The first few months of each year are always full of intentions to do better — to be more productive, try something new or even just take more time for yourself. But for so many parents that just isn’t possible anymore. In fact, many parents can’t even get back to their normal routines this new year. A record high of 104,000 parents and guardians — more than during the early phases of the pandemic — missed work last October because of child care issues. And that burden disproportionately falls on women.
These are not the makings of a sustainable and caring economy. President Joe Biden should make 21st century solutions for working families a top priority in his 2023 State of the Union address and federal budget proposal.
We know these struggles firsthand. Dorian has a young toddler and Lorella a weeks-old infant. Like many working parents, we are constantly juggling the responsibilities of parenting and a more-than-full-time job. We’re both fortunate to have good jobs with benefits and a strong support network. But too many working parents don’t have the resources and support they need. A January report by Council for a Strong America found that 85% of primary caregivers said that issues with a lack of child care hurt their efforts or time commitments at work.
