Modern society is seeing dramatical changes in families when both parents enter the competitive labour market. Some say that this will have negative impacts on the development of children. Others, however, show tangible support towards such trend, claiming that it will bring numerous advantageous.
Primarily, having both parents work means extra income for the family. In a sense, parents will have more money to cater for their children's basic needs and demands: food, accomodation, education as well as leisure activities. The family will also be guaranteed of more stability. Furthermore, it helps minimize the risks of undergoing harships if one of the spouses lose their working ability. Families with both partners playing the role of breadwinners also offer wondrous educational opportunity. Initially, they shall know that labour is not entitled to certain individuals. Everyone has to make effort to survive and to take care of their beloved. Additionally, without the 24/24 presence of parents, children ought to figure out how to get by when left to their own devices. A child will have to learn how to cook satisfy his hunger when mom is not home. He will go to school by himself since father has to go to work early in the morning. A girl will have to learn to do the laundry and wash the dishes to keep the house spick and span. She will stand up for herself and pick herself up after failures, soldier through all difficulties on her own as daddy is not there all the time to lend her a hand. Self-independence and self-sufficience, I believe, are best taught this way.
Nevertheless, it is indisputable that children of such families might encounter several problems. They may suffer from loneliness due to the derth of parent's presence. A friend of mine admitted that she felt abandoned sometimes as her parents had to work all day and they hardly had dinner together. Another reason people give for opposition is the concern over the behavioral development of children. Children are like blank papers and parents must hold responsible for "moulding" them into good citizens. This can never happen if parents do not spend enough time with their children. On their journey to adulthood, there will be a plethora of temptations which young children may not be able to fight against. Parents need to be there with their children to help guiding them along the way, to teach them rights from wrongs. Obviously, if both marriage partners fo out to work, it can cause quite a struggle because they cannot invariably provide constant supervision for the kids. The case of the inhumane murder recently about a 13-year-old boy killing his classmate is an outstanding example. While his parents were busy on the field, he got into a quarrel with his friend and ended up commiting the horrifying crime.
In conclusion, the trend can be a double-edged knife. Having both parents work may have negative consequences but yield desirable results as well. Personally, I believe that the idea should be encouraged as long as the parents know how to balance between working and caring for the family.