Well, another Mother's Day is here and gone and I find myself asking the question I've been asking every year since becoming a parent: if society values the work we do, why are so many of us still struggling when it comes to having the time and resources we need to care for our children and families?

Consider the fact that the United States is one of only two industrialized nations that does not guarantee all of its mothers (and fathers!) paid time off from work to care for a newborn or adopted child. This might not matter if all companies offered paid maternity and paternity leave, but unfortunately, few do. And, while the federal Family & Medical Leave Act (FMLA) has enabled more than 12 million American workers to take parental leave since its passage in 1993, 40 percent of the workforce isn't covered by this law because they work for companies with less than 50 employees, and many who qualify can't afford to take a leave without pay.

To fill the gap between the FMLA and employer-provided benefits, some states have passed their own parental leave laws. But, a recent report issued by the National Partnership for Women & Families finds that all states are coming up short. According to Expecting Better: A State-by-State Analysis of Parental Leave Policies, Illinois gets a C- for providing benefits to state employees but none to parents who work in the private sector. A promising family leave insurance proposal before the Illinois General Assembly could, however, change that and give us just the boost we need to make the grade. State Representative Julie Hamos is a chief sponsor of the bill which would guarantee up to four weeks of partially-paid leave to workers who are needed to care for a new child, recover from a serious illness, or care for a seriously ill family member. The cost of creating this insurance program - about 75 cents per week for employees and employers - seems well worth the benefits of healthier workers, families and bottom lines.

When Mother's Day rolls around again next year, I hope that we can celebrate with the comfort of knowing that every parent can give their child the best possible start in life without having to sacrifice their job or economic security. Now that will truly be a gift to remember!

--Rhonda Present, Founder of ParentsWork, an Evanston-based parents' organization advocating more family-friendly workplaces and laws.

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