Motherly®

Motherly's 7th Annual State of Motherhood Report launched today. The annual survey, with nearly 6,000 respondents, conveyed that today’s mothers continue to parent without adequate support. Key findings from this year include: Gen Z moms are signaling a continuing future birth rate decline: Today’s moms under 30 are 2 times as likely to NOT plan for more children than moms of the same age in 2019, citing financial, childcare, global, environmental and medical concerns (69% in 2024 vs. 35% in 2019). Childcare access and affordability issues continue to impact mothers’ ability to work: 66% of moms note that the stress and cost of childcare has made them consider leaving the workforce, up 14% from 2023. These sentiments are highest among Gen Z at 82%. One quarter of all moms report receiving regular financial support from their parents: Gen Z moms are twice as likely to have help from their parents compared to their own mothers' generations (Gen X+). In this election year, more than 85% of moms over 30 support federally mandated paid leave, regulation to address climate change, federally protected reproductive rights and increased gun control policies. Surprisingly, moms under 30 are 3x LESS likely to support the same policies, possibly signaling apathy. https://lnkd.in/dQd7maFM

Are working moms fine today? And were they ever fine before? These are questions Paige Connell had been reflecting on when she shared a post on LinkedIn in response to a man who dismissed concerns about returning to the office full-time. Now that post has garnered over 3.6 million impressions, 29,000 reactions, and 3,300 comments. 👀 Return-to-office mandates are forcing working moms back into outdated, unsustainable expectations—undoing decades of progress in workplace equity.

Two weeks postpartum, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu returned to City Hall—with her newborn daughter in tow. Over the last few days, she’s shown up to council meetings, press conferences, and official duties, baby in hand, because Boston doesn’t stop just because the mayor had a baby. (Though we’d argue that even mayors deserve maternity leave.) Her return has reignited a familiar conversation about the impossible expectations placed on women in leadership. If we truly want a world where women can lead and mother without impossible trade-offs, we need more than admiration for Wu’s resilience—we need structural change. Paid leave. Supportive workplace policies. A culture that stops expecting women to be everything at once, while demanding nothing of men in power. Boston keeps moving, and so does its mayor. But maybe the real question is: Should she have to? 💭 Read more here: https://lnkd.in/dhBVjR6B

"To the mom in the darkness right now... If you’re reading this, feeling hollow, wondering if you’ll ever recognize yourself again—I see you. All those feelings swirling inside you? They’re real. They’re valid. The ones shame tries to silence, and the ones that wake you at 3 in the morning whispering and taunting you that you’re not cut out for motherhood—I know them too. So many of us do, even if we don’t talk about it." Read more from Alli K. about how she built her village after experiencing postpartum depression.💜

ICYMI: Starting this month, workers in the state of New York receive up to 20 hours of paid prenatal leave. 👏 👏🏾 👏🏿 And as co-founder of Motherly®, Liz Tenety, describes it: For too long, paid leave has been treated like an “expense” businesses can’t afford. But New York just flipped the script, recognizing that investing in moms isn’t just good for families—it’s good for businesses, communities, and future generations. Read more: https://lnkd.in/gqDU2ZsP

A recent study published in the Journal of Marriage and Family confirms what moms have long known to be true: Moms handle the overwhelming majority of unpaid labor in the home, and this includes "thinking" tasks like planning out child care, medical and dental appointments, summers, birthday parties, and the list goes on. But it doesn't have to be this way. Check out our friend Eve Rodsky for helpful resources on how to more equitably split household labor. Read more about the study in Motherly®: https://lnkd.in/eGKdZu3H #Motherhood #UnpaidLabor #Families #Marriage

Postpartum mental health conditions affect many new mothers, with up to 85% experiencing anxiety or depression. These conditions are more common than many realize, and new mothers should know their rights in the workplace. The Family and Medical Leave Act can provide job-protected leave for those dealing with postpartum mental health conditions. For answers to frequently asked questions, check out our guest article with the Motherly® Collective: https://lnkd.in/etwMB5_T #MentalHealthMatters #MentalHealth #HR #HRCompliance #FMLA

The mental load of motherhood is the invisible weight that many moms carry every day. It’s the constant mental checklist of tasks that never seem to end—remembering appointments, organizing meals, keeping track of school schedules, managing childcare, and making sure everyone’s needs are met. This mental load doesn’t just stay at home; it infiltrates every part of our lives, including our work. Moms are often juggling multiple responsibilities—handling tasks at home while also managing professional duties. The mental load of motherhood leaves little room for rest, and the stress it creates can affect our productivity, focus, and overall well-being at work. Until we acknowledge that the mental load is not just an issue in our homes, but a broader societal problem, we will continue to see inequities both at home and in the workplace. The work of motherhood is often invisible, but its impact is anything but. #mentalload #workingmom

Today, we’re giving our team of amazing women and moms the day off to cast their ballots and make their voices heard! At Motherly®, we believe in empowering women to shape the world inside and outside of the workplace. 💪 From paid family leave to accessible childcare and healthcare, so many issues impact mothers, families, and future generations. Voting is one of the most powerful ways to advocate for the policies and protections that support moms, children, and working families everywhere. So, while we're away, take a moment to vote, because every voice matters! 🌟

Last week, as parents across the country prepared to send their kids back to school, US Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy issued an advisory saying that 4 in 10 parents are so stressed they *can’t function* most days. And wow, did he strike a chord for parents everywhere! According to the report, American parents are so stressed out by the high costs of childcare, education and health care that it has become a public health problem. Investing in child care may not solve the problem entirely, but when financial stress is the top reason why parents are struggling, making child care more affordable is a great place to start. That’s why we are mobilizing moms and parents across the country to #GetChildCareontheRecord up and down the ballot to prioritize bold, transformative solutions to fix our broken child care system. You can join us to take action here: https://lnkd.in/ez7vwShn Shout out to Motherly® for detailing ways for moms to mobilize this election season: https://lnkd.in/gA9V5FMK