Mother Trouble

Had to share this link today from Motherlode about the new 2011 State of the World's Mothers report, published by Save the Children. It's a sobering reminder that our woes as Western mothers—too little time for this or that, a teetery balance between self and kids, oh the angst!—pale in comparison to those of mothers in sub-Saharan Africa and Afghanistan, where it's dangerous to bear and rear children. 

The study analyzed economic, health, and education conditions for women and children in 164 countries. Norway, Australia, Iceland, Sweden, and Denmark grab the top five spots, while the U.S. ranks 31st out of 43 developed countries. (One of many reasons for our lackluster rating: We have the least generous maternity leave policy of any wealthy nation.) Afghanistan ranks last.

Read more here at Motherlode, and thanks to Lisa Belkin for the reality check on this run-up to Mother's Day.