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To Our Future President: The Struggles of Working Mothers
Dear Esteemed Future President,
Tomorrow, I will face the unimaginable once again. I will have to leave my newborn behind, an experience that tears at my heart, even after three similar departures.
I’m often told to be stronger, to appreciate the job I have, and that being a teacher with a flexible schedule is a dream come true for a working mother. Yes, I’ve toughened up. Yes, I’m grateful for my job. And yes, my schedule does have its perks. But the reality is, I’m preparing to leave my precious baby for the fourth time.
Tomorrow morning, I’ll be scrambling around the house, trying to squeeze in as much time with my children as possible before heading off to work. I know I’m not alone; countless working mothers share this heart-wrenching experience, each one of us longing to be with our little ones.
Hard work? Bring it on! I’ve taken on roles as a “mompreneur,” launching a photography venture, a fitness initiative, a writing career, all while maintaining my full-time teaching position. But, Future President, I don’t seek accolades for my efforts.
Does all this make me a superhuman wife and mother? Does it elevate me above others? Not at all. It simply shows that I’m a dedicated person, willing to do what it takes for my family’s wellbeing. My husband and I are your typical middle-class family, juggling our responsibilities to provide for our four children. Yet, even with stable jobs, we barely scrape by each month after paying our bills.
If you ask our children what they desire most, their answer is simple: they want us—especially their Mommy.
Tomorrow, I’ll wipe away tears while toddlers cling to my legs, and I’ll have to pass over my newborn. I won’t be there to soothe her when she cries or to share those precious moments during her naps. I’ll put on a brave face for my kids, but deep down, I know I’ll be a wreck. Tomorrow morning will be a struggle.
I’ll step out the door, glancing back at tear-streaked faces, and hear my baby wailing behind me. It will take every ounce of strength to drive to work, where I’ll have over twenty second graders waiting for my guidance.
While my heart aches from leaving my newborn, I’ll muster the courage to press on. You see, Future President, my baby is just beginning to discover the world. She’s smiling at me, recognizing my voice and the comfort I bring. But tomorrow, I have to leave her.
It’s disheartening to think that we don’t have paid maternity leave in this country. This lack of support denies mothers the crucial bonding time with their newborns that both they and their children desperately need. Instead of cherishing the experience of nursing, I’ll be rushing to pump milk in cramped spaces while trying to teach my students, all the while my heart breaks for my little one.
So, I ask you, Future President, why is the United States the only developed nation without laws mandating paid maternity leave? As my fourth child arrives, I had hoped for a different reality—one where I could nurture her without the looming pressure of work.
As a mother speaking for countless others, I urge you to protect this essential time for mothers and their newborns. Tomorrow, I’ll join the ranks of those who must leave their infants behind to fulfill their responsibilities. But wouldn’t it be nice if we didn’t have to be so heroic in the first place?