I worked at a daycare in my early 20's, part-time.

All I could think was: "Why are these mothers leaving the essential raising of their children, during critical years, to underpaid, overworked, stressed out women?"

These poor day care workers were subsidizing the mother's careers for practically nothing in return. The careers? Clerk typists and other semi-skilled, or non skilled workers considered their jobs too well paid to stay home? When you add things up, these women simply wanted to work to get out of the house. We had one mother that was an actual well-paid professional. 9/10 were hourly wage workers.

It does not work. Dream on working mothers who leave their youngins with strangers. If you can't care for your children, if you do not have an extended family to care for your children, and if you have no income to pay for high quality daycare (whatever that is. . .the one I worked in was considered the best), don't have children.

The writer was there as a writer. Her sample was skewed. Those underpaid young women, or whatever their ages, are not always calm and nurturing. I witnessed physical abuse, on more than one occassion, and informed the director. When she did nothing, I left.

No doubt that more than half the time, daycare is hell!