As my friend Hillary Clinton so aptly pointed out in her book, it truly does take a village to raise a child. Government must think of children in every policy decision that is made. Communities must explore ways to combat violence, and provide the resources parents and families need to feel safe. Society must show children that they are loved and valued. Progress is being made on all fronts.
Violence is down and crime is at the lowest level it's been in a decade.
And thanks to President Clinton and my husband, working parents have the protection of the Family and Medical Leave Act to ensure that they can still care for a sick child and maintain their place in the workforce. Of course, good policies can help, but parents still are the critical ingredient in their child's life. The National Institute of Child Health and Human Development found that the love between a parent and child is the strongest influencing factor in a child's life, above peers, teachers and media. I guess love does conquer all. The raising of a child is a complex, all-consuming task.