Mother’s Day wish list

Every year, Mother’s Day is a reminder that who we are and where we are in our lives is, in large part, because of the phenomenal women who raised us and who inspire us to be better people. It makes sense to dedicate a day to them, as the individuals who wiped your nose when you were little, packed your lunch when you were in school, and cheered for you when you graduated. Being a mom myself, all the things I do for my children are things I do happily, as my children are my greatest joy and pride.

Yet, I would be lying if I didn’t say that motherhood can be difficult; from the physical labor of pregnancy, birth, and postpartum recovery to the challenges of finding affordable child care, to finding the right balance between being present for my kids while pursuing a fulfilling career. Motherhood is not possible without the right supports in place. While we can surround ourselves with a village to get the parenting job done, the government policies we set in place reflect our values.

This Mother’s Day, while I am appreciating the gifts my children and husband get me, I am also longing for a society that supports motherhood and honors mothers’ valuable contributions. Here’s my shortlist of things I want for Mother’s Day, not just for myself, but for all moms.

• PAID FAMILY LEAVE » The increased likelihood that women will take leave compared to their male counterparts contributes to a “motherhood penalty.” According to the National Women’s Law Center (NWLC), on average, mothers are paid only 71 cents for every dollar paid to fathers, a loss of $16,000 annually. According to the Institute for Women’s Policy research, 43% of women workers had at least one year with no earnings, nearly twice the rate of men. While moms taking leave from a job is necessary to physically heal after giving birth and to bond with one’s new baby, it is equally important for dads to be able to take leave as well.

Additionally, paid leave also helps adults who are caring for their aging parents or a family member with a serious illness. The Family Care Act has stalled in both the PA House and Senate. If this issue resonates with you, consider taking action by supporting the Family Care Act.

• AFFORDABLE CHILD CARE » You’ve probably heard the statistics, but the cost of infant child care can be as great as a year of in-state college tuition. Child care is burdensome for middle class families. Coupled with high costs of living, student loans, mortgages, and stagnant wages, it’s unsurprising that families are having a hard time getting ahead. The current staffing crisis in child care has exacerbated the already fragile sector, creating long waitlists at child care centers across the Commonwealth. These challenges will continue to persist and stall economic recovery from the pandemic until the child care crisis is solved. Add your name to the Start Strong PA petition that asks the Pennsylvania government to support a wage supplement to help retain the child care workforce.

• AN EQUITABLE MATERNAL HEALTH CARE SYSTEM » There is no doubt that the Affordable Care Act significantly increases access to maternal health care for women, especially for lowincome women. Yet inequities in maternal health continue to persist, especially for Black women. The CDC reports that Black women are three times more likely to die from a pregnancy-related cause than White women. These disparities are caused by a combination of lack of access to high-quality healthcare, underlying chronic conditions, structural racism, and implicit bias. If you care about supporting advocacy efforts to improve maternal health, join the Maternity Care Coalition’s advocacy work.

This Mother’s Day, when you take your mom out to brunch and give her flowers to show your appreciation, pick up your phone and call your local legislators to tell them that the women who raised us deserve better. We deserve policies that reflect the hard work we do every day of raising the next generation of Americans.

Mai Miksic is the child of Hmong refugees who started her early education in Head Start. She now works as the Director of Early Childhood Education Policy at Children First, a child advocacy organization serving Philadelphia and the surrounding counties. She lives in Havertown, Pa.