Numbers Make Me Wonder

A new report based on the census that was released recently tells us that half of working mothers in the U.S. don't get paid maternity leave. Just two other countries like us: Papua New Guinea and Swaziland, (both are mostly very poor with massive wealth inequality).

And while the number is rising very slowly, millions of parents and kids are hurt by this poor distribution of resources. It would be better for everyone (even the child-free) if parents were able to feel secure and safe.

http://www.census.gov/prod/2011pubs/p70-128.pdf

The society we raise our children in effects our parenting. Imagine, on the simplest level, the difference in psychological health between a new parent with an income and a job guarantee, and one with no paid leave.

This situation effects our bodies, our emotions, and our lives as women. Individual moms come to see me because they are stressed, irritable, confused about how something they love so much (having a family) can be so hard.

This is one important piece of the answer, it is not all your fault—we have a society that does not give women and families true support—only an Orwellian kind of lip-service. If we had a better system in place—we would feel personally, psychologically better. 

That is not to say that history, emotions, and inner conflicts don't create a lot of suffering, they do. And therapy can help--but it is also a part of my work to help women see how these truths about the world effect our inner worlds too.