Family First: Why America’s Birth Rate Is Falling—and How We Can Fix It
The birth rate in America has been declining for over a decade, and it's not just a matter of economics or shifting generational preferences—it’s a cultural crisis rooted in fear, pressure, and disillusionment with systems that once supported family growth.
While liberal media outlets like to frame this drop in birth rate as "liberation" or "choice," the reality is far more complex. Many women aren't choosing not to have more children—they're feeling forced not to.
As conservatives, we talk often about the importance of family values, but if we don’t start addressing the why behind the growing hesitation to grow families, we’re missing a major opportunity—and abandoning a key demographic: American mothers.
Let’s talk plainly. One of the most under-discussed factors in today’s family planning is this: moms don’t trust the public school system.
It’s not just about test scores anymore. It’s about ideology, safety, and whether our kids are being taught our values—or being actively undermined by radical agendas.
When a mom is weighing whether to have a third child and she knows she can't afford private school, what’s the alternative? Homeschooling.
And let me be clear: I support homeschooling. But the fact that it's become a default safety net for moms who feel abandoned by the system is deeply troubling. Homeschooling should be a choice, not a necessity born from distrust. And for many modern families, it's becoming a full-time job—a burden added to women already juggling careers, household management, and child-rearing.
This is not how it was supposed to be.
For decades, American families operated under a rhythm that worked: children went to school, and moms—whether they stayed home or worked—had support. Communities were stronger, faith was a grounding presence, and institutions like schools were trusted partners in raising the next generation.
I know because I lived it. My mother was a working mom. Every morning, I watched her pull on tights, slip into heels, and do her full hair and makeup. It wasn’t vanity—it was dignity. It was power. It was one of the most feminine and inspiring examples of womanhood I’ve ever known. People ask me all the time how I manage to show up in full glam while running businesses and raising children. My answer is simple:
My mom did it. My grandma did it. Some of my fondest memories are of watching my grandmother put on lipstick before leaving the house. No errands, no grocery run, no church service happened without a swipe of red or pink. That generation didn’t apologize for their presence—they owned it.
They didn’t see working and mothering as opposing forces. And they sure didn’t feel guilt for doing both. That’s what we’ve lost. And that’s what we can get back—if we stop forcing modern moms to choose between protecting their kids from broken systems and showing up in the world as whole, capable women.
If the conservative movement wants to reverse the birth rate decline—and we should—we need to get serious about restoring the systems that support women, not just preach at them about the importance of family.
Here’s where we start:
Fix Public Education: We must champion school choice, expand access to charter and faith-based schools, and support policies that allow federal education dollars to follow the child—not trap families in broken districts.
Support Working Mothers: Create a cultural shift that values motherhood and working motherhood equally. This means advocating for flexible work, incentivizing family-friendly business practices, and changing the tone about what “success” looks like for conservative women.
Rebuild Trust in Institutions: From schools to pediatric care to faith communities, our institutions must serve families—not the state. If we can’t offer women reliable partners in raising their children, we’re asking them to carry the whole load alone. It’s unsustainable.
Stop Shaming and Start Strategizing: Too often, we shame women for delaying family, for putting off kids, for struggling. Instead, let’s offer strategy: real solutions, real support, and real cultural leadership that makes building a family feel exciting, not terrifying.
The conservative movement is at a crossroads. We can either continue wringing our hands over birth rate stats, or we can roll up our sleeves and rebuild a culture where having children is a joy, not a burden. Because when we fix our schools, support our moms, and stop forcing women to choose between faith, family, and freedom—we don’t just get more children. We get stronger communities, a revitalized culture, and a future worth fighting for.