My child arrived just the other day He came to the world in the usual way But there were planes to catch and bills to pay He learned to walk while I was away And he was talking ‘fore I knew it, and as he grew He’d say, “I’m gonna be like you, Dad You know I’m gonna be like you” —From “Cat’s in the Cradle” by Harry Chapin At the turn of the 20th century, these song lyrics would have been alien to American culture. With daycare not invented, limited public-school access, and many kids working with parents and or siblings, families were the centerpiece of life and the community’s building blocks. What a difference a century makes. For postmodern families in the public school system, much of life must be arranged around not only school hours, but increasingly progressive values. While many moms and dads are accustomed to …