Stretched: Working Parents' Juggling Act American working parents don't have it easy — they're pulled in a lot of different directions. All Things Considered steps into their world and explores challenges like paid leave and childcare.
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Stretched: Working Parents' Juggling Act

Mike Cruse changes his daughter Olivia's diaper, while his 4 year-old son Benjamin and wife, Stephanie, fold laundry in their home in Alexandria, Va. Mike went back to work less than two weeks after Olivia was born. Claire Harbage/NPR hide caption

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Claire Harbage/NPR

'I Wasn't There To Help': Dad With Newborn Struggles With Lack Of Leave

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(Left) Edith Einarsson, Kristina Ingemarsdotter Persson, Samuel Einarsson and Per Einarsson. (Center) Yao Zhang, Shanshan Zhang and Rachel Meng. (Right) Lama Dossary and her daughter Leila. Linda Johansson/Courtesy of Kristina Ingemarsdotter Persson; Courtesy of Rachel Meng; Bushra Al-Hinai/Courtesy of Lama Dossary hide caption

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Linda Johansson/Courtesy of Kristina Ingemarsdotter Persson; Courtesy of Rachel Meng; Bushra Al-Hinai/Courtesy of Lama Dossary

Countries Around The World Beat The U.S. On Paid Parental Leave

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Iris and Eli Fugate with their 6-month-old son Jack, at the family's home in San Diego. Thanks to California's paid family leave law, Iris was able to take six weeks off when Jack was born, and Eli took three weeks, with plans to take the remaining time over the next few months. Sandy Huffaker for NPR hide caption

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Sandy Huffaker for NPR

How California's 'Paid Family Leave' Law Buys Time For New Parents

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State Laws Build Momentum For First National Paid Family Leave Program

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A Pediatrician's View Of Paid Parental Leave

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Florance Eloi works the omelet station at Hilton's Conrad Miami. By the time Eloi gave birth, a new company policy guaranteed her 10 weeks of fully paid parental leave. Jennifer Ludden/NPR hide caption

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Jennifer Ludden/NPR

From Cooks To Accountants: Hilton Extends Paid Parental Leave To All

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Mary McLain for NPR

To Retain More Parents, The Military Offers A Better Work-Life Balance

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Women demonstrate for accessible child care at the First Women's March down Fifth Avenue on Aug. 26, 1970. Freda Leinwand, Courtesy of Schlesinger Library, Radcliffe Institute, Harvard University hide caption

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Freda Leinwand, Courtesy of Schlesinger Library, Radcliffe Institute, Harvard University

How Politics Killed Universal Child Care In The 1970s

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Working Parents Across The Country Share Their Experiences

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Chelsea Beck/NPR

Child Care Scarcity Has Very Real Consequences For Working Families

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