I just took a look at it - what a great post!

But for me the question isn't so much the quality of the staff (who obviously do a wonderful job) or a concern that the childcare workers would be raising my daughter (I have my family and close friends look after her when I work on Mondays and she always has a great time), it is more the group environment setting which concerns me. As studies have shown that children under 12 months who are put in an institutional childcare setting often have trouble bonding with their mothers, have heightened aggressiveness in later life and become socially withdrawn. And it has also been found that these negative outcomes, although more subtle will also occur with children who are placed in child care before they are three.

I know that not everyone has a choice about childcare and it is definitely a necessity for some people - and not just because of financial constraints but the needs of the parents as well. I'm sure many women who get a lot of fulfilment out of work are better mothers for continuing with their career.

What I think is crazy is when people tell me I'm somehow depriving Riley by not putting her in child care.

I'm very good at planning - the actual doing often eludes me. Particularly when the energizer bunny decides that today is going to be a non-sleeping day.

I know! I love doing the daily photo goog because at the very least it reminds me to take photos of her on a regular basis and she changes so quickly! 'So 2009!' - what a compliment - I like that!