October 29, 2003

The Tide is Turning

The United States Census shows that the number of children being cared for by stay-at-home moms has increased nearly 13 percent in less than a decade. The percentage of new mothers who go back to work fell from 59 percent in 1998 to 55 percent in 2000.

NYTimes.com, Oct. 26, 2003

+++++++++

The data above suggest that rearing children is becoming more important for many women and families than the career track sponsored by the lib movement of the past few decades. This is a good trend and we should be pleased. On the other hand, it may be partially a reflection of the somewhat worse job market.

I hope it's the former. Children need parents, not just paid caregivers. Otherwise our culture will not be as healthy as it should be.

No comments: