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From: preece@uicsl.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.women
Subject: Re: Children - (nf)
Message-ID: <2836@uiucdcs.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 15-Sep-83 22:56:55 EDT
Article-I.D.: uiucdcs.2836
Posted: Thu Sep 15 22:56:55 1983
Date-Received: Sat, 17-Sep-83 20:33:47 EDT
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#R:cca:-568400:uicsl:16400018:000:1221
uicsl!preece    Sep 15 09:02:00 1983

I'd like to see a little broader notion of 'quality time' than just
time spent 'verbally communicating.' I think quality time is any time
you give your children in which you are directly and obviously responsive
to what they want. If they want to watch tv, ok, let them do it in your
lap. If they want you to build castles with their Legos, that's ok. The point
is that it's time when they know they have your attention, whether you're
talking or not. I've been fortunate in my employment -- I can get home a
lot earlier than most people, so I've been more a part of my kids' lives
than many men, but even my brother-in-law the (medical) doctor spends
more than 38 seconds a day paying attention to his kids.

As to daycare, I think parttime daycare is very valuable to kids in
several ways. I think kids need some time every day when they are NOT
the center of attention. I think kids need to learn to deal with kids
their own age long before school. I think kids need to learn early on
that the world doesn't end if Mommy and Daddy are both away for a while.
But I definitely don't think 8-to-6 care is a good idea unless it's
the only thing that keeps the wolf from the door.

scott preece
pur-ee!uiucdcs!uicsl!preece