23. We’ll Just… Hire a Babysitter

In the land of opportunity, it seems the opportunity to take paid parental leave is more of a unicorn than the American dream. The US, a pioneer in many areas, lags in the stork department. This fact sits on the less sparkly side of the stars and stripes, leaving new parents to juggle diapers with deadlines sans paycheck.

It’s an exclusive club that no one wants to be a member of, making ‘bring your baby to work day’ an everyday possibility. We may be home of the brave, but it’s a bravery that extends to navigating parenthood with an alarm clock still set for the daily grind. Maybe we’ll find a future where baby steps also mean progress in parental leave.