Today, I had one of those mornings. Stubborn kids, messy kitchen; the entire morning routine was running further behind schedule and my blood pressure was on the rise. Sound familiar?

As a new(ish) parent of two, there are days when it still impossible to get my five-year old ready for school, my toddler ready for our nanny-share and myself out the door before 8:00am, so I can get to my job as the Bay Area Organizer for Hand in Hand: The Domestic Employers Network.

This morning, I was asking my son to put his shoes and coat on for the fourth time when, Jessica, the childcare provider we employ, arrived right on time – like she usually does. I could feel my stress start to wane immediately.  She took one look at me, then at the sink full of breakfast dishes still unwashed and smiled – “just go, I can take care of these.”  I gave her a HUGE hug. 

Jessica has become more than just a partner in parenting, she has become a critical part of our family’s support network.  I am grateful for all that she has taught me about how to be a better parent and for how much she cares for my toddler, making it easier for me to leave him with her three days a week.

Before I worked for Hand in Hand, being a fair employer was something my partner and I had to figure out on our own. We did our best to pay a living wage and provide Jessica with paid sick days and holidays, but we weren’t always certain we were doing it right.

Now, my day job in this wonderful, women-led movement has not only helped me do the right thing in my home, but a new campaign we’re launching is making it easier for employers of childcare providers everywhere to find out what they can do too!

I’m really excited about this campaign—and as MomsRising moms committed to social justice, I thought you’d be excited to check it out too!

Its called the Fair Care Pledge and it's very simple: all you need to do is commit to doing your best to making your home a workplace you can be proud of by following the Big 3 of fair employment: Fair Pay, Clear Expectations, and Paid Time Off.

Once you’ve taken the pledge, you can then tell your friends and neighbors about it, through social media or by printing your pledge certificate. You can ask childcare agencies in your neighborhood if they meet the standards of the Fair Care Pledge. And you can find a parents fair employer workshop in the Bay Area or in NYC.

It all starts here: http://faircarepledge.com.