Millions of women carry their own child for nine months and bring them into the world, but are only able to fully take care of them for a short amount of time. This is currently the case in the United States (US) by having the shortest maternity leave period amongst developed nations. The common time given to US mothers for their maternity leaves simply is not enough time to heal from labor and create a bond with a new member of their families.

The US currently gives new mothers a minimum of 12 weeks to spend time with their newborn babies. In an effort to keep companies in good shape while an employee is away, the majority of business only offer the bare minimum. Even though they can still keep their jobs, it’s very common for fathers in the US to not get any paid paternity leave at all to care for their child. New parents simply cannot immerse themselves in the joy of being new parents if they can not see the growth and development of their child past a three-month mark. America has one of the shortest maternity leave periods amongst all the developed nations in the world. The US needs to catch up with the rest of the world in order to give new mothers the time they need to build a relationship with their child.

Some may think that America’s 12 week leave is sufficient in order to “get the hang” of being new parents. But shouldn’t having a child be about experiencing the growth of your child rather than just the idea of being an efficient parent? Research shows that a child’s first year in life is crucial for their psychoneurological development, as they need the intimacy and care of their parents. Are 12 weeks really enough to establish that bond and give a child a healthy psychological mindset?

Another huge concern facing new mothers is the financial instability while on maternity leave. In the US, it is mandatory to give a minimum of 12 weeks leave, but that does not mean companies have to pay during that time. Unpaid maternity leave, being the most common type, places more concerns on families trying to have children as half of the couple is not bringing in a steady salary. It is truly unfortunate that in the US spending time with a new child is seen as more of a privilege than a basic right to form a bond with one’s family.

Neighboring the US, Canada offers its mothers a 17 week period of paid leave while also giving both parents 35 weeks to share. Commonly, the mother takes the majority of the 35 weeks giving her about a year to both heal from labor and strengthen a bond with their child. Despite the common “paying-for-maternity-leave-will-weaken-a-company” narrative, this generous time given to Canadian citizens benefits something greater than the revenues of a company: their people. The majority of parents in Canada could not be happier with the time they get with their newborns, leaving them refreshed to get back to work and do something for themselves.

Having a great job can guarantee a lot of things, like health care and a steady salary, but family and what someone has built with them is what they will carry for the rest of their lives. In a country this developed, it should be more of a right than a privilege to dedicate one’s self to bonding with their newborn in the first year of their life to establish what is essentially the most important aspects in life: family.