Motherhood in America is at a critical juncture. As women’s roles evolve, more women than ever are in the workforce and more children than ever are raised without a stay-at-home parent. At the same time, public and private policies that affect parenting and the workplace remain largely unchanged. The result? Parents, and mothers in particular, struggle to balance the needs of their children with the demands of their jobs. Some would argue that mothers just need to find the proper balance between parenting and career. We believe there is more to it than that.

In our new book The Motherhood Manifesto, we argue that it’s time for a broad change in America’s support for mothers and families. In both the public and private sectors, radical shifts are needed to make parenting and the workplace compatible. The Motherhood Manifesto identifies and challenges the obstacles facing mothers today, and proposes concrete solutions.

The Motherhood Manifesto highlights six common-sense points for supporting mothers and families:

M = Maternity/Paternity Leave: Paid family leave for all parents after a new child comes into the family.

O = Open Flexible Work: Give parents the ability to structure their work hours and careers in a way that allows them to meet both business and family needs. This includes flexible work hours and locations, part-time work options as well as the ability to move in and out of the labor force to raise young children without penalties.

T = TV We Choose & Other After School Programs: Give families safe, educational opportunities for children after the school doors close for the day, including: a clear and independent universal television rating system for parents with technology that allows them to choose what is showing in their own homes; quality educational programming for kids; increased access to, and funding, for after school programs.

H = Healthcare for All Kids: Provide quality, universal healthcare to all children.

E = Excellent Childcare: Quality, affordable childcare should be available to all parents who need it. Childcare providers should be paid at least a living wage and receive healthcare benefits.

R = Realistic and Fair Wages: Two full-time working parents should be able to earn enough to adequately care for their family. In addition, working mothers must receive equal pay for equal work.

We believe that for America to have a vibrant future we must invest both love and resources in our children, and that the best way to do this is to support mothers and families. However, our private and public sectors are getting a failing grade for supporting mothers, while mothers are the victims of substantial bias in the workplace.

One study reports that single mothers earn 34% to 44% less than men with equivalent training and responsibilities. There is substantial evidence that good programs for children, mothers and families will result in less bias against mothers, healthier families and a healthier society in general.

The Motherhood Manifesto is an integral part of Moms Rising, a movement to champion the issues of motherhood and family. For more information, please visit www.momsrising.org.

Joan Blades is a co-founder of Moveon.org and Berkeley Systems with her husband Wes Boyd. She was chosen as one of Ms. Magazine’s “Women of the Year” in 2003. She lives in Northern California.

Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner is a consultant and researcher in the field of environmental policy and political strategy. She is the author of the award-winning book, The F-Word: Feminism in Jeopardy, and writes frequently about public policy, health and women’s issues. She lives in Washington state with her husband and two children.