Cost Of Child Care In Oklahoma Exceeds College Tuition

Hats off to you syork. It would be a better world if more mom's could stay home and raise their children. The sad part is that in today's world it is extremely difficult to make ends meet on just one income. These are the best years of a child's life, and also the most impressionable. The experiences and memories of their home life will remain with them the rest of their lives, just as watchdog1 related to the memories of their childhood. Your sacrifice today will reap hugh benefits down the road. I congratulate you on your decision.

Good for you syork, you are absolutely right. You never realize what hard work it is being home all day and taking care of a child, until you do it, if you are doing it right that is,I am not talking about the women or men who sit on their a** all day on the couch drinking Pepsi and watching Oprah,The View, Jerry Springer or court tv, chatting on the phone and ignoring the child. It is hard work, but without a doubt the most rewarding and worthwhile job you will ever do, plus you have the peace of mind of knowing your child is safe and receiving the best care. I applaud you for choosing to consider your childs well being more important than the little extra money you might make,also it makes a difference in your IRS tax burden too, so in some cases, you actually come out ahead financially when only one parent works if you consider not only the child care costs, but work clothes you would need, lunches,and fuel to travel to and from work.

For my family we have chosen to let me stay at home with the baby. Being an Admin. Asst. means I am on the lower income scale. It just isnt worth me going to work and having someone else basically raise my child for 9+ hours every day for a little extra income. I would rather sacrafice things we dont need to be the one to raise my daughter. I know that is not feasable for single parents, but if you have a working spouse, I urge you to consider being a stay at home parent.

I think that is one of the reasons so many kids go the wrong direction, they are basically raising themselves, the parents are either too lazy or too self absorbed to spend time being parents, they expect others to do it for them, but nothing takes the place of a good, attentive, nagging parent for keeping the kids focused on the right things. I grew up with a stay at home mom, and a dad that was home every evening, I got my behind blistered if I needed it, hugged if I needed that. I was a well adjusted, easy going kid,made good grades, responsible, honest, non agressive, didn't turn to crime, abuse drugs or alcohol, and loved and respected my parents right up until they both passed, raised my kids the same way, spanked them when they needed it,loved them, made them the top priority in our life, they turned out well too. I don't know what parents now think they are doing, but it is the wrong thing whatever it is, at least 90% are absolute failures, they are producing a generation of disturbed, immoral, destructive, dangerous people, who have no clear understanding of right and wrong, all you have to do is watch kids anywhere, anytime to see proof of this. Sad...these are the kids who will inherit the earth.

One of the problems with kids today is that they have no family foundation. Most are raised by two or more sets of parents, two or more sets of grandparents, the baby sitter, and the TV. The parents are so busy with work or having their manicures, pedicures, and their hair done, or fishing, hunting, or golf, the children are ignored and expected to raise themselves. I truely believe this is why so many kids wind up in gangs. They are needing to belong and feel wanted, needed, and loved by someone or anyone. The parents need to quit being so concerned with their own selfish desires and realize they brought these children into this world and THEY have a responsibility to and for them. A little attention, a kind word, and a kiss and a hug occasionally would go a long way. The memories and impressions these kids experience in childhood can have a dramatic effect on how these kids approach and react in adult life.

Sad...and so much of this quality child care isn't quality at all, if the parents knew how much time most of these little kids spend feeling lonely, frightened and abandoned they would just be sick. My family struggled, making do with only one working parent until my kids began school, we were really poor, but we didn't have to pay child care, we knew our kids were safe, happy, healthy and mom could give them a kiss and hug when they needed one, I am thankful that we chose to do it that way, it was well worth the investment in my kids well being, and our peace of mind, looking back, we didn't really miss all those things we couldn't afford. I know sometimes it is necessary for your to use child care, please do make surprize visits often, and talk to your kids about what they do all day.