Reference no: EM132373773

Imagine that your 25-year old female cousin, Katie, just learned that she is pregnant. She and her boyfriend of three years were surprised, but very excited and begin preparing for the arrival of their new baby. Katie works full time as a nurse and earns a great income. She loves her boss, coworkers, and the work she does with her patients. She feels that her work as a nurse makes a great difference in the world! Her boss informs her that she can take 6 weeks paid leave to stay home with her baby after birth but then would need to return to work. Her boyfriend is very supportive and tells her that if she wants to quit her job to stay home with the baby, then they can find a way to make that work. They don't have any family that lives nearby that are willing to watch the baby, but if Katie decides to continue to work as a nurse, her income would enable them to pay for the baby to enroll in full time daycare close to their house. The daycare is expensive but has an excellent reputation. They would have to make some sacrifices to afford it, but they can do that. Katie's boyfriend tells Katie that he is fine with either decision-- Katie can continue to work as a nurse and they will enroll the baby in daycare OR Katie can quit her job to stay home with the baby.

Katie doesn't know what to do. She loves her job. She went to school for a long time to become a nurse and does not want to give up her career. She also is so excited to be a mom and is worried that going to daycare will harm her baby's attachment to her. She wants to do what's best for her baby. She knows her baby will only be young for a short time, and she has her whole life to work as a nurse. She feels overwhelmed with the choice. She wants to do what's best for her career and her baby. She comes to you, her cousin, for advice, knowing that you are currently taking a Developmental Psychology class. What should she do? Should she continue to work and send her child to daycare? OR Should she quit her job and become a stay at home mother?

Please provide a written response to Katie's concerns. In the response, be sure to include the following information:

1. What is attachment?
2. How is attachment formed?
3. What happens to children that form unhealthy attachments?
4. What are the benefits of enrolling a child in day care?
5. What are the benefits of staying home with the child?

After answering 1-5, please give Katie your opinion- what should she do? Should she quit her job to be a stay at home mom or should she continue to work and put her child in daycare? Explain your reasoning.