week and were very sweet, polite, and enjoyable to be around.
I'm sure all daycares/children are different...I just can't imagine how putting a child in a room with 11 of his peers and one or two adults is better than one-on-one time with mommy.

08-03-2005, 04:58 PM	#37 (permalink)
Spiffgirl Upright Location: I come from spase, no I don't come from here. I am a spase people. I am from a different planet	I have always planned on staying home with my kids which, in my opinion, is what's ultimately best for children, for a number of reasons. First of all, why do so many families need both parents working? Our standard of living has gone way up in the past couple of decades. Today, families are paying so much more for stuff they don't really need than they used to pay in, for example, the 50's. Everyone's gotta have TVs with hundreds of channels, computers, super fast internet, huge new houses, new cars, etc. Unless your partner has a seriously pitiful salary, chances are you can cut back on the "extras" and still survive on one salary. Secondly... you say it's better for your child to have a good role model because their mom's out establishing her career. Did you ever stop to think about the impact you could have if you let your child know you love them so much that you're willing to sacrifice your own desires and goals to spend those precious first years of their life with them? And if you're not ready to make that sacrifice..don't have kids. I know that sounds harsh, but there seems to be a prevailing attitude that we need to follow our dreams and do what's best for us (i.e., have an awesome and satisfying career). I think, however, that it's very honorable to give up what we want in order to do what's best for someone else. Finally, for those of you considering daycare...I worked for a year in a supposedly high-quality daycare (it was quite expensive, if that indicates quality :-) ). God forbid something should happen to my husband and I ever have to send my (future) child to a daycare! The staff had their issues, but most of the disturbing things I saw were what the kids would do to each other. Socializing, hmmm? And the kids that were there five days a week, 8 hours a day, were the worst-behaved...a shocking contrast to the kids who only came for 2 or 3 days a week and were very sweet, polite, and enjoyable to be around. I'm sure all daycares/children are different...I just can't imagine how putting a child in a room with 11 of his peers and one or two adults is better than one-on-one time with mommy.