On the Zero to Three website there is a link that is title What’s
New. It was providing information at the
White House Summit. I found it
interesting because the assignment this week was writing a letter to the White
House Council on the importance of funding early childhood education. The graphic was titled Juggling Jobs and Babies-the
Challenges of Working Families. It was
providing statistical information about how working families are still having
difficulty providing basic needs to their families and often times face many adversities. “Many factors contribute to these
difficulties, but there are things we can do—ensuring families have access to
paid family and medical leave as well as affordable, high-quality child care”
(Zero to Three, para.1, 2014). I found
the information truly disheartening that 62% of woman have to go back to work
within the babies first year. I am sure
the number of woman within the first 12 weeks is even higher although the
statistics was not provided. I know
because I was a mother that went back at 7 weeks and my role was directing
programs to support other children and families yet was not financially able to
stay home and take care of my
infant.
There is not a summary on what the White House Summit will
do with the provided information. It
would have been more informative to detail what was going to be done to support
woman, children and families.
Zero to Three. (2014).
Juggling Jobs and Babies-the Challenges of Working Families. Retrieved October 11, 2014, from http://www.zerotothree.org/public-policy/working-families-infographic.htm
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Thank you so much for sharing this interesting information. It really does make your heart skip a beat knowing that so many parents would, probably, love to send their child (ren) to pre-kindergarten but just can't afford it or the child care afterwards. I don't feel that they should have to pay to send their children there. Head Start is free, so why wouldn't pre-k be as well?
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed your post. I am one of those mother that after 6weeks must go back to work. I currently run a daycare out of my home and will be working up until I have the baby. I also have a center I am trying to get open before my due date which is 11/19/14. I 95% of the way there. I don't know right now how I am going to juggle all these but I have faith that God will get my there. Even though I am contracted through the State of Ohio they still consider us self and employed and offer us no type of benefits. So maternity leave is not an option I have. As long as I stay off work I will not receive a paycheck. So to say this hits home is an understatement. Thanks again for sharing.
ReplyDeleteWhen I had my daughter, I was enrolled in college. I couldn't take any time off or I would lose my scholarship. So, I gave birth on Aug 6 and began my Sophomore year on Aug 28 carrying 18 credits. I went from 8AM to 930PM Tuesdays and Thursdays because my Mother was off on those days and watched my daughter while I attended classes. I kept this up until Student Teaching, then traded child care with a friend who had 2 daughters and was going to night school to become a nurse. When I had my boys, my husband and I worked opposite shifts so that one of us could be home with the children. However, for 9 years we barely saw each other! The arrangement was difficult to say the least! It seems our country is far behind other nations when it comes to recognizing the importance of child care, maternity leave, and working mother's issues!
ReplyDeleteI can relate to the same issue of having to go back to work right after my six weeks was completed. I agree with the Family Medical leave but the only thing it covers is job security. Parents that have to take off for unforeseen circumstances struggle if they do not have time accrued to financially take off. We need programs put in place that will help families build bonds with children. To be one of the richest nations, we have no clue in how to take care of what's most important- our children.
ReplyDeletevery sad we all as women are sharing these stories. we should be sharing stories of how supportive our country is and allows women and men to stay home with their children up to one year of age. thanks for sharing...
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