Along with many Canadians, I watched the candidate debate the other night with some interest. As I’m sure the case is with all those that watched I had my own opinions on what the candidates said. There was one issue which particularly bothered me: day care.
Much discussion took place concerning day care. Statements were made regarding the high cost of day care in most provinces. Quebec was praised as the province with the best day care model in the country. The candidates offered various solutions to what on all accounts seems to be a serious problem for the voting public. So what did I have trouble with? In all the discussion there was a underlying unstated assumption that everyone who has children uses day care. One of the candidates who advocated tax deductions for children even failed to make the point that such a scheme would allow parents to use the money for whatever purpose they wished – as opposed to a better day care system which would only benefit those who use it.
So now I feel obliged to ask the embarrassing and I am quite sure unpopular question that never came up during the debate: Why are so many parents reluctant to raise their own children? Is our society now at the point that day care is a demand? It seems rather obvious to me that if you want to have children that you ought to at least be prepared to raise them.
I Timothy 5:14
“I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully.”
The clear direction of Scripture is that parents (not strangers) are to bring up their own children. It is not the responsibility of the government, of schools or of complete strangers.
Deuteronomy 6:6, 7
“And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart. And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.”
It would seem to be quite a difficult task to follow this advice if parents are not even with their children. Various independent studies have shown that the first five years of a child’s growth – the formative years – are critical to proper development and growth. Are you satisfied to allow your child to spend this vital time with someone else? And if you do make this decision, then don’t be surprised if your children turn out to be different than you always imagined. After all – there’s not much you can do about it if you aren’t even around.
To be sure, day care has its place in our society since circumstances are not always in our control. However, if the reasons are such as a desire for a career because child rearing is too difficult or the unwillingness to dispense with a certain lifestyle then I would suggest you are not in this category. If God’s clear instruction is for parents to raise their own children, then it is His responsibility to provide the necessary means. Why not model parenting instead of model day care? I exhort and challenge you parents to put Him first, your family next and yourselves last and then stand back and watch Him work. You have nothing to lose except the guilt in later life of wondering why you didn’t enjoy the time that God had given you to be there for your children. You’ll soon see that God’s plan for the family is indeed the model day care you always wanted.