More parents are leaving the workforce to stay home with their kids during the pandemic.
Colleen Merrell says she felt like a bad mother by not being there for her kids while navigating remote learning and felt like a bad employee because her mind was on the kids.
So, Merrell says she made the decision to leave her job.
"My daughter's sweet," she said. "She's like, 'Mom, thank you for giving up your job for us, to be here to help us.'"
"It was so sweet," explained Merrell, "I said, 'Sweetie, I didn't give up my job. My first job is always to be a mom.'"
Merrell is definitely not alone.
New data from the Pew Research Center shows nationally the percentage of mothers not in the labor force jumped 3% in just one year.
The rate for fathers increased by about 2%.
