Care Work

My parents got divorced when I was very young. Although lots of families split weeks with each parent, I only ever lived with my mom. Being a child of divorce has made me realize how hard it is to have children in today’s day and age. One problem with having children today is how expensive it is. From the hospital bills of birthing a child to the need for a bigger house in today’s crazy market, I can see why the birth rate has gone down. It is especially hard for those parenting and providing for children all on their own. Childcare is a huge issue today, especially for single-parent households. In the article, The unreasonable expectations of American motherhood, the author Monica Hesse states “I did not have children because while other countries determined that investing in child care — making it free or inexpensive — is the easiest way to encourage motherhood, the United States has determined that what’s easiest is simply berating families who can’t make it work, telling them that they should have budgeted better, or saved more, or arranged for Grandma to watch the baby.” Although I lived in a single-parent household, I have lived a very privileged life as my mom has a great job and has worked endlessly to ensure that my sister and I have a great life. I also have a loving and available Nana that provided childcare for me and my sister and since we were born. I recognize the huge privilege that I was given and it makes me aware of how hard it must be for mothers and children that don’t have the same opportunities as I have. It is a never-ending cycle of needing childcare, but childcare is too expensive so mothers need to work more, yet they can’t because they don’t have childcare. If we are so focused on growing the population how can we think that anyone will want to be a mother when there is next to no support for mothers in the US today?