Drawing on data from the last six years and firsthand accounts, this brief describes how temporary federal investments and expanded remote work options during the pandemic enabled record-breaking labor force participation among mothers—but also how the expiration of these supports has caused many women to fall back out of the work force, especially Black mothers. The piece underscores the importance of child care as a foundational economic policy and calls for meaningful action to enable women to make choices about work and caregiving without being constrained by structural barriers. By illustrating the continued gaps and the urgent need for robust investment in child care infrastructure to support women, especially those with young children, the brief aims to inform policymakers and inspire changes that promote equity and opportunity for all families.