Hi, Dr. Laura:

I was hired by a day care center at the age of 16 as an assistant teacher. When I was hired, I was told I was legally too young to be there, but "they needed the help." That was my first red flag. Over the two years I worked at the center I witnessed "teachers" hitting very young children hard in the back of their heads, flicking newborn babies on the bottom of their feet, or pinching babies and children whenever annoyed with them.

I am not a mother, but I have been a nanny for the same family for the past 12 years of my life. Being a nanny has shown me that no one does a better job at raising their kids than their own parents.

If I were to give parents one tip before they decide to put their children in day care or hire a nanny, it would be to think about their child growing a stronger bond with a stranger rather than themselves, or to see their teenager have more of the character traits of the nanny rather than their own.

Thanks Dr. Laura for opening the minds of your listeners each day to the real truths about the world.

Pam