<p>Pugmadkate-- True. In no way do I think that the lack of a marriage license causes difficulty in children or poor learning or poverty. Or even that single parenting, in and of itself, is a harbinger for poor outcomes in children. </p>
<p>I did not mean to imply that at all. But, even though I personally think that more economic resources for low income families in general would help (subsidized childcare, for one), there are a subset of families that require more, and in some communities, a multitude of factors sort of conspire to multiply the chances that children will either do well or not (individual exceptions notwithstanding).</p>
<p>I think the editorial (and I don’t usually quote David Brooks, but it seemed rather balanced) alluded to the fact that rather than adhering to simplistic responses based on political leanings (e.g., more money, or let them pull themselves up by their bootstraps, or ,), there is an entire body of research from a variety of fields that would begin to lead to cogent policy solutions if it were considered, research that is looks deeply into a myriad of aspects of early experience. And the developmental sequelae/correlates, continuities and discontinuities related to such early experience. And, I am in a year-long training program in infant -early childhood - family mental health reading similar research literature and trying to integrate it into my work. </p>
<p>For instance, research suggesting that trauma from witnessing violence can interfere with children’s ability to self-regulate, which in turn can negatively influence attention span and impulse control or the research on disrupted attachments. Which in turn, affects learning and behavior in real life setting (such as schools, jobs). It puts the macro effects of poverty from the most deeply impacted neighborhoods in the very real terms of how individual children’s lives can be affected. That is really all I meant…</p>
<p>But, I am tired, can’t think tonight, but I need to finish preparing tax info (so I can revise the fafsa/ccs for hs senior and submit the one for college junior) . Easy enough, but I’d rather be watching Howard’s End (which I’ve never seen) :0)— AND I should know better than to try to post anything that makes any sort of sense at this time. </p>
<p>Trust me that I am not trying to stereotype unmarried parents, single parents, low-income parents, or wealthy parents. I might stereotype 50ish mom trying to multitask inadequately-- nope, just me, not any of you other younger or older men or women.</p>