Kayla Marmaud is mom of two – 11 and 1 – from St. Joseph, Missouri. She found herself a firsthand case of not being able to return to the workplace due to challenges finding child care when her youngest was born, and has now turned into an advocate for all families in Missouri to have better access to child care. Read her story below!
Why did you become an advocate for early childhood education?
When I was pregnant with Finn, I put his name on several childcare waitlist. When it was time for me to return to work, he did not have a spot. It wasn’t until he was eight months old before he finally got a spot in a childcare facility. I knew my family couldn’t be alone in the struggle of finding quality child care.
Why do you think it’s important to be advocate as a parent?
I can’t expect people without young children to know the struggles families are facing. Being a parent advocate allows people to hear first hand the difficulties families, like mine, are facing every day.
Why should Missouri invest more in child care and early education?
Research continues to show us the lasting impact the first few years have on a person’s life. When we invest in early childcare and education, we are providing our children with the best foundation. We also create a better future for future generations in Missouri.
In one sentence, what does the ideal child care and early education system look like for families in Missouri?
The ideal child care and early education system has affordable and quality child care spots for all children.