Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Families – Threats – Lack of a Stay at Home Parent

From our Introductory Post:

“The righteous have sat back and allowed the wicked to take over our relationships to God, families, churches, governments, schools and colleges, journalism, entertainment, sports, sciences, and a whole litany of other endeavors in our society.”

Families – Threats – Lack of a Stay at Home Parent

In our previous post we considered the topic of Threats to Families, specifically Absentee Fathers. We will now take a look at another threat to the family, Lack of a Stay at Home Parent.

First, we should consider what none other than the venerable United States Government Census Bureau has to say about this problem. According to a Statistical Bulletin, SB/94-5 issued in April, 1994, “In fall 1991, there were 31 million children under age 15 living with their employed mothers.” Between 1988 and 1991 “a fairly substantial number (8 percent, or 1.6 million 5 to 14 year olds) were ‘latchkey’ kids – they spent some or all of these hours home alone.”

Wow, you say, those are really old statistics! Consider this from associatedcontent.com, by Jareb Collins, October 23, 2006. “Every day, as many as 77 percent of American youth are labeled by special definition: Latchkey Kids. Latchkey kids are children who carry a key in their pocket, bag, purse – anywhere on their personal being. The reason they carry this key, and derive the namesake, is because the abodes for which those keys are intended are empty when they arrive there.” Jareb pegs this as a growing problem.

Parentpedia asks, “When is a child old enough to stay home alone?” The answer: “In fact, the statistics provide many reasons why your child should not be home alone; studies have found that latch-key kids are more likely to use alcohol, cigarettes, and illegal drugs than children who are supervised after school.”

So, how do we fix this problem? The mother, as the primary nurturer and care provider, must become a Proverbs 31 woman, and men must be the husbands and fathers God expects. We need to care for our children according to the principles found in Ephesians 6. A mother can work to earn income as long as the needs of the children are met. A husband and father should continue to be the primary income generator as well as participating with their mother in educating and bringing the children up in the “nurture and admonition of the Lord.” Parentpedia offers positive suggestions for keeping children safe and secure: “Instead of letting your child stay home alone, exhaust your options. Look to family members, neighbors, and after-school activities or sports to keep your child busy.” The answer is not mere “busyness” but options for productive at-home time for the kids.

Summary

This post has examined Lack of a Stay at Home Parent as a major threat to families. We discovered that the solution is found not only in observing Biblical injunctions but providing positive practical alternatives to “home alone” scenarios. Our next post will take a look at another threat to families, Cohabitation Before Marriage.

I remain yours in the name of Jesus Christ, the Creator and Name above every name.

“Mr. Phil”