#PaidLeavePays because being a mother is hard enough!

You know what? Being a woman and living in Germany,  is a blessing in many ways. 
Not only do we have (almost)free access to university, and health insurance, our pregnant women do 
have the right of a paid leave, in any "state"- it`s a requirement!
What it means? It means that women in Germany get 6 weeks prior and 8 weeks after giving birth to the child, a paid leave! During this time women are not allowed to be sacked, they don`t have to worry about how to pay their next bill. What comes after that? The so-called "Elternzeit", literally parents` time ( to spend with their child) that is , ok, unpaid- BUT with job security! 
Why? Because being a new mom is a huge challenge already, and a gift, that needs time and dedication to even fully realise the change and the obligations.

All of us have a mother, a sister, an aunt, a cousin or a friend who got pregnant-sometime in their life, so ALL of us can relate to it.

I wish a country like the USA, which is so progressed would have similar requirements. Instead the USA provides 12 unpaid weeks. Almost 50 % though, do not even qualify for that. 25% of American women return to work within 10! days of giving birth. Only 11% of private sector-workers have such an access to a paid parental leave. USA is actually one of only seven countries that does not offer some form of paid leave. The other ones are Suriname, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Tonga, Palau and Papua New Guinea. You probably just think ..What?! Well, not only you..

WE are the future mothers, sisters, aunts and cousins and grandmoms. Let us unite in our love for our mothers, our children and our future! The U.S. magazine "Women`s Health" has created a petition that can be signed by anyone who agrees that mothers in the US need a paid leave too. 
Being a mother is the greatest gift of all and thus should be celebrated as such without having to fear losing a job and ultimately everything else.

Let us raise awareness!! #PaidLeavePays