Two part question,
1)
As many typical Pakistani people I grew up shunning the thought of day care.
Now it seems the best option for my baby, but one I can't get over my self inflicted stigma.
2)
This morning when I dropped him off I saw a couple of kids with runny noses.
What precautions can I take to make sure baby is healthy and remains so.
Thanks.
Peace Sister MuNiYa
It seems this thread is phrased so it only applies to people who already accept that Day Care is the best option for children. As a person who is not sure of this particular conclusion it would be good analyse with a clear heart and mind the premise for why so called Pakistani people shun the idea of Day Care. Furthermore, once this analysis is done if it turns out that the reasons are child orientated then one must reconsider whether those shuns are misplaced or not and if the reasons why we choose to send our children to Day Care are financially orientated then we need to think twice about the nature of wealth and the belief of Pakistanis most of whom are Muslim that the bounties of this world are fixed in our destinies, but tarbiya (noble character) is directly in our hands.
If Day Care means sending children to a place where the carer can love the child more than the mother I'm all up for it.
Albeit there are also considerations for ability to raise and education and also being able to coexist with others. Of course the latter is argued as a purely psychological condition that can be fully met with love from the mother and constant verbal and illustrative communication with the child.
When it comes to bringing the child home from a day at work it could be a case where parents might reward children as a routine merely because they feel they have been away from them and need to be rewarded, but this could be like a message to the child that reward is the premise for love and that simplicities like attention and simply being there is not.
In fact I would argue that many Pakistanis at least the pro-modernists would jump to the chance of sending their children to Day Care to mark their status to the community i.e. that they can afford to do so. So it may not be all that much of a noble intent.
However, some people may have fallen into that predicament and although would like to stay at home with their children would probably struggle if they did not work. Anyway the question to ask is:
"If I had a million dollars would I send my kids to Day Care or would I keep them at home may be hire a nurse?" This way we can all keep our intentions as pure and best for the kids as possible.
This leads on to the notion of how quickly we may conclude what is or is not best for our kids. Being in our (my personal) situation where everywhere we meet criticism and lack of support it does mean it is that much more difficult for us as parents. Verily, the way of this world is that the best comes from difficulty not from ease. This is the hidden wisdom in most faiths and philosophies and yet we still strive to simplify our lives.
Then it goes on to the concept of minor disease and protection. Probably as a resort to overcome the idea that they may become ill. And if they do then stay at home with them. Work should understand and if they don't then leave work. Why go to the extent to protect children from something that nothing save God can protect them from? Immunisation from major diseases okay granted but what about the cold? And if we are so worried about bodily diseases then why can't we worry about spiritual diseases as well? How do we protect our children from those? Anyway ... As far as bodily diseases are concerned think of it as a test not for the children as such but for the parents that we need to put work at second place sometimes even when we believe it is best for our child to go to Day Care.
Otherwise if you don't agree with me then give those mothers who send their ill children to Day Care a thick upper lip with a right sock for sending their sick kids to a place where your kids could catch it and likewise if your own kids start it off ... well then you are stuck!
