It’s really crap that men aren’t allowed to take time off to be with their newborn kids.
Yes, they aren’t the ones who carried them for 9 months inside, gave birth to them or are able to feed them for the first little while, but that doesn’t mean it’s fair.
I think it would be great to give men the choice if they wanted. No stigma attached, only encouragement.
It would take the burden off women having to sacrifice their careers, just because they’re biologically able to reproduce.
Something like the first 6 months for the mom, and another 6 months for the dad sounds fair to me.
(In an ideal world, which also assumes you have money saved or a wonderful government and company who supports such things.)
THEY DO IT RIGHT IN SWEDEN
In Sweden, home of where one of my favourite authors lived (Stieg Larsson), not to mention being one of the most memorable cities in the world to visit, men take paternity leave.
From trendy central Stockholm to this village in the rugged forest south of the Arctic Circle, 85 percent of Swedish fathers take parental leave.
Those who don’t face questions from family, friends and colleagues.
As other countries still tinker with maternity leave and women’s rights, Sweden may be a glimpse of the future.
Can you believe it? Those who DON’T take paternity leave, are asked why.
Then you read this:
…laws reserving at least two months of the generously paid, 13-month parental leave exclusively for fathers — a quota that could well double after the September election — have set off profound social change.
Not only do women get 13-months of paid parental leave, men are entitled to 2 months of it, possibly 4 months by now.
IDEAL!!!!
IT WAS SOMEWHAT EASIER IN THE PAST, STRAPPING A BABY TO YOUR BACK
It was so much easier in the past. Women who worked in the fields, would strap that baby on their back or to their front, and go on with their day.
It was definitely not easy having to tote around a squealing, fragile, bundle of joy, but in terms of being able to work and have children, it was better.
Today, women would get weird looks if they brought their newborn babies into work… or would they?
Check out these pictures: Licia Ronzulli with her daughter at work.
She started when the baby Vittoria was just 6 weeks old!!
“The working mum took advantage of relatively relaxed rules allowing women to take their babies to work by cradling Victoria in a sling during the debate.
But while Mrs Ronzulli juggled being a mum and an MEP with ease, baby Victoria was clearly worn out by the lengthy discussions, sleeping throughout the experience.
Since then, the 37-year-old, who is a member of the environment, health and food safety commission, has brought her child with her to many voting sessions.” Via
This is a more a recent picture taken of Licia and Vittoria. Don’t they look adorable!?
I am down for this!
The only thing is that her job is probably more silent than mine would be.
I talk and work a lot with other people in meetings when I work, whereas hers seems to involve headphones and silence, and that would not bode well for babies, I think.
