So, Daniley's stingy, a little more stingy than all the other 2 year olds. I don't like it, but I realize it. I know what some of you have been thinking....if she were in daycare, she wouldn't act that way. Well that may be so. Do I think it would be great if she has social skills when she enters kindergarten? Absolutely. Do I think she needs to be socially DEVELOPED by the time she enters kindergarten? Absolutely not. She has 13 years of school to learn to deal with people. People often ask me if I am going to put Daniley in daycare, like she isn't going to "turn out right" if I don't. I believe that is a complete misconception. Are stay-at-home mom's under pressure to put their kids in daycare? I don't feel like they are. Most people see this as the ideal solution to raising children and would do it if they could. My mom and grandma are the next best thing for Daniley, so really what is the difference? Do I think that strangers can take care of Daniley better than my mom and grandma? Heck no! Do I love not having to pick Daniley up if she throws up or has a fever, Heck yeh! Yes, she is missing a certain set of skills, but she is also learning a certain set of skills. She can ride a horse, feed chickens, help set a fence post, pick vegetables (especially collards) from the garden, she knows when the 4-wheeler breaks you put a screwdriver in it or take it to Perry Willis (yes, she calls him by name). She knew her colors and numbers before she could talk, and now she can even spell her name. She can take a book we have read and flip the pages and tell you what it says very accurately. She has the verbal skills of some kids twice her age. Some of this is because she is smart, (I wonder if some of it is due to breastmilk, just because they say it makes babies "smarter"), and a great deal of it is due to the attention she gets at her grandmas' houses! I love my daycare arragements. If they don't work out, I'll have NO PROBLEM putting Daniley (back) in daycare. But until then, I'll be counting my blessings and thanking God for people who love Daniley and look forward each day to caring for her! (And just to clear up another common misconception, I DO pay for my daycare, not because I have to but because I choose to.) And about Daniley being stingy, I'd rather Daniley fight for what she wants than stand there and cry when someone takes it away. As long as no licks are passed, children should have a shot to work out their own problems, even if they are only 2 years old. That methodology is what makes Daniley as independent as she is, even if it gets her in trouble sometimes. I thought I was going to have to send some adults to time out at the Christmas party for trying to solve all the problems themselves! ;-)