The most surprising part of this report was the news that "Just last week, researchers from the same agency reported children who spend more time in day-care are more likely to turn into aggressive bullies by age 4 than those who spend less time in such settings."

Several rebuttles have surfaced since then such as

"Child care is a reality," said Gina Adams, Director of Child Care for the Urban Institute. "The challenge is how to make it the best we can."

and Faith Wahl, President of the Child Care Action campaign in New York, said this will tap right into parents' guilt. It will feed the appetite of those who think child care is a bad idea in the first place.

This is not a study in isolation either other studies have documented daycare's problems such as increased infections, weakened mother-child interactions, ect (references upon request).

So what's a family to do? How do we continue to go to work and place our kids in daycare. There is no easy answer to this problem whether you are a Christian or not, BUT there is an answer.

He has entrusted His gift of children to us, to you, to me. Does He say what we should do with our children? Yes, in Deuteronomy 6:5-9

Notice God's language. He does not say "please, if you want, when you have a moment, when you feel like it do these things." His language is commanding, specific, now-minded. His purposes are to be all consuming for us and our families.

So now you say your guilt is even greater because in today's society it is impossible to do things God's way. How can I possibly love Him with all my heart, soul, and strength and teach my kids His commands all the time, AND still have time for my career, shopping, bill paying, games, meetings, clubs, sports, workouts, gardening, PTA meetings?

Answer. You can't, you can't because when you love Him with all your heart, soul and strength, His priorities become your priorities. This command would no longer be daunting because you would be relying upon Him to make it happen. You would no longer be relying upon your own strength and wisdom to accomplish your parenting tasks. You would depend upon Him.

What happens to the guilt when you love Him with all your heart, soul and strength. He turns your guilt into motivation. Four years ago I started to realize that my role as a mother was a full time job and I felt guilt at the lack of time I had with my kids. I turned to the Lord for an answer. Slowly, carefully, lovingingly He has changed my priorities, taken busyness from my vocabulary, removed my guilt, helped me make needed sacrifices of "things," and shown me how to live out Deuteronomy 6. We are not done, we are not there, but life is MUCH better now than it was 4 years ago when I made four times as much.

Do I lack for any need, NO! Am I happier than I was 4 years ago? YES (even in the face of illness). I could not accomplish this on my own, the government was not the answer, tax cuts, better daycare was not the answer. The Lord was the answer.

Give it a try folks. Ask Him to make your guilt a motivating factor for His answer to the problem. Don't find the answer yourself, fall on your knees and then fall on HIM for help.