Dear Future Presidential Candidates,
Imagine this scenario: A mother undergoes a C-section and is compelled to return to work just six days after giving birth. Yes, just six days post-surgery, she reluctantly hands over her newborn, barely a week old, and heads back to her job. This mother must work to cover her rent, utilities, and groceries. As she navigates her workday, her stitches are pulling, and she’s still recovering from her surgery. She longs to nurse her baby but is not permitted to pump at work, forcing her to dash to her car every couple of hours to express milk for her tiny infant. With no space to store her breast milk at the office, she scurries across a busy highway to a Denny’s that “allows” her to keep her milk there.
Is this truly the land of opportunity?
This isn’t just an issue for one political party. It transcends political affiliations, affecting families regardless of their backgrounds. This is not solely a mothers’ issue or a fathers’ issue; it is a family issue. It’s not limited to lower or middle-class families—nearly every working family faces this struggle.
We are being forced to separate from our newborns before they even have a chance to bond with us, all while we desperately try to heal. We are caught in a heartbreaking dilemma between the families we cherish and the jobs we depend on. Many of us are forced to liquidate retirement savings far too early or declare bankruptcy just to stay afloat.
As childcare costs continue to rise, we are left scrambling to pay bills while longing for the chance to nurture our newborns during this crucial bonding phase—an opportunity we eagerly awaited for nine months.
This is not a plea for a handout; it is a call for our nation to prioritize families and acknowledge the basic human needs that are being overlooked. From the story of the mother above to the father who has to leave his newborn’s side mere hours after birth, we need to make a change.
With nearly 4 million babies born in the United States each year—approximately 334,000 each month and about 11,000 each day—this is a significant issue. As Blake Mycoskie wisely noted, “The power of a single idea, acted upon, can change people’s lives.”
So, I ask you, future presidential candidates, are you ready to take action? The United States, a country that prides itself on the well-being of its citizens, is long overdue for a paid family leave policy.
Sincerely,
A Working Mother of Four, One of Millions Who Have Faced the Unthinkable
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Summary
This article highlights the urgent need for paid family leave, illustrating the challenges faced by working families, particularly new parents. It calls upon future presidential candidates to prioritize policies that support family well-being, emphasizing that this is not a partisan issue but a universal concern affecting all families.