Daycares Don't Care

by Crystal Paine

What's the difference between daycares and the Duggar household? The question has been asked by a few on this blog and I'd be glad to answer.

So far, everyone who has made this assessment on this blog is not a mother themself. Guess what? You'll probably change your mind once you become a mother. Why? Because there is something about a mother's love which nothing and no one in this whole wide world can replace. Daycare workers might be very loving and caring, but they will NEVER care for a child like a child's own mother would. Period. Older siblings also have a bond with younger siblings that a daycare worker could never replace.

Why can I make such a statement? Because I am a mother, I am an older sister, and I spent years of my life working with children who were not related to me. There is a huge difference. Much as I loved these children whom I babysat for, cared for, taught, homeschooled and more, I never had the love and strong bond for them that I have for my little brother or my daughter.

My little brother, Zachary, was born was I was 17 (As a side note: My mom was 45 when he was born. She had her best and easiest pregnancy with him, she gained the least weight, and he was a full 1 1/2 pounds larger than the rest of were when we were born. I was privileged to be able to attend his birth. My older sister, who was apprenticing under a midwife at the time, delivered him with the oversight of two midwives. How cool is that? It was an incredible experience!). I got to help care for him and do almost everything a mother would do for him-- including bathing, staying up in the middle of the night with him, changing him, and, as he grew, schooling and potty-training him. Of course, my mom was his primary caregiver and we had to beg and wait our turn to be able to do these things with him. But, we loved him so very much that we wanted to take care of him as much as was possible.

After Kathrynne's birth, I realized that the bond I have with Zachary is the same bond I have with her, only my bond with her and love for her is much stronger (I didn't know that was possible, but being a mom is not something you can understand or describe until you experience it!).

Crystal Paine is a 24-year-old homeschool graduate from Topeka, Kansas. She is the blessed wife of Jesse and joyful mother of Kathrynne. Visit her site, Biblical Womanhood, for books, articles, encouragement, and inspiration!

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