Dear Prospective Presidential Candidates,
Take a moment to envision this scenario:
A mother undergoes a C-section and is compelled to return to her job just six days after giving birth. Yes, merely six days after surgery, she must leave her newborn, still adjusting to life outside the womb, and head back to work. This mother needs to provide for her household, pay her bills, and ensure there is food on the table. While at work, she grapples with the pain of her healing body, stitches pulling as she attends to her responsibilities. She yearns to nurse her baby but has no place to pump at work, so every two hours she rushes to her car, desperately trying to pump milk for her tiny infant. With no option to store her breast milk at her workplace, she scurries across the highway to a nearby diner that offers her a temporary solution.
Is this truly the land of opportunity we claim to be?
This issue transcends political affiliations. It is not solely a matter for mothers or fathers; it affects families as a whole. It is not restricted to those in lower or middle-class brackets; rather, it is a concern that touches nearly every working family in our nation.
We are forced to part with our new babies before they have even begun to bond with us, sacrificing precious time for healing and connection. Working families are left with no choice but to choose between nurturing their loved ones and fulfilling job obligations. Many find themselves cashing in retirement savings prematurely or facing bankruptcy as they navigate this survival mode. The burden of mounting childcare costs looms large, adding to the already overwhelming stress of paying bills.
This critical time—arguably the most important for both parent and child—should be about fostering bonds and nurturing relationships that we have anticipated for nearly nine months. What we seek is not a handout, but rather a recognition of our moral obligation to prioritize families and address the essential human needs they are currently denied.
From the story of the mother above to the father who must leave his newborn’s side just hours after birth, we must put an end to this cycle. With nearly 4 million babies born in the United States annually—about 334,000 each month, and around 11,000 every single day—we need decisive action.
As Blake Mycoskie wisely stated, “The power of a single idea, acted upon, can change people’s lives.” So, I urge you, future presidential candidates, are you prepared to take action? As a nation that prides itself on the welfare and fulfillment of its people, we are long overdue for change.
It is high time that America aligns itself with the rest of the world by implementing a paid family leave policy.
Signed,
A Physician and Advocate for Families, One of Many Who Have Witnessed the Struggles Firsthand
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Summary
This piece emphasizes the urgent need for a paid family leave policy in the United States, highlighting the struggles working families face when forced to return to work shortly after childbirth. It calls upon future presidential candidates to prioritize family needs and reflect on the moral responsibility to support parents during crucial bonding moments.