The Truth About Maternity Leave in the U.S.—And Why It’s Not Enough

The Reality of Parenting Two Under Three

Parenting two kids under three years old is…a lot. It’s beautiful, chaotic, stretching, and deeply meaningful. But in the beginning? It honestly felt like, what have I done? How did I ever think I could manage this?

But now, we’ve found a bit of a groove. Our days have started to take on the rhythm of that movie Groundhog Day—the same routine, over and over and over. There’s comfort in the predictability, but also a dull ache of repetition that no one quite warns you about.

The Mental Load No One Talks About

While I’m soaking in this precious time with my boys, I’m also exhausted. Frustrated. Overstimulated beyond belief. I’m touched out by 10 a.m. and yet still crave closeness. And all the while, there’s this low hum of dread in the back of my mind—because I know that all of this is temporary.

Maternity leave is ticking down.

And while I’m lucky (by U.S. standards) to have more time than most mothers I know, it still falls painfully short of what I need to truly feel ready to return to work. And if I’m being honest—I don’t want to go back.

Not because I hate my job, but because I love being with my children. And because I know, deep in my bones, that they need me more than a job ever will.

Trying to “Make It Work”

Over the past few months, I’ve brainstormed a thousand different ways to make staying home work—starting a business, selling digital products, side hustles, you name it. Nothing has stuck. Nothing has come fast enough.

So I play the lottery in my mind. I daydream about what it would be like to live on one income, to not count down the days on a return-to-work calendar. I envy those who don’t have to make this choice.

In the meantime, I’m trying to “do it all”:
– Lose the pregnancy weight
– Cook nourishing meals
– Keep the house clean
– Pray and read the Bible
– Make time for both boys—together and 1:1
– Connect with my husband
– See friends
– Be human

Needless to say…I’m failing at 90% of it. Most weeks, I can only manage one or two of those things. And even then, I feel like I’m barely holding it all together.

This Isn’t Just About Me—It’s About All of Us

This isn’t just a personal gripe post. It’s a reflection of a bigger truth:

💔 The U.S. maternity leave system is abysmal.
It’s a system that forces mothers to choose between bonding with their newborns and keeping their jobs.
It’s a system that gaslights us into thinking we’re just not organized enough, strong enough, or productive enough.

But the truth is: it’s not us—it’s the system.

We deserve better. Our children deserve better.

Mothers are not a luxury to society. We are the foundation. Yet we are expected to sacrifice everything—and then apologize for not smiling while doing it.

Final Thoughts

If you’re a mom reading this and you feel like you’re drowning under the weight of “doing it all” while knowing you’ll soon be expected to leave your baby behind for a paycheck—you are not alone.

You are not lazy.
You are not weak.
You are not ungrateful.

You’re simply living in a society that doesn’t prioritize families. And until that changes, it’s up to us to keep telling our stories, building communities, and demanding better—for ourselves and for our children.

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