Good child care helps families and society at large
Vancouver Sun
March 24, 2007
Letters -- By: Mya Warren

To those who wonder why more women don't want to stay home with their babies: Child-rearing is just not enough. This sounds appalling coming from a woman, but ask yourself how many men would become fathers if it meant giving up their careers and their identity outside the home. Are they then less important or less effective as parents because they work?

Luckily, women today do not have to choose between a career and a family (at least when quality childcare is available). There is still, however, a popular misconception that putting your children in daycare is detrimental to their development. This is despite the fact that most research on the matter has found just the opposite, that children in daycare are more socialized, and adjust better to school. Also, parents express more happiness in their family life and relationship with each other.

If Canadians really value families, we will embrace the family as it is now, not as it was in the 1950s. We will stop vilifying women for putting their children in daycare and start providing real options for parents to balance their careers and families.