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Today, I want to talk about an issue that’s important to me – and that affects every person reading this in one way or another: paid family leave.
My story starts with my mom. She raised me by herself on a teacher’s salary, and often, she took on another job at night to help keep us afloat.
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I saw how hard my mom had to work to raise me, and it’s something I’ve thought about my whole life: the decisions that working parents, especially single parents, have to make on a daily basis around balancing child care and providing.
My mom was my world. But never knowing my dad was hard on me, and I always told myself that when I had kids someday, I would do things right.
I wanted to be there from Day One.
I was in the middle of my first congressional campaign in 2018 when I found out that my wife, Aly, was pregnant with our first son. Our family was growing, and I was determined to be the dad my kid deserved.
For me, this meant going to every doctor’s appointment, decorating the nursery, and working with Aly to take care of our child as soon as he arrived. I wanted to be there from Day One.
My son was born the next year, and I decided to do something no other member of Congress had ever done before: I took paternity leave.
I wasn’t trying to make a statement, and I didn’t even know I was the first to do it – I found that out from the press. I just knew that I needed time to be home for my family.
The response was overwhelmingly positive.
I am proud to use my platform to say, “Hey, this is really important, and it’s something that I think dads, moms, and every parent should be able to do.” And hopefully, my decision helped create space for others in Congress and across the country to do the same.
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But today, there’s still a stigma associated with paternity leave. We’re stuck in a culture that views maternity leave as the only kind of legitimate paid parental leave, and our families and our economy is worse off because of it.
There’s no substitute for time spent.
All of the research tells us that babies benefit from the father being present in those critical, early days. They’re able to form stronger bonds, and paternity leave has actually been tied to improved health and development of the child. There’s no substitute for time spent.
Paternity leave also increases gender equity in the home. This was a huge part of why I made my decision. I wanted to be as involved as possible for our son, but I’d also made a commitment to Aly that I would be a true partner in raising our family.
And to top it all off, paternity leave boosts the economy. Mothers are able to get back to work faster, and both parents’ productivity is higher. It’s a win-win-win.
Despite all of this, only 9% of American companies provide paid leave for fathers. And when fathers do have the option to take this time off, many don’t feel they should.
When I was in the NFL, it was a big deal if you missed a game for the birth of your child. It was treated like a huge sacrifice. But after that, it was assumed that the mother was the one who needed to recover and be fully responsible for the family life.
This outdated idea is pervasive in our society, and we have to change it. It’s not about masculinity – it’s about what’s best for your family. I hope other men were able to see me take paternity leave and think, “If a former NFL linebacker can do it, so can I.”
We need a new generation of leadership.
Nothing has made me happier, prouder, or more fulfilled than becoming a father. Being my boys’ dad is my greatest joy, and I’m thankful that I got the opportunity to be there for them from the very beginning.
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Unfortunately, many people don’t have that option. America is only one of two countries in the world that doesn’t guarantee paid family leave for anyone. It’s ridiculous.
When politicians in Washington fail to pass family leave but then turn around and cut taxes for the rich, there’s a fundamental disconnect between the economy writ large and what life is like for most people in this country. Right now, things are going great for billionaires and corporations – because hardworking families are footing the bill.
That’s why I’m running for Senate. I’m in this fight to stand up for working families like mine. To make paid family leave, affordable child care, and quality public education accessible to everyone in Texas and across the country.
We need a new generation of leadership in Washington that understands the reality that most Americans have already arrived at – and we need it now.
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I’ll end with this: I’ve thought a lot about what being a “good father” is.
It’s not that you’re the head coach of the little league baseball team or that you help do the homework every night. It’s really about setting an example and just being there as much as possible.
Taking paternity leave allowed me to do just that. Spending time as a family and taking care of a newborn shouldn’t be a luxury reserved for some – it should be the standard for all.
Colin Allred is a 4th-generation Texan, former NFL linebacker, and Democratic Congressman running for U.S. Senate. Multiple polls already show him in the lead – including the most recent poll from this race that has him up by 2 points – but with corporate PACs and right-wing millionaires pouring money into Texas to stop him, he relies on supporters like you to fund his campaign. If you believe in his work to stop the corruption in Washington, please consider donating to his campaign today.
Paid for by Allred for Texas
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