Writing on Child Care/ The Haiku Versions Are Here/ Open to Read Now

Writers share their child-care-themed Haikus

The child care drum beats
On and on, why the big fuss?
So we can fix it.

Some of my favorite writers share haikus on child care this week. Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash

This holiday season, we’re finding more, clever ways to keep child care in the news and on our mind.

It’s quite possible the incoming administration is going to consider an expansion of the child care tax credit, and this may even come in the first 100 days. That could be good, but only if it’s 1) refundable so that all families can access it and 2) not in lieu of all the other social programs that could be on the chopping block.

One way to keep child care top of mind? Read and write about it.

I’ve turned to some of my favorite writers who cover child care, or care more broadly, and asked them to submit haikus on child care. It’s the holiday season, after what has been a rough few months for many, so consider this a policy-themed holiday card with a bit of levity attached.

Please comment below and let me know your favorites. Or simply re-share the ones that resonate most. Or even better, share your own.

(For anyone who needs the quick poetry refresher, a Haiku is a short form of Japanese poetry that is made up of three lines with specified syllable count: 5 syllables/7 syllables/5 syllables. It doesn’t need to rhyme.)

Care: truly a right
Or just a family job?
The question looms large.

-Elliot Haspel, Author & Senior Fellow, Capita

---

the best times of day
are when I drop you off and
when I pick you up

-

Elissa Strauss

, author of

Made with Care

and "When You Care: The Unexpected Magic of Caring for Others."

---

The childcare tax credit
gets smaller when you earn less.
What sense does that make?

Early dismissal
Early dismissal parent
Teacher conference

-

Lindsey Stanberry

, author of

The Purse

.

---

Worry all the time
About every little thing—
Best job you could have.

-Ken Patridge, managing editor at Genius.

---

y'all, read the room
don't ask for unpaid labor
fund safety nets now

-

Katherine Goldstein

, author of

The Double Shift

---

quality childcare
is vital infrastructure
for happy families

free, full-day pre-k
changed our life and finances
until covid, boo

-

Nancy Reddy

, author of The Good Mother Myth and

Write More, Be Less Careful

.

---

Child care policy
Why is it so hard to get?
Both GDP and kids win

Who does right by kids?
If you invest in child care
Pay providers too

-

Rebecca Gale

, author of

It Doesn't Have to Be This Hard

---

Title: Mismatch
School hours do not match
My nine to five work day life
Summer will break me

Title: Headlines
“Costs of child care soar!”
“Why are parents so stressed out?”
You see it too, right?

-

Molly Dickens, PhD

, author of

The Maternal Stress Project

---

Our ambitions shift,
Passions grow while children nap—
In every way.

-Neha Ruch, Creator of Mother Untitled and author of The Power Pause.

---

Title: The Mental Load

Field trip is next week
Schedule dentist before March
Dance shoes are too small

-

Emily F. Popek

, author of

Think of the Children

.

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Yes, you, Haiku

Would love to hear your favorites in the comments, and/or from anyone else who wants to write their own!

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It’s the holiday season. So yes, we’re asking if you want to upgrade your subscription. Photo by Toa Heftiba on Unsplash

Year End Ask

The wise people at Substack are encouraging us to ask people to upgrade their memberships as part of a year-end holiday gift. I don’t anticipate putting this behind a paywall anytime soon because the need to keep child care in the news means the more people who read this, the better. But the people who do become paying subscribers are the ones who are underwriting this work, so if you are in a position to do so and you like what you read, please consider signing up or purchasing a gift subscription.

For people who are already paid subscribers - thank you!

Want to support this work without paying cash? Every comment, like and share goes a long way.

Thanks to all and happy holidays, however you celebrate it!