The transition to an Obama White House makes public something that has been occurring in the private confines of American families for years. As the President himself acknowledged, his historic campaign would have been impossible but for the contribution of one person – his mother-in-law, Marian Robinson. As the Obamas crossed the country campaigning, Mrs. Robinson moved into their Hyde Park home to care for the couple’s young daughters.
The Obama’s “granny-nanny” arrangement may seem novel to media pundits, but it is a way of life for most Americans, who, according to recent census data, routinely rely on non-parental caregivers to care for their children. These childcare arrangements include care by grandparents and other extended family, as well as day care, nursery schools, or third party in-home paid childcare.
Regardless of the specific arrangement, the reality is the same: although we may idealize the notion of the nuclear family providing care to its dependent members in an atomistic fashion, in fact, the nuclear family relies on networks of other caregivers to help it discharge its caregiving responsibilities. Public policies aimed at supporting families should take these realities into account. More particularly, the Family and Medical Leave Act, a federal law that provides employees with the right to take time away from work to accommodate caregiving, should be expanded to include a wider range of family members. Read the rest of this entry »