Children: Parents' responsibilities or Teachers'?

I never thought I would be this overworked over news about a school teacher abusing her charge. The boy, a 3-year-old toddler, got hair line fractures on his leg due to the abuse that he suffered. It's just too close to home. I imagine if Taylor were the boy and couldn't help myself from getting emotional and tearing up. Taylor is a rambunctious tot, and I wouldn't take my chances with these kind of people who see my children only as a source of monetary fulfillment, if not less, or worse: as nuisance.

One of my friends, who happens to be a teacher, felt that "one rotten apple ruins the whole barrel", because she agonized the heat from angry parents on Facebook. Understandable. And as much as I would like to condemn this irresponsible, cruel, a-sorry-excuse of woman, I feel discouraged with this society that relies way too much on teachers. Children as young as mewling babies were put to childcare. Although the reason was logical and crucial - because mommy and daddy have to go to work to earn a living - I strongly feel that parents are responsible for their children when they're very young; which should be filled with parent's love and guidance. It's sad that it's a bit unfeasible here due to dual income family. Costs of living here are too high. (Sarcastic point, which I'm not completely guiltless: It's even worse if you're the type that see the importance of materialism.) It's hard for us, too, because I choose that road of a staying-at-home-mom and let Jon be the sole bread winner. We have enough. Praise The Lord. If it can't be helped, sure, there's no other option but rely on childcare.

Maybe it's the conservative American upbringing in me. I was brought up by family and teachers that instilled the importance of parent's loving involvement in children's formative years. Lately, I'm being nagged by people that frowned upon my reluctance to send my oldest, Taylor, to pre-school. He just turned two yesterday! They've been pestering me from a few months ago. Just because other parents decided that they want to send their babies to childcare like it's a norm, I don't have to conform now, do I? I'm not a herd, and I don't want my children to be one, either. At one point, in my high emotional state, I told them that at this point of age, all that can be learned is how to exchange germs. I know it's too brash, but I feel fed up sometime. Some institutions even offer tuition for one-year-old. I almost blurted out, "Are you nuts?" to that door-to-door salesman. Do I look backward, that I can't even educate my one-year-old? Not to boast, but my Taylor can read alphabet and few numbers. More than what I achieved when I was his age and more than a lot of his peers that I know. Taylor will be more than okay. Amen.

Now this breaking news about the abusive teacher just reaffirm my concern.

If even under my own watch Taylor managed to hurtle himself from his bed, when I just left him for an-honest-to-God mere 2 seconds, how about these people who are nothing to him? Would I then have the right to scold these people for neglecting my son? Taylor is not totally cooped up at home. He's a student in our church's Sunday School system. He has his own peers. Even Taylor's Sunday School teacher already suffered the brunt of Jon's unhappiness when Taylor came out from the class with scratches on his cheek last week. Taylor never cried and nobody saw anything. Yesterday some of the teachers paid a lot of attentions to him, not wanting to miss all his antics. These are the responsible ones. But what if Taylor encountered the one that's in the news? And Taylor wouldn't be able to tell me what's going on? Such despicable event!

I think four is a reasonable age to send my children to school. Three years old maybe suitable, too. I will wait and see. But not before that age!

I'm not claiming that I'm the best mother. I even find myself lacking more often than not. But at least I know that my children are safe and sound. I will hold them as long as possible by God's wisdom. They are too precious, my two little blessings.