I never experienced the luxury of “sleeping when the baby sleeps.” Instead, I was busy trying to manage my own version of “keeping a roof over our heads while the baby sleeps.”
When my son was born, I didn’t have any paid parental leave. Working from home became my best option (and I was thankful to have it). I set up my laptop whenever he finally dozed off.
I had no other choice. As a single mom, I couldn’t afford to take time off without pay during his infancy. I had to balance being a mom to my newborn while still earning an income, mostly by sacrificing my own sleep.
I’m far from alone in making these sacrifices. Among 41 developed nations, the United States stands out as the only one that doesn’t mandate paid parental leave. In fact, we are among just five countries worldwide lacking such provisions. The others are Lesotho, Liberia, Papua New Guinea, and Swaziland.
I was fortunate to have the opportunity to work from home after my son was born. Many parents have to rush back to work almost immediately after their children arrive, scrambling for childcare options just to make ends meet.
Nearly 25% of employed mothers return to work within two weeks of giving birth, running on minimal sleep, and often missing the chance to bond with their newborns or properly heal.
This situation is absolutely unacceptable.
As expected, these issues hit marginalized communities the hardest. Our society seems more focused on holding people back than offering the support they truly need.
The lack of value placed on families, especially those in marginalized communities, is evident everywhere.
Paid parental leave has faced opposition in the U.S. largely because some view it as a handout. While there’s fervent advocacy for fetal protection, there’s a disappointing lack of concern for the infants those fetuses become.
The truth is: Paid parental leave benefits everyone. It enhances employee morale and retention, cutting down on recruitment costs. For families, it reduces postpartum depression and incidents of pediatric abuse.
In essence, it allows parents to transition into their new roles in a healthy manner, which consequently helps the entire family thrive. When parents return to work, they are more equipped to succeed, which ultimately benefits the economy.
So why are we lagging behind on something with such extensive benefits? Other countries have successfully adopted it already.
The reality is that politics often complicates what should be a straightforward issue.
Any rational individual who values research and genuinely cares about the wellbeing of people should advocate for paid parental leave, regardless of their political affiliations.
President Biden, please prioritize this issue. You’ve already extended leave for families affected by COVID-19; why not take it a step further and acknowledge that families have needed this option long before the pandemic started?
We are failing our families, and in turn, we’re failing the next generation. We need leadership that recognizes this need and is willing to address it.
Let’s hope you can take the lead on this.
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Summary:
Paid family leave is crucial for parents, allowing them to bond with their newborns and recover from childbirth. The U.S. is one of the few developed countries that does not provide this support, which disproportionately affects marginalized communities. Advocating for paid family leave benefits families, workplaces, and the economy, and it’s time for leaders to prioritize this issue.
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