I never wanted Lily in the hands of others. I feared handing her off to daycare because it put this wonderful ball of clay, which we were responsible for, into someone else's hands.
Here are the images and observations that have changed my mind...
1. Kids in packs. When I pick Lily up from daycare, it's very clear that she does things there that will never happen at home. She's typically in a mass of children, chasing other kids or being chased herself. Even when she's being led by the instructors, they do things we don't, and sing songs that we wouldn't know how to sing.
2. Clay shapes itself. The more I watch our children develop, the clearer it is that parents are bit players, after contributing genes. We can poke and prod the child to bring out some aspect of their mind, but any extra progression forced in one area will likely just offset another. The best we can do is provide a nurturing environment, make sure they know their options, protect them from danger till they are ready to face it themselves and give them the tools to expand in whatever directions they want.
3. Example. It does no good to tell your kid to avoid television while sitting on the couch watching it. Working is an admirable thing for a child to see you do, as long as you keep it in perspective and also make it clear that the family comes first.
4. Social Function. Lily is shy and will probably tend to be introverted, just based on the gene set she's been given. Playing with other kids won't change her personality, but it will better equip her to cope with social situations.
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