From Birth to Bonding: Holding Our Granddaughter and Reflecting on What Families Need

Camille Mc Millan Rambharat

With hearts full of gratitude and joy, we recently celebrated the birth of our first grandchild, a girl. We are blessed to witness the growth of our family.

We extend our deepest congratulations to our son and daughter-in-law as they begin this beautiful new chapter of parenthood. To see them step into this role with love, care, and intention is a blessing beyond words.

As new grandparents, we are not only celebrating new life. We are also witnessing the power of time in shaping a family’s beginning. Time allows a mother to heal and bond with her child. It allows a father to be present, to support, and to share responsibility of care. It gives a family the space to begin together.

In Canada, our daughter-in-law has access to one year of maternity leave. Our son has taken five weeks of paid parental leave, with the option to extend further. Both have the assurance of returning to their jobs without losing seniority. This creates not just support, but dignity, allowing both parents to be present in the earliest and most formative days of their child’s life.

This stands in contrast to Trinidad and Tobago, where maternity leave is set at 14 weeks. While this is legal protection, it remains limited in practice. My own experience reflected this reality. Returning to work after just a few months was not a choice. It was a necessity. Like many mothers, I carried the emotional weight of leaving too soon, while navigating childcare and meeting expectations at work and at home.

Fourteen weeks is not enough. Not enough for a mother to recover. Not enough for a child to be nurtured in those critical early stages. Not enough for a family to find its rhythm.

At present, there is also no guaranteed paternity leave in Trinidad and Tobago, though recent announcements signal that this may soon change. Proposed reforms to labour laws aim to introduce parental and paternity leave, recognising the role of fathers and expanding support for families. This is a step in the right direction, but until these changes are fully realised, many families continue to navigate the earliest days without that support.

In Canada, nearly three-quarters of new mothers can take maternity or parental leave, and more partners are beginning to share that time. Research shows that longer leave improves maternal mental health and strengthens early family bonding.

Countries like Sweden and Norway offer more generous parental leave than Canada, providing over a year of shared leave with dedicated time for fathers, while Trinidad and Tobago remains at 14 weeks for mothers and no guaranteed leave for fathers.

Watching our son and daughter-in-law, I see what becomes possible when both parents are given the opportunity to be present. Care is shared. Pressure is reduced. Families are given the space to begin well.

This raises an important question for us as a society. Is it time for Trinidad and Tobago to re-examine and implement how we support families?

The world has changed. We now better understand the importance of early childhood development, maternal health, and the role of fathers. When policies evolve, behaviour follows. Fathers become more present. Care becomes shared. Families are strengthened.

The Catholic Church teaches that the family is the foundation of society and central to Christ’s message. As Scripture reminds us, “Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him” (Psalm 127:3).

If we truly believe this, then we must also advocate for systems that protect and support family life.

This is a moment for the Church to lend its voice and to call on those in authority to review and modernise maternity and paternity leave policies in Trinidad and Tobago. Parents should not be forced to choose between providing for their families and being present for them.

As we held our granddaughter during this sacred Lenten season, I was reminded of the quiet strength and tenderness of the Holy Family, Mary, Joseph, and the child Jesus, whose life together was rooted in presence, sacrifice, and love.

May we build a world where every family is given the time and support to begin in that same spirit.

Camille Mc Millan Rambharat is a Workforce & Leadership Development Adviser | Connect with her on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/camille-m-rambharat