So if you don’t think that women should stay home to care for their own children and be full-time moms,what’s your suggestion for child care? I mean, you don’t think it’s a full time job, but kids are certainly awake and in need of feeding, instruction, more feeding, diaper-changing, supervision, and carting around for 16 hours a day, so who do you propose does this work? Are you suggesting that we all consign our children to the care of daycare workers and alien nannies while we are out conquering the world or otherwise busying ourselves? I am serious here. The math doesn’t add up so I’d really like to know how you think a mother’s time should be apportioned and who is supposed to take care of the kids if she is devoting only part time to this work.
The main problem in child care is that since mom isn’t doing anything, baby has to entertained nonstop. Now, mom can pretend to do some work, but putting some cinnamon buns in the oven isn’t real work. So, at the end of the day, baby is bored, mom is bored so activities have to be created. And, simple tasks dragged out to fill an otherwise uneventful day. Before you know it, the day is full. But with what? Five 10 minute feedings and four diaper changes? The rest is just “mommy piddling.”
I was fortunate enough to have a job that could be done with a baby in a backpack or on my desk. But, at most, child care was a two hour a day job. They eat well when they are a little hungry. If they aren’t hungry, then spend an hour on some applesauce. And, if you let em cry, bedtime is a snap. Down they go. Or, if you can’t stand the crying (a healthy outlet for infant emotions) then I guess you have to spend an hour or more talking them off to sleep.