Perhaps you’ve noticed that the media has recently introduced a new series of ads offering help for dogs suffering from "Separation Anxiety." I first noticed it on an installment of "20/20," in which various pooches were filmed after their owners had left home for the day. These canines were so upset they barked incessantly, destroyed furniture, soiled carpets, refused to eat, etc. Then the report gave information about psychological therapy and treatment for these dumb animals, at which point I changed the channel. Immediately thereafter, I began to hear radio ads for medication to treat this condition, and several things occurred to me.

First, it struck me that we’re concerned for dogs struggling with separation from owners, but our society advocates separating children from parents. Just a few weeks ago, a college professor and professional shrink released a study that sent feminists into fits of rapture. It claimed that research proves that children between birth and three-years-old are not harmed in the least by being dumped in day care all day, everyday. This conclusion was based on the fact that day-care-kids and stay-at-home-with-mom-kids all did equally well in areas of language development, and essential learning skills. Okay. Who ever said they didn’t? What this report didn’t address was the matter of how children are affected emotionally and spiritually. How do they bond with absentee parents? How do they develop a sense of "belonging" to a family unit, when the family is rarely ever together? Who teaches them moral principles? Who teaches them to respect authority by exercising proper discipline? Who gives them the one-on-one time that babies need with their mamas and daddies? The real test lies not in equivalent skills, but in well-rounded, emotionally healthy boys and girls.

Second, women have finally caught up with men. Society deemed fathers irrelevant earlier; now it seems we don’t need mothers, either. One "child care expert" observed that it doesn’t matter who cares for the child, as long as the quality of care is good. Explain that to a baby who is crying for his mama. Of course, the "expert" who made that statement makes a living in the child care industry; certainly doesn’t make a good case for objectivity, huh?