This Mother’s Day, let’s give moms what they really need
As we head toward our second Mother’s Day during COVID-19, America’s mothers are in crisis. They have been for months. Even The New York Times can hear them scream.
While fathers are taking on some of the caregiving responsibilities, study after study has shown that it’s mothers who are bearing the brunt.
More than 1.4 million mothers remain out of the workforce after losing their jobs or leaving their jobs to care for children during child care closures and remote learning. Nearly one in three working mothers report being burned out at work. And all mothers are experiencing significantly higher rates of stress, depression, anxiety and serious loneliness, especially mothers of young children, single mothers, and Black mothers or mothers of color.
I am a mother of two – a nine-year-old and a five-year-old. My mom friends and I have stopped checking in with each other to ask how we’re doing. We’ve even stopped asking if our friends are “hanging in there.” Now, we ask our friends what they’ve cried about in their bathroom (or closet, or car) today. Because we know they have. We have, too.
The challenges we’re facing aren’t new. But they are exacerbated by the pandemic. And it’s time for change.
At Forthright, we’re here for organizations that love kids. Which means, like you, we support the policies and practices that support moms (and parents and caregivers). While giving moms a day for self-care, sending them flowers, or going out for brunch is nice, it’s time for systematic change.
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So for Mother’s Day, here’s my wish list:
Paid Leave
The United States is one of only two countries in the world that does not guarantee people paid time off when they have or adopt a baby, and the U.S. lags far behind other developed countries by offering no guaranteed paid sick time. Concerns about lost income or workplace repercussions lead nearly a quarter of women to return to work just two weeks after giving birth and encourage the vast majority of Americans to work while sick.
Paid leave saves lives, helps businesses, and keeps people – especially women – in the jobs they need. Federal lawmakers are taking steps to move us closer to a federal paid parental leave law, and nonprofits across the country are working to increase access at a local level in states across the country. It’s high time.
Equitable, Accessible Child Care
On average, U.S. parents and caregivers pay $16,000 a year per child for child care – more than university tuition in many states and out of reach for many Americans, especially low-wage or hourly workers. On top of that, half of Americans live in child care deserts, meaning there are more than three children five and under who need care for every one space available, and the pandemic will likely make this worse.
This means child care challenges are a significant barrier to work, especially for mothers, who are more likely to take on unpaid caregiving responsibilities when their family cannot find or afford care. All families should have access to high-quality, affordable care for their children so they never have to choose between their child’s health and well-being and their economic security.
A Systematic Fix for the Maternal Mortality Rate
The U.S. has the highest maternal mortality rate among developed nations, and Black mothers are three to four times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women. Two-thirds of those deaths are preventable. We can stop them in part by addressing structural racism in healthcare, educating women about signs and symptoms, and believing new mothers when they speak up about their physical and mental health.
This Mother’s Day, as we celebrate the mothers and mother figures in our lives, our team is looking beyond the (still well-deserved) mimosa and is re-committing to supporting and serving those of you who fight every day for these and other systematic changes moms and their families need.
