So my answer is no, because your children will not grow up as you expected. But my answer is also yes, because nowadays, I cannot trust a minor to watch over their little brothers and sisters, for safety reason.
My observation throughout the years, is that when I was little there was no television, no phones and the population was small, no crimes, and plenty of help was available.
During the 1980s, my children whom I raised without a nanny watched TV and we had a phone. Toward the end of the decade, I hired a nanny because I needed to work to help pay our obligations. During those times we already had poker machines.
As we entered the 1990s problems started to build: parents with gambling and drug addiction. Cell phone, the internet and other modern technology started coming in.
My question is, with all the crime going on and with ineffective regulatory agencies, will you trust your minor daughter or son to watch over your young ones?
Children with nannies get warm meals and someone to watch them until their parents get home.
Children without a nanny either go to their parent’s work or friends where they hang out and eat junk food, and see adults drink alcohol. They learn to steal, go online and watch stuff without adult supervision.
Today, with the growing population, too much gambling addiction, drugs and bad economy, what do you think is going to happen? Many families are breaking up because of gambling and drug addiction. Hardly any fish, crab, wild chicken, bird to catch and no more free food. Plus some of our children don’t know how to cook, grow or hunt. The college on Tinian has shut down, and this is now another problem to address.
I think about six years ago, a friend of mine from the mainland who were grandparents told me that they brought their grandson to their home to protect him from organized crime in the school there. Do you think this will happen here?
So, now I again ask: Do we need a nanny or not? Because, for me I can afford only low wage labor. A nanny allows me to rest and have more time for my family. Many statesiders like it too, and they wish they can have things like this on the mainland. But please do not compare your time with our lives today.
Be honest, with all the challenges that we are facing today in raising our children, do we need a nanny or not?
WINNIE ATALIG
San Jose, Tinian
