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[00:00.18] Research shows that 15 years after college, US mothers earn 11% less than women without children and 42% less than fathers.

[00:10.53] This is called the “motherhood penalty.”

[00:13.98] Many women who became mothers told The New York Times that having kids forced them to leave careers or take part-time jobs.

[00:21.15] Child care was too expensive, and some had children with special needs.

[00:26.20] One woman said motherhood should come with a warning label.

[00:30.18] Another said she lost 750,000 dollars in potential earnings.

[00:36.29] Mothers said they were tired, stressed, and left out of promotions or special projects.

[00:42.67] While men with kids often advanced, women with kids disappeared from the workplace.

[00:49.04] Many stopped saving for retirement or lost job benefits like pensions and Social Security.

[00:55.16] Some felt trapped, dependent on their husbands, or scared for the future.

[01:00.74] Others couldn’t return to work even with degrees and experience.

[01:05.51] Still, most said having children was worth it.

[01:09.23] They just didn’t expect the financial and emotional cost to be so high.