Thank you for this thoughtful look at care for children, Elena. Our grassroots national nonprofit organization, Family and Home Network, has for 40 years advocated for policies that support all families, including parents who provide care for their own children rather than using child care services. We call for inclusive family policies, so all care for children is equitably funded. Families meet their needs for caregiving and income-earning in diverse ways, and need straightforward, flexible, equitable policies. Will you join us in calling for inclusive family policies? Please see www.familyandhome.org
When you talk about the American Compass survey, you conjecture that parents with four year degrees believe daycare would be best for their families because they *enjoy their jobs* and *want* to work. Another possibility is that they *need* to work to pay off and justify their student debt. In that case, policies aimed at student debt could also be considered family friendly. I've read Hillbilly Elegy and The Two Income Trap and appreciate you digging into the roles extended family can and have played in childcare. NPR recently did a piece on grandparents raising their grandchildren because of parental drug addiction (Vances case as well) and how hard it is for those families to get the financial support available to families that foster children who aren't relatives. While I find Vances rhetoric around "pushing a specific family model" disingenuous given his anti-LGBTQIA record, I appreciate you taking the time to explore it in earnest.
Interesting. I learned a lot and it does need to be addressed. I also think the Hunter Gatherers lived in extended family units and the kids and caregivers knew each other. Very different from daycare today.
Thank you for this thoughtful piece. I worry that our officials will take this complexity as a sign to do nothing (since not everyone will be happy and whatever they do initially will not be able to address all the nuance). Any first step to support child-rearing and childcare would be a welcome first step, imo.
Thank you for adding the necessary nuance on daycare in this piece (that, as you said, the Oster types always overlook.) I also loved Warren for her detailed and robust policy proposals. Great Op-Ed material here. Best of luck to you for getting *this* argument placed.
I live in France with my husband and we looked into childcare but it’s not amazing here either. Even if it daycare is 80% publicly funded there is a high likelihood you can’t get a spot (at least in my area) and there is a lot of turn over since the daycare workers aren’t well paid. Other options are a nanny which cost minimum 1200€ per month and private daycare can go up to 2200€ a month which aren’t affordable options especially for the majority of French families. Luckily my husband works in Switzerland where he makes enough money to support our family so I’m staying home until my daughter is at least one years old since I’m breastfeeding but will look to go back in the workforce part time after since I need a break from my baby. Thank you for your work it is really helpful for me and I love hearing about how the hunter gatherers did it and how we can learn from them in our modern society.
Thank you for this thoughtful look at care for children, Elena. Our grassroots national nonprofit organization, Family and Home Network, has for 40 years advocated for policies that support all families, including parents who provide care for their own children rather than using child care services. We call for inclusive family policies, so all care for children is equitably funded. Families meet their needs for caregiving and income-earning in diverse ways, and need straightforward, flexible, equitable policies. Will you join us in calling for inclusive family policies? Please see www.familyandhome.org
When you talk about the American Compass survey, you conjecture that parents with four year degrees believe daycare would be best for their families because they *enjoy their jobs* and *want* to work. Another possibility is that they *need* to work to pay off and justify their student debt. In that case, policies aimed at student debt could also be considered family friendly. I've read Hillbilly Elegy and The Two Income Trap and appreciate you digging into the roles extended family can and have played in childcare. NPR recently did a piece on grandparents raising their grandchildren because of parental drug addiction (Vances case as well) and how hard it is for those families to get the financial support available to families that foster children who aren't relatives. While I find Vances rhetoric around "pushing a specific family model" disingenuous given his anti-LGBTQIA record, I appreciate you taking the time to explore it in earnest.
These are very good points
Interesting. I learned a lot and it does need to be addressed. I also think the Hunter Gatherers lived in extended family units and the kids and caregivers knew each other. Very different from daycare today.
Yes that’s true and lots of people feel very strongly about that which makes sense to me
Thank you for this thoughtful piece. I worry that our officials will take this complexity as a sign to do nothing (since not everyone will be happy and whatever they do initially will not be able to address all the nuance). Any first step to support child-rearing and childcare would be a welcome first step, imo.
I think that might indeed be what Vance is actually trying to do - confuse everyone so that nothing happens. But I get why his rhetoric appeals.
Thank you for adding the necessary nuance on daycare in this piece (that, as you said, the Oster types always overlook.) I also loved Warren for her detailed and robust policy proposals. Great Op-Ed material here. Best of luck to you for getting *this* argument placed.
I live in France with my husband and we looked into childcare but it’s not amazing here either. Even if it daycare is 80% publicly funded there is a high likelihood you can’t get a spot (at least in my area) and there is a lot of turn over since the daycare workers aren’t well paid. Other options are a nanny which cost minimum 1200€ per month and private daycare can go up to 2200€ a month which aren’t affordable options especially for the majority of French families. Luckily my husband works in Switzerland where he makes enough money to support our family so I’m staying home until my daughter is at least one years old since I’m breastfeeding but will look to go back in the workforce part time after since I need a break from my baby. Thank you for your work it is really helpful for me and I love hearing about how the hunter gatherers did it and how we can learn from them in our modern society.