Dear Future Leaders,
Tomorrow, I will embark on an emotional journey that no mother should have to face. I will once again leave my newborn behind, a heart-wrenching experience I never anticipated enduring for the fourth time.
I often hear, “Just tough it out.” I’m reminded to feel grateful for my job and told repeatedly that teaching is the easiest profession with the best schedule for a working mom. Yes, I’ve toughened up. Yes, I appreciate my employment. And yes, I do have a good schedule. But that doesn’t make it any easier to leave my precious baby.
Tomorrow morning, I’ll rush through my routine, trying to fit in as much quality time with my children before I head to work. I know I’m not alone; countless working mothers are in the same boat, feeling the same heartache as they leave their little ones behind.
I’m not afraid of hard work—I’ve started a photography business, a fitness venture, and a writing career alongside my full-time teaching job. But, Future Leaders, this doesn’t elevate my status or make me an exceptional citizen; it simply demonstrates my commitment to my family. We are a typical middle-class family, both my husband and I working diligently to provide for our four children. Yet, despite our efforts, we barely scrape by each month after bills and loans.
If you ask our children what they desire most, their answer is simple: they want us—especially their mom.
Tomorrow, I will wipe away my tears, pry toddlers from my legs, and gently pass my newborn to someone else. I won’t be able to kiss away their tears or rock them to sleep. I’ll have to mask my emotional turmoil and put on a brave face for my kids. But deep down, I know the tears will flow, and they will see the pain in my eyes.
As I step out the door, I’ll glance back at the teary faces in the window and hear my baby’s cries. With a heavy heart, I’ll drive to work, where 20+ second graders await my guidance. Despite the emotional weight on my shoulders, I’ll muster the strength to teach and inspire.
My baby is growing fast—she’s smiling and recognizing me as her source of comfort. Yet tomorrow, I’ll have to leave her behind. The reality of a lack of paid maternity leave weighs heavily on me, making it hard to accept that I won’t have the time I need to bond with my newborn. I’ll miss out on precious moments like nursing her, as I’ll be rushing to pump milk in a cramped space while juggling my teaching responsibilities.
So, I ask you, Future Leaders, why is the United States one of the few developed countries without mandated paid maternity leave? Why are we left to face this struggle alone? This baby, my last, deserves more time with her mother, and I hoped for a different experience by now.
As I advocate for myself and countless mothers like me, I urge you to acknowledge the importance of this bonding time. Tomorrow, I’ll join many others in this painful ritual of leaving our newborns to fulfill our work obligations. But wouldn’t it be wonderful if we didn’t have to be so resilient in the face of this reality?
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In summary, working mothers face an uphill battle without the support of paid maternity leave. We are left to balance our professional lives with the emotional turmoil of leaving our newborns behind, all while trying to provide for our families.