Ep 435: The True Cost of Motherhood in America

HerMoney with Jean Chatzky

Today is Mom’s Equal Pay Day so we’re talking about the reality of motherhood in America today, no not the reality we see on social media where momfluencers make pregnancy to childbirth, to raising multiple kids seem like a breeze…we’re talking about what it’s really like to have kids in a country that doesn’t make it easy for us.

Jessica Grose, author of, “Screaming on the Inside: The Unsustainability of American Motherhood,” said she did everything right before she had kids, she was married, had a successful, thriving career, and was debt-free, but she still wasn’t ready for the reality of motherhood, and doesn’t think any of us are. We go over what every woman should do before welcoming a new addition to set themselves up for success.

Takeaways:

• Having children in America can have negative financial and career implications.
• Cultural norms around motherhood in the United States are contradictory and place unrealistic expectations on mothers.
• Governmental solutions such as paid family leave and affordable childcare are needed to support working parents.
• Parents should support each other and ask for help when needed, and society should be more understanding and less judgmental of parents in public spaces.

Chapters:

0:00 Challenges of Motherhood in America

11:16 Changing Expectations of Motherhood

15:33 Paid Family Leave and Solutions

22:32 Childcare Costs and Inflation

24:22 Advice for Parents Considering New Jobs

27:33 Transition to Mailbag Segment

33:30 Mailbag Question 1: Managing a $2 Million Inheritance

38:26 Mailbag Question 2: Splitting Finances with A Live-In Partner

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