The only other alternative is that we have our free will trampled and be told by the federal govt each parent must take a minimum of 2 years off to raise each child they have.
That means you must be single, divorced, or otherwise unmarried at the end of the tax year and (1) you paid more than 50% to keep a home for the entire tax year for a parent who was a dependent OR (2) you paid more than 50% to keep a home for the entire tax year with your dependent (there are some exceptions to this rule).