Reflections From the "No Country for Mothers" Documentary Screening
The Screening of "No Country for Mothers" was hosted by StoryB in partnership with West Hartford Public Library and the Town of West Hartford's Office of Employee Development & Community Engagement.
Thank you to Amanda Aronson of StoryB, West Hartford Public Library, and the Town of West Hartford for bringing No Country for Mothers to our community. The film and
thoughtful discussion gave voice to a reality many mothers know well: caring for children is often made harder by a lack of reliable, affordable support, even though families need care options at many points, whether a parent works outside the home or not.
The conversation was a reminder that support for mothers should not be a culture-war issue. Safe, quality, accessible childcare helps families make choices that work for them and makes it more possible for women to remain connected to work, return when they are ready, and recover from life’s inevitable challenges. Connecticut’s paid-leave program is an important step, providing eligible workers with income-replacement benefits and generally up to 12 weeks of leave in a 12-month period, with additional time available for pregnancy-related incapacity.
At Untapped Potential, we believe caregiving should never erase a woman’s professional potential. We are grateful for conversations like this one, which move us closer to a future where mothers, families, and employers all have the support they need to thrive.
Local Progress Matters
The discussion also brought to mind the advocacy that helped make Connecticut’s Paid Family and Medical Leave program possible. Early on in Untapped Potential’s beginning, Candace supported lobbying efforts on behalf of this important policy, which failed at the time. We know it recognizes something families have long understood: recovery, bonding, and caregiving require time.
One comparison that made visible unfair policies is that puppies must legally remain with their mothers and littermates for at least eight weeks, while new parents in the United States have often faced far less protected time after a birth. The federal Family and Medical Leave Act can provide eligible employees with up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave, but eligibility is limited, and many families cannot afford unpaid time away from work. Employer-provided maternity or parental benefits can also vary widely.
Connecticut has taken a meaningful step forward. Eligible workers may receive up to 12 weeks of income-replacement benefits through Connecticut Paid Leave for qualifying reasons, including bonding with a new child, and may qualify for up to two additional weeks when a serious health condition causes incapacity during pregnancy. The program is not a complete answer to the childcare and caregiving challenges families face, but it is an important example of how policy can provide more humane support during a critical time.
Hope, and What Comes Next
No Country for Mothers ends with a sense of possibility, showing what can happen when families, advocates, and leaders move beyond false choices about motherhood and work and focus on the support people actually need.
That hope is visible in New York, where Governor Kathy Hochul and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani have advanced a major expansion of public early-childhood care. New York is working toward universal access to pre-K for four-year-olds statewide by the 2028–29 school year. In New York City, the state and city have also begun a new free 2-K program for two-year-olds, with the first 2,000 seats offered in high-need communities. These efforts build on existing 3-K and pre-K programs and reflect a larger commitment to making quality care more attainable for families.
This progress matters because childcare is not simply a private family concern. It is workforce infrastructure. When parents can access safe, dependable care, they have more freedom to recover after birth, pursue education, remain connected to their careers, or return to paid work when the time is right. Strong care systems also benefit employers and communities by allowing more people to bring their skills and experience into the workforce.
Would you be interested in attending a future screening of No Country for Mothers with Untapped Potential?
We would love to know. Please reach out to us or respond to this article to let us know if you would attend a future viewing and conversation. The more we come together to name these challenges, the more effectively we can advocate for solutions that support women, children, and families.
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About the Film
The film explores the culture wars surrounding American motherhood and why both the "girl boss" and "trad wife" labels ultimately distract us from the real issue: the lack of support for American families.
Following activist Reshma Saujani, the film charts a growing national movement to reunite moms across divisions and win the kind of historic support families actually need. The film is part of the American Motherhood Tour and a growing movement to support moms in America.
