Daycare Versus Staying At Home
Stay-at-home-mom’s (SAHMs) or the working mom? Is daycare harmful? What role should we choose? For many of us, this decision is made entirely by the numbers in our budget. Basic needs sometimes cannot be paid for if the household diminishes to one income. Or maybe you are a single parent, with no spouse to rely on for financial support. Whatever your situation is that warrants the need for daycare, there is a certain level of guilt that can come with this decision. I am one of those parents, who needs to financially contribute to the family in order for bills to be paid, so I utilize daycare. I remember fearing that many of my child’s “firsts” would be experienced outside of my watchful eye, and I would be devastated at the news that little Ava first rolled over, crawled, or walked at daycare. (Note: This fear for me has so far been unfounded, as my daughter has rolled over and crawled for the first time with me at home. Yay!) And then there is some research that makes this even worse by suggesting that daycare is harmful. Well, from what I can tell, the jury is still out on that one. Yes, some research claims that daycare is harmful, while other research reports the opposite.
I’m finding in this parenting journey that we can do all that we can to protect, but when it comes down to it, our kids are going to be exposed. Exposed to bad germs, bad situations, and bad people. So daycare or not, if we are involved in our kids’ lives, teach them right from wrong, and offer them structure, stability, love, and affection, that is what is important. I’m reminded often that it is not always the quantity of what we give, but the quality of it. Parents out there, do what you know in your heart is what is needed for your family. Parenting is hard enough, let’s not beat ourselves up over things we cannot control. Instead, put all of your worries and guilt in God’s hands and let Him handle it. Pray for God’s protection over your little one as you hand him/her over to that daycare worker, and then go about your day knowing that you are a good parent, who is doing the best you can for your child.
If you still have more questions about how to parent your child in difficult situations, you can always contact our staff of friendly family counselors at any time.