OK, so here I am, a thirty-something year old mother of two, who, up until I became a mom was sure I wanted to work full time outside the home and come home at night to tuck my little ones into their own beds, then enjoy some quality time with my hubby.  Because what could possibly be more satisfying in life than a thrilling career?  I worked hard to become a registered nurse.  An angel of mercy, have you.  Saving lives, bringing home the (vegan) bacon, and enjoying a little family time on the side.  

I'm not a big proponent of the Occupy Wall Street movement. I generally support their cause, but, quite frankly, I don't have time for a new cause right now and I sure as heck don't have time to sleep in a park.

But today, my interests are completely overlapping with those of Occupy.  And if you don't really "get" what the Occupy movement is all about, this is a perfect demonstration.

This time of year is my favorite. The leaves are changing and it’s gotten cooler outside. And the cold weather starts me thinking about the upcoming holidays. Can you believe October is near its end? I can’t. It feels like yesterday that school was just starting. Oh, those hectic days.

Photo is of PCSW's Executive Director (at podium) surrounded by Connecticut legislators in support of paid sick leave.

I am in Phase 3 of my annual 4-Phase Back to School Nervous Breakdown. This breakdown is long, slow and powerful. It comes along annually as I start a new school year with several special needs children.

Working Mother Media recently launched their campaign to gain paid parental leave in the United States by 2015. In honor of this important campaign I’ve taken to a little poetic doggerel.

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Thanks a lot for the unpaid leave.

Unfortunately, it’s only a minor reprieve -

We’ve got bills to pay and mouths to feed

And losing our income makes us quite frenzied.

If family values are what our country supports

Then why aren’t we cohorts

Too many new moms have to choose between caring for a newborn and holding down a paycheck. Working Mother’s new campaign for universal paid parental leave aims to help change that.

When it comes to new moms, the United States is really a cut below. We are among just a handful of countries that do not offer universal paid maternity leave for new mothers — something that 178 nations already do, including some of the poorest.

This week, a judge dismissed a lawsuit brought against Bloomberg LP, which alleged that pregnant women and new moms were systematically discriminated against and denied opportunities for raises and promotions. Now, her comments about the ruling are sparking a debate.

By Debra L. Ness, President of the National Partnership for Women & Families

August marked the beginning of a new era for American women when the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced that beginning next August, women will have access to all approved contraceptive methods without co-pays or added cost under the Affordable Care Act.

This exciting news confirms what American women already know: that birth control is basic preventive care.