Who knew motherhood would require so much standing in line?

Before my daughter was even born, I was camping out in parking lots to secure a day-care spot. Fast forward, and I'm logging on to my computer at 7:50 a.m., awaiting the 8 a.m. opening of summer camp registrations.

And just last week, our family arrived at my twin boys' elementary school before dawn, coffee in one hand, folding chair in the other, hoping to claim one of the limited after-school care spots before they disappeared. And, unfortunately for me, all that waiting got me was a spot on the waitlist.

With my ample waiting time, I reflected on all of these instances, and more, over the last 12 years of my parenting experience. Collectively, they represent the sad reality that working parenthood has become an endless series of unending, unrelenting and sometimes unsuccessful races against the clock.

Every line we sit in--both figuratively and literally--sends a message that, as a society, we value working parents, but we still haven't built systems that make it all possible.

People often ask working........

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