There’s a saying that I think is largely true for many of us—that you’re only ever as happy as your least happy child. I believe there’s another corollary—that children are only ever as happy as their mother or, as the case may be, the one who plays the maternal role in their lives. They can be endlessly entertained and kept busy, but their sense of well-being is inextricably tied to their mother’s. This is not to downplay the essential importance of fathers in their children’s lives. It’s just an observation of a key piece to the intricate societal puzzle.

Admittedly, if true, this is an added psychological burden for mothers who already carry the weight of the world on their shoulders, partly due to circumstance and partly due to personal assumption of responsibility. But it’s also empowering to understand that investment in the mental and physical health and well-being of mothers and children is an investment in the mental and physical health and well-being of society.