ids heed their pare AS Timothy Renshaw pointed out with verve, vim, and a good dose of sarcasm in his Aug. 29 “Ripping Yarns” col- umn, the plight of mid- die class Canadians wait- ing in line to warehouse their children in day care centres makes the heart bleed; for the chil- dren, of course. Essentially, the issue at stake is the federal govern- ment’s intention to spend upwards of $15 billion on a “seamless series of develap- mental services for parents and children, stretching from con- ception to age six.” Middle: class couples don’t have enough “high quality” subsidized day care facilities, which leads to “hell on earth, ” to repeat one media-hyper- bole. Accordingly, as soon as they conceive, “middle class” couples are impelled to rush out and place their unsuspect- ing embryos on day care wait- ing lists for fear there will be no placements when the time is ripe to kick the neonate into the harsh world. But as day care magnate, Diane O'Neill, said in an August 16 Vancouver Sun interview, the day care plight occurs for “single parents” as well. And they are caiiing her rnailbox ——_ilana Creer fair conunent in droves, “Some have just been aceepted into school, or have just Bnally gor a job and can’t take it because they don’t have day care... [t's heart break- ing.” she added. Evidently, people are going to work but are also lugging along gnawing guilt pangs. Anda blob of protoplasm like a child should not be permit- ted to set in motion a self-reg- ulating emotion Eke guilt. When guilt besieges the nation, it is time for govern- ment to act. 1am pushing 40, bur I still recall the day I fearned my pride and jov had beer con- ceived. Silly me, had T gone out and placed her on a wait- ing list my career might look a lot different today. There is a price to pay for that well-adjusted independent thinking marvel of mine, and [ have no one to blame but “myself. Call ita personality weakness if you will, but Twas unable to deposit this vulnera- ble personage of nw creation to the care of strangers. But let me put askie my considerabic aninus over the catcomes in the world for munis who stay with their kids versus those who don’t. At the heart of this initia- tive is, of course, the govern- ment’s patronizing belief that parents need “systemic and structured suppert” in raising their children. Sadly, government has 3 point. Fully three quarters of Canadians “welcome a system of day care available to ail fam- ilies thar is paid for by govern- ment and parents.” ‘To me this says Canadians need more than government help with their children -- they need divine intervention. There is a world of differ- ence incidentally between an educational nursery school for the tiny non-voters and the all- round day care geared for their working parents. My own toddler attended a nursery school from the ages of three to six (albeit not in Canada). The teachers all had four-year diplomas, and the environment was a structured one, packed with learning and socializing. By noon the children had to be collected. My recolice- tion is of a very tired tot who, thereafter, was cager to spend a laid-back afternoon unwind- ing. This stimulation is very dif- ferent from the ordeal of the seed ihe pen ENT dt RAL NC RAR AN GRRL He seer meme ae mI? Menta mn Hater eee Caring about quality Dear Editor: In Timothy Renshaw’s Aug. 29 column, Keep gov- ernment out of babysitting business, he expressed many concerns regarding the leaked draft which included a vision of universal child care, but Mr. Renshaw’s opinicns are based upon — inaccurate assumptions. First, of course, is the notion that families consist of two parents and one of the parents is working for self-ful- fillment rather than out of need. Research conducted by the Vanier Institute of the Family shows that in order to achieve the average family income, most families need two wage carners. This increase in dual-carn- er families in Canada is a response to economic neces- sity. . “The instituce’s findings ~ confirm thar it rakes 77 weeks to finance a typical family’s yearly basic needs and the lowest income families need 83.6 weeks. Do the math. I know Mr. Renshaw is concerned primarily with the potential subsidization of the middle class, however, Canadian families no longer fir the 1960s Hollywood image of family. The makeup of families today is far different from two parents, 2.5 kids, and one breadwinner. Family makeup is diverse cand includes single-parent families, famities of divorce, immigrant. families, families ‘of unemployment, families existing below the poverty line, and many others differ- ent from the upper middle- class family he has portrayed in his article. Yes, there is a high level of wealth in our country, and particularly on the North Shore, but the North Shore includes many differing socio-economic — diversities and needs. {ssucs of quality care of children are not going to go away, and neither is child care, given the current cost of living, particularly on the North Shore and if they did, the economic inpact would be substantial, The icaked document was not only about child care but about how to give Canadian children the best start in lite. The issue is the quality of care, no matter who provides it. Recent brain research demonstrates that young chil- dren’s involvement in high quality activities, whether provided by child care profes- sionals or parents, results in a positive impact upon their intellectual development, aca- demic success and many other positive life-long bene- fits. All Canadian children deserve the best start possible and parents should have options in accessing high- quality services for their chil- dren whether it’s through child care, family resource centres or other brain stimu- lating activities and services. Regardless of who pays the bill, a healthy beginning and quality child care are necessities in Canada, and yes, the North Shore. Li Boesen, Executive Director North Shore Child Care Resource Society David Neel “NATIVE JEWELLERY/ WEDDING RINGS” 444 West 3rd Street, North Vancouver 988-9215 Poe d ot 9s ETAT SNe Peed teeth #6 4 eS BRB we ee ee Pores warchoused child. For her it is up with daylight, or betore in winter, gulp down a hurried breakrast, get shaved in the car, and then shoved out at school or nursery school. Then it’s get picked up and dropped off at day care, only to get collected in the evening by 3 weary parent. Children that smali cannot cope with such a schedule without forfeiting their cen- tredness, peace of mind, and rightful childhood. Attention Deticit Hyperactivity Disorder? {f any- thing, this syndrome can be seen as a child’s adaptive reac: tion to an abnormal life. The solution to this quag- mire is to be found in the per- sonal and not the public domain. Couples can leave off having children until they are able to give the child the best of cares be it dual parenting where father and mother work part time to be with child, or be it a nanny, a relative, or a stay-at-home parent. “There is no reason for saci- eties to retool in order to accammodate parents’ per- ceived entitlement to career, families, and children all at once sans guilt. Somwvone will have co pay for such a program should a national child-care system be mandated, and the costs will be prohibitive. Wamen who might have chosen to stay at home with KIDS FOLLOW THE WATER SAFETY RULES DO YOU? ap The Canadian Red Cross Society nts te Friday, September 10, their children will be forced to work to pay for the system. fronically, writes British philosopher David Conwav in a 1998 essay for the British Institute for Economic Affairs, national dav care will have served to diminish the choices women have. Glib cause-and-etfeet pro- nouncements on the state of vouth today and society's sti- tude to child rearing are mis- placed, I agree. But the warehousing of children, coupled with the intellectual and moral abnega- tion inherent in progressive 1999 — North Shore News — be parents parenting, goes some distan in explaining the inarticulate. cy directionless and angry youth of today. Even dogs are nor placed in kennels every day of their young lives, and even dogs get to have “quiet time” on the rug interrupted only by the dog-sitter who comes fo exer- cise the mutt’s recreational needs. 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