"Child care subsidies place government's moral authority behind one way of raising children. They say that mothers who work deserve the help, while those who stay home don't."PA

"Raising a family as work, is undervalued. The reponsibilities are overwhelming. Her work is not like any other job. Her job is 24 hours a day, 7 days a week." OK

"Saying that mom should stay at home and let dad support the family financially sounds sexist. But it may be the answer. If moms still want a job, there are plenty of 'work at home jobs' for them, at least until the children are past that crucial age of development. Actions speak louder than words, and letting children know that they are more important than a career is the most important thing they could learn." OR

". . .parental care of small children in the home is preferred, and many families do sacrifice the benefit of a second income so that they may do so. The child care policy should take into consideration the needs of all parents, not just those who do choose to work and rely on others to care for their children." AL

"The government could pass a bill giving a tax cut for families who want one parent to stay home with the children. This would allow families who really need two incomes a chance to stay home and raise their children without living in poverty."PA

"Even though they do not feel cheated out of a career, they do feel that the job of raising children is greatly undervalued. People who take care of other people's children are considered to have a respected career, but stay-at-home mothers, who raise their own children, are considered to be unemployed." OK

". . .an at-home work plan. . . allows an employee to do the same amount of work, in the same amount of time, and receive the sam annual salary. The only difference is that he/she is working at home and not in the office. The parent can stay with the child all day and not have to worry about leaving him/her. this will help to avoid a lot of stress. The parent can simply fax his/her work into the office on a fax machine."OH

"About the only thing the government can do to encourage this is offer tax breaks to families when one parent decides to stay home."PA

"Some use the excuse that it is not financially possible for the family to live on only one income. In most cases, though, this is proven to be untrue in two-parent families. If a mother were to quit her job, there would automatically be fewer expenses. The amount of money spent on child care, transportation, clothes, and taxes would go down. The family could save money by having a garden, preserving food, and even by giving the kids home haircuts. If the family were to cut back on many things and was still unable to make it financially, there are ways in which a mother can work at home. Mothers can give music lessons, make crafts to sell, do small catering jobs and run typing services." MI

"If the government would allow 'at home credits' for mothers to stay home with their children, this might enable mothers to care for their children." KS

"There are ways to earn money and support a family while remaining at home, but moms must put aside certain material values and accept less income that allows them to stay at home." CA

"Stay-at-home moms have chosen the rougher road financially than those who drop their children off at a day-care center and proceed on to their office for their chosen profession. Financial sacrifices are made that affect the whole family because of only one income rather than two incomes." VA

"If tax breaks for child care are given to upper middle class and high class people, then they also need to be given to the mothers who choose to stay at home. Our programs should not encourage mothers or fathers to leave their children but should assist those parents who have to do so for financial stability." NE

"A mother should take time out from her full-time job and consider doing it part-time, at least for the first few years of the baby's life." MI

"Having a mother to stay at home to raise the children is beneficial in many areas. . .The federal government should support these mothers by allowing a budget for child care to be given to mothers who stay at home. . .Responsibility should not only be placed on the family but the government should provide certains funds for the mothers who take on such a task as raising our future leaders. Having a stay-at-home mom will help the child develop respect and trust for the parent by knowing they are able to count on them to always be there." KS

"However, non-working mothers are not included in the programs for some reason. They receive no aid in raising their children. . .The government must feel that if a mother stays home to raise her children then there must not be a need for a tax credit since day care costs are not among their expenses. " PA

"In the 90s, it seems that more and more women are leaving the work force and staying home to raise their children. Women with degrees or that already have had a job are deciding to give it up and become a homemaker. . .Since more women are deciding to stay home, stay-home mothers have more support." CA

"It is true that many single parents and second parents are becoming employed but the 'nuclear family' is not becoming obsolete. Many single parents and usual stay-at-home mothers are taking jobs that are not full time and are still in charge of their children during most hours of the day" AL

"I feel that the government should set up day care centers for single parents who cannot afford to pay but a small fee for a babysitter, so that the parent can spend more time raising his child. I also feel that the government should give special benefits to the children of single parents."PA

"The interference of government through funds and support is encouraging mothers to work. Especially in the larger cities, the children are consequently being deprived of their needs. Therefore, it appears that the government needs to let mothers handle child care." TX

"If care by the mother is better than instiutional day care, as seems to be the case in light of the information provided above, perhaps we should share this information with possible future mothers. If the girls in question also desire a career, they could continue working when their children became older. I do not think it would be too hard a trial for a mother to wait until the children become school-aged before continuing her career in light of the blessings children would bring into her life." OK

"Mothers are finding ways to stay home by getting a job in which they can stay home. An at-home business is a good way to make some extra money while still being able to care for the children. Making crafts and selling them is a good way to make some money. Doing accounting work at home, and even babysitting; these are all fine ways of making money while remaining in the home." IA