My colleague and I have been trying to change the climate for mothers and pregnant women in our workplace.
As teachers, we know there isn’t always as much support for moms and expecting mothers in education as people might assume. We know meaningful policy changes take time, especially when they involve things like maternity leave and funding, so in the meantime, we’ve been focusing on the small things we can change now.
Earlier this year, we started a list of ways our school could better support mothers. One of our ideas was simple: there are six or seven visitor parking spots right by our front entrance that are almost always empty and teachers aren’t allowed to use. We asked if at least two could be reserved for expecting mothers.
Teaching is hard, and teaching while pregnant can be even harder. Being able to park closer to the door is such a small gesture, but it sends a bigger message: we see you, we appreciate you, and we want to make your day a little easier.
Our conversation didn’t seem particularly promising, so we weren’t sure what would come of it. But about a week later, one of our very pregnant colleagues was pulled aside by our principal and told she was welcome to park in any of the visitor spots.
It may seem like a small thing, but to us, it felt like a big win.
We’re hoping to eventually have some of those spots permanently designated for expecting teachers, but for now, we’re celebrating the progress.
Because sometimes creating a more supportive workplace for moms doesn’t start with a major policy change.
Sometimes it starts with one parking spot.