When my daughter was born seven weeks early and admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, paid leave gave my family something every family deserves: time together.

Without it, I would’ve been forced to choose between caring for my baby and protecting my livelihood. Instead, Colorado’s paid family and medical leave program gave us the chance to recover and bond during one of the hardest seasons of our lives.

Every family should have that opportunity.

In NICUs across the country, babies lie under fluorescent lights while parents try to navigate impossible decisions – between income and care, work and healing. Mothers return to work days after giving birth because they have no other choice. 

We often talk about giving children a strong start in life. But children thrive when the adults caring for them are supported and able to provide a stable environment. Paid leave helps create those conditions.

Research shows chronic stress shapes child development. While paid leave cannot solve every challenge families face, it gives families time to recover and build stability.

I experienced this firsthand.

Parents shouldn't be working at the NICU bedside

On Jan. 1, 2025, I walked through a beautiful, icy park alongside my spouse and three-year-old. I was 32 weeks pregnant and marveling at the changes that would soon reshape my........

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