Mothers, Families and COVID - Erica Komisar

Despite the tragedy, suffering and economic losses of COVID, there are silver linings for many families in the current crisis. Recent lockdowns have a bright side for teens. A new survey says they're spending more time with their parents, getting extra sleep, and suffering from lower levels of clinical depression.

Our guest, New York psychoanalyst, parent coach, and author Erica Komisar, wrote in The Wall Street Journal "it has taken a pandemic to prove that it's possible to integrate work into our personal lives, as many millions of parents are now working from home. "Everyone wins— maternity-leave advocates who have been fighting for this arrangement for years, employers, mothers and children most of all." 

In lockdowns, Erica tells us, "children are getting a great deal more of their parents' time and attention and energy than they have previously.' 

In this episode, we also discuss why the findings of her book, "Being There: Why Prioritizing Motherhood in the First Three Years Matters" challenge both liberals and conservatives. We look at the case for extended paid maternity leave, and the potential emotional costs of daycare for infants and toddlers.

Recommendation: Jim is listening to "Missing in Alaska", a podcast by journalist Jon Walczak about a 50-year-old mystery of a plane disappearance.

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