Nursery World - Why are they parents

Having worked in a private day nursery for more than five years, I am finding it increasingly difficult to understand why certain people even bother having children. I have met several parents who, while they may love their children dearly, don't value spending time with them. These parents quite happily pay other people to bring them up. I'm not criticising parents who use daycare - I'm talking about parents who simply can't be bothered with their children.

I have met several parents who, while they may love their children dearly, don't value spending time with them. These parents quite happily pay other people to bring them up. I'm not criticising parents who use daycare - I'm talking about parents who simply can't be bothered with their children.

The private day nursery that I work in opens for 11 hours a day (7.30am-6.30pm). Some children arrive in saturated nappies (obviously from the night before), with dirty faces, sleep not even wiped from their eyes.

Then there's the times when these children become ill. Often when parents are phoned to collect their poorly child, they say they'll be there as quick as they can, arriving hours later. I appreciate that working parents may find it difficult to leave work for a sick child, but surely their child should be their number one priority. Day nurseries cannot facilitate ill children who need one-to-one care.

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