Now *this* is progress. A few weeks ago, I was lamenting the lack of attention paid to the very thoughtful "Family Stress Relief Act", proposed by Paul Glastris at Washington Monthly. But now there's reason to celebrate.

Lynn Woolsey, a California Democrat, has proposed what she calls the "Balancing Act." (Read about it in this Knight-Ridder article). She seems to hit on just about every way to improve care for infants and toddles, from paying to improve the language skills of nannies, ensuring that employers have a federal right to see their kid's band recitals/soccer games, changing the economics of part-time work (for the better) and throwing money towards the improvement of day care centers. It's not directed at at-home parents, but the proposals, taken together, should have the effect of making it easier for working parents to be more family-oriented.

The bad news, of course, is that this is a sprawling bill being offered by someone with little power to get it through. But that's not reason not to celebrate it ... these ideas, once they're out there, have a way of percolating for a few years and then suddenly becoming a cause celebre. If you want to send Lynn a you-go-girl note, click here.