Figure 1. {draw:frame} Source: Child Health USA 2002 Child Care Centers, Relatives, and other Parent makes up the majority of the child care being provided. One might assume that the relative and other parent are exceptional options if the mother must work. But, do other family members take the place of a mother? As for that, it is a personal opinion. As stated before, it would depend on the mother in question and what type of activities and bonding go on between the child and mother. If the person or persons providing the care encourage the development of the child’s cognitive skills and provides a safe environment, can anyone argue that the child is being impacted negatively? Fig.2 {draw:frame} What have all the studies and evidence shown us? While some researchers and studies suggest that the working mother affects the child in a negative way, most have come to conclude that, that alone does not affect the child in a negative manner. It is the type of interaction the mother has with the child while she is with them, regardless the amount of time that is. The effects of the mother working and the impact that has on the whole family situation, it has been proven that it depends on the effort of the other family members as well, namely the spouse. If the mother has a companion that contributes just as much as she does and helps ease the transition from the mother being home to starting work, it can be a very positive experience for everyone. There is still a long way to go for the working mother to be comfortable with her choice in the eyes of the public, mothers will probably always feel they are dropping the ball in some aspect of parenting but it comes down to choice, what is yours? References: Baum II., Charles L. Journal of Labor Economics, Does Early Maternal Employment Harm Child Development, Apr 2003, Vol.21 Issue 2, pp.409,40p http://search.ebscohost.com.apollolibrary.com/login.aspx Bruening, Jennifer; Dixon, Marlene A. Journal of Sport...