Why paid family leave and universal child care can’t wait.
Moms wear many hats. We are caregivers, organizers, breadwinners, teachers, volunteers, and motivators. We’re the glue that holds families together and the backbone of our communities. Politicians on both sides of the aisle praise moms endlessly, yet when it comes to passing policies that actually support moms and families, we are too often left behind.
I know this firsthand. As a mother of two young boys and a student in early childhood development, I understand the need for better policy. I have been forced to leave good-paying jobs due to childcare-related issues and now my husband has to bear all of the financial burden. He fought in Afghanistan for our country, between us we have three college degrees, but still we are struggling financially. While we struggle on one income, we don’t qualify for any childcare assistance that would allow me to work, and at my oldest son’s school, the after-school program is full. What other choices do families like mine have? – Get involved in change.
The lack of support for families inspired me to volunteer with Mother Forward, a grassroots organization committed to ensuring that moms’ voices are heard in public policy. Juggling these roles of parenting and volunteering is rewarding, and it’s made me painfully aware that my family’s situation is not unique. Families everywhere need paid family leave and universal child care now.
I’ve met moms who were forced back to work only weeks after giving birth because they can’t afford unpaid time. I’ve met women who lost their jobs after disclosing a pregnancy, and others who had to choose between their career or spending precious weeks with their newborns.
This isn’t just unfair. It’s unsustainable.
Imagine a United States where political battles stop at the nursery door, where leaders of both parties agree that supporting moms and dads isn’t about ideology, it’s about common sense. Most Americans understand the importance of these issues, approximately 76% of families struggle to pay for childcare (Child Care Aware of America, June 2025). Poll after poll shows overwhelming support for paid family leave and childcare across parties, income levels, and geographic regions (First Five Year Fund, September 2025; NationalPartnership.org, April 2020). It’s our political system that lags. Mother Forward was created because moms got tired of waiting.
Paid family leave and universal childcare aren’t a luxury; they’re a necessity. When moms and dads can afford care for their children everyone benefits. Families thrive. Children get the strong start they need. Parents aren’t forced into impossible choices. Businesses benefit. Retention improves. Workers are healthier. Employers spend less on recruiting and retraining. Communities grow stronger and America thrives.
Paid family leave and universal childcare are family issues, workforce issues, and ultimately, an issue of national competitiveness. It’s not a short-term handout; it’s a long-term investment in America’s future.
The U.S. has already proven, in times of crisis, that we can prioritize families. During World War II and the COVID-19 pandemic, emergency childcare programs were established because leaders recognized that without supporting families, the economy would grind to a halt. Those programs disappeared once the crisis passed. Families don’t just matter when disaster strikes.
We’ve seen that bipartisan progress on family supporting policy is possible. States like Kentucky, Pennsylvania, and Ohio, hardly known for being liberal strongholds, have advanced childcare initiatives that demonstrate these issues transcend party labels. New Mexico recently made history by becoming the first state to provide free childcare for all families, regardless of income. If New Mexico can do it, why can’t the rest of America?
These policies aren’t a pipe dream. Support organizations like Mother Forward. Vote for leaders who prioritize families. I firmly believe that by sharing your perspectives, insights, and personal stories, we have the power to make a substantial and meaningful difference in shaping the policies that will ultimately impact all of us. Parents, small business owners, childcare workers: Contact your local and state representatives and make your voices heard. Action is needed now.
Kristina Miller is a mother of two children, a devoted wife to an Afghanistan combat veteran, an early childhood development researcher, and a volunteer for Mother Forward who lives in Ventura, California.
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