Policy Reflections on Mothers Day

"Mum, why do you always look so tired?"
A friend once shared how her six-year-old daughter asked her this after a long day. She smiled, gave her a hug, and said, “Because I love you.” But privately, she admitted feeling burnt out, juggling work, motherhood, and everything in between.
Today, as Mother’s Day is celebrated across Europe, Nigeria, Ghana, and other countries shaped by British colonial legacies, I’m thinking about mothers, strong, loving, and stretched thin. Behind every tired mother is a system that could be doing more, or doing better.

When Policy Works for Mothers
In Sweden, parents get 480 days of paid leave per child, shared between mother and father. Norway offers nearly a full year. These policies go beyond bonding; they give mothers time to recover without risking their jobs or income.
In France, income-based subsidies make childcare affordable through public crèches. In Denmark, quality care starts as early as 6 months, easing the return to work.
In the Netherlands, mothers can legally request flexible hours or remote work. Finland normalizes reduced hours and flexibility as part of its work culture.
These aren’t just policies, they’re lifelines.

But What Happens When Policy Fails?
In countries like Nigeria, a woman in formal employment is entitled to just 12 weeks of maternity leave at 50% pay. But what about the countless women in informal work, market traders, domestic workers, and small entrepreneurs? Most of them return to work within days or weeks, without rest, support, or protection.
In Greece and parts of Eastern Europe, women working in informal economies face similar challenges: no safety net, no leave, no options.
Even in the UK, where maternity leave is more robust, many mothers still experience the motherhood penalty: wage stagnation, fewer promotions, and pension gaps after taking time off to raise children. South African mothers face the same challenges, especially those in low-income or insecure jobs.

And what about migrant mothers?
In many parts of Europe and Africa, women fleeing conflict or poverty struggle to access maternal healthcare or childcare due to unclear immigration statuses. Policies often exclude them unintentionally or otherwise, leaving them to navigate birth, childcare, and survival on their own.

Today, as we post tributes to our mothers, let’s champion:
- Inclusive paid parental leave that covers all mothers, regardless of sector or status
- Accessible, affordable childcare as a public good
- Career protections that erase the motherhood penalty
- Policy frameworks that centre migrant, single, and low-income mothers, not sideline them
Because every mother deserves rest, support, and dignity.
This Mother’s Day, let’s move beyond sentiment to system change.
Let’s build a world where no child has to ask their mother, “Why do you always look so tired?”