Stay at Home Parents on the Rise

07/08/2003

Stay at Home Parents on the Rise

"If you step on a stranger's foot in the marketplace, you apologize at length. . . . If you step on your older brother's foot, you give him an affectionate pat; and if you step on your parent's foot, you know you are already forgiven. The great politeness is free of formality; perfect conduct, free of concern." - Chuang-tzu

STAY AT HOME PARENTS ON THE RISE

In a recently released report, "Children's Living Arrangements and Characteristics: March 2002," the US Census Bureau suggests that more parents are staying home to care for their kids than in decades past. According to the report, nearly 10.6 million children were being raised by full-time, stay-at-home moms in 2002 -- up nearly 13% in less than a decade. Full time, stay-at-home dads took care of 189,000 children in 2002 -- up 18 percent from 1994.

The Census Bureau report also revealed that 55% of women who gave birth between July 1999 and July 2000 returned to the labor force within a year of having their babies. That was down from a record high of 59% in 1998.

To review the complete report, go to: http://www.census.gov/prod/2003pubs/p20-547.pdf.

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