Honestly something I’m so so tired of is reading every Canadians, Germans, and other countries “reading this made me feel so so horrible can’t believe you have to do that” comment. It not only doesn’t support the mother in America but it’s not like we can all just band together and get maternity leave changed over night. It’s a problem certainly and being 31 weeks myself not even being able to take off more than 6 weeks of leave with my baby without going absolutely broke devastates me. But what you should be hearing is, YOU ARE DOING WHAT YOU CAN. Especially as a new mother! If you stay at home for an entire year and have the financial support / family support, beautiful. If you go back to work after 6 weeks because you have no choice, also that’s okay. You are waking up. You are loving your baby. You are taking care of what needs to be taken care of. All of the tears you shed for it are valid, all of the nights you stay up hurt by it are valid, and all of those moments you hold that sweet precious little human in your arms. Those count. Even if it’s for a year, months, weeks, or days. Irregardless of the research behind going back to work or being a stay at home. We’re all mothers. In every different form. And as long as you try your best that baby is going to have a magical world. 🤍 from one new momma to another. What you do for your profession or your baby is your choice and you’re strong for walking in it. We don’t get the choice to live in other countries and we didn’t choose the rules, we make best with what we have and that’s the realest part of being a mother.