by Jennifer Harrison

Created on: June 12, 2008

To say that a child raised by a stay-at-home parent will be better off than a child who attends daycare because their parents both work is making a very large assumption. The simple truth of the matter is not whether the child's parents both work or are able to stay home with the child, but rather how much quality time is being spent with the child.

In an ideal world, a family could survive off the income of a single parent, allowing the other to remain home and raise the children. In this ideal world, the parent remaining home with the child would be able to devote their full attention to the child day in and day out, seven days a week, three hundred sixty five days a year. That child would greatly benefit from the stay-at-home parent, no doubt about it. However, there is a problem with this idea. The number of families that can live off a single income is becoming smaller leaving less room for stay-at-home parents, and then there's the simple fact that only an extraordinary human being could devote so much to another and not suffer themselves.

No doubt, out there somewhere there are those ideal situations. Unfortunately, they are the minority. Does that mean that all the other children out there are suffering because their stay-at-home parent needs a break once in a while or because both of their parents work? Are children of single parents suffering too? The answer is not a definite yes or no. There are stay-at-home parents who will happily sit their child down in front of the TV all day. There are working parents who will get home from work and not pay attention to their children because they had a "long day" and "need a break". There are stay-at-home parents who take their children to libraries, museums, parks, and play games and teach their children. There are working parents who spend their evenings playing, having fun, going to the zoo, and reading books on the weekends. Situations vary, families vary, and that is why the attention needs to be diverted from the stay-at home vs. working parent's debate and re-aligned with what the children really need quality time and attention. It does not matter if you are home all day with your son or daughter, what matters is how much quality time is being spent with them.

A working parent is at the disadvantage because most of their day is spent at a job earning their living. However, if they are able to take a couple of hours every evening and devote their time to their child, then that child will not suffer.

So, is it better for a child to be raised by stay-at-home parents? No, it is better for the child to be raised by caring, devoted parents who will take the time to talk, teach, play, and just be with their child.

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