I know I'm not the first woman to have a baby and I know I'm not the first woman to leave a baby at home to return to work. But damn, this country makes me feel that family is just so inconsequential. Ms. Pea, tiny, sensitive, only three-months-in-this-world Ms. Pea, just cried herself to sleep after two hours of being inconsolable. Why, you ask? Because I came home from work for the third time in her life. Because she saw me, smiled, and then remembered that Mommy had left her alone. All day. When she went down, it was my turn to cry.
And I'm one of the lucky ones. Her father is staying home with her another three months. And I can afford a good breast pump. And we have insurance. And it will be tough but we will scrape up enough for child care. So what do other women feel like, the ones who can't afford to stay home at all? Or single moms who don't have partners? I know, I should feel blessed. But sorry...I just don't.
It's not right what this country ignores. It's not. Mr. Bush vetoes children's health care, and his administration has done nothing to further FMLA or nursing rights. Because that would mean compromising business. No, we can't have that.
And we wonder how all those Northern European countries snuck up and passed us for the right to be in the standard of living top-five.
Maybe, Mr. Bush, we'd be on top of the world again if we spent a little bit more time and resources on education, health care, and starting our young citizens out right, and a little less time on war, torture, and keeping your friends well-funded and in power.
In the mean time, I'm going to spend the evening running the numbers on our budget. Again. And I'll write another email to my congress person. And when precious Ms. Pea wakes up, I'll be sure to give her an extra helping of lovin' with her booby.
