The first time I ever dropped my son off at Day Care nearly 22 years ago, he wailed at the front door. Looking out at me like I just dropped him off at a strangers house. That picture and how I felt that day has never left me. In fact I cried all the way to work.. But as a single parent I had to do it. I also had to show some tuff love. I stopped coddling him over it, and he settled in just great!

Where are the male responses to these concerns? Shouldn't they also play an active role in these concerns?

rachel, can I give you a gold star for your sacrifices? I'm glad that you are in a position to be a stay-at-home mom. But DO NOT make those of us who aren't in that position feel as though we are doing the wrong thing (or did the wrong thing, in my case). I was not a stay-at-home mom. I had a child for whom I had to pay for food, clothing and an education. And what was the result? A summa-cum-laude graduate of UW-Milwaukee who is working on his Masters of Science in Taxation. Thank you very much.

If rachelh is fortunate enough to have a partner with insurance and who makes enough money to provide for the entire family, fine. If someone is on the dole (read: taxpayer dime) because they want to stay home with their children instead of finding a way to make a living, then you really don't want to start in on those of us who are supporting you and still finding a way to make working for a living and having a family manageable. That being said, once we became parents, we made life arrangements, such as my husband being on second shift to reduce child care needs, and my vacation time gets saved to use regarding my children when needed such as during spring break while he is at work, etc. to reduce these needs. And I grant you, now my children are a little older, although not old enough to be left alone, and there are some other options we can employ to make it work.

I totally agree in_my_opinion. Not everyone has the option of staying home or working part time.

rachelh: What could be more important? Um' I don't know! How about eating, putting a roof over their head, clothes on their back, heat to warm the in the winter etc. etc. I could go on, but the point is that just like she said, not everyone has that option! Your comment was out of line!

Laura, I know exactly how you feel. Being a working mother is one of the hardest things there is to do.

What could be more important than staying home with her? I sacrifice a lot to be an at home mom, and wouldn't change it for the world.

Nope. But, oh how I feel your pain.... :(

No, I have not Laura. The best you can do is invest time in finding the best place for her to go. Then you feel better. As for your child, she needs time to become who she will be. She is probably too young to be able to remember these days 2 years from now. For that I was thankful, for my son was similarly upset. But he does not remember it now. He knows his parents will be there when the time comes. But independence is important, and this must be developed too. Problem solving makes those kids see that some things depend on them. This helps them move forward and makes the mind work in new and exciting ways. Imagination and creativity come from within, and allows them to find out who they want to be. I pray God fills your heart with comfort, and your child with wonder, as their lives and minds begin to grow.