Boards
New Paternity Leave For Dads
I'm taking full advantage of this cuddly new Paternity Leave which was introduced earlier this year and applies to all babies born after May 2011.
For those of you in the dark it means that the 12 months maternity leave previously given only to the mother can now be shared by the mother and the father (or guardian, whatever) of the baby as long as the baby is 6 months or older.
My partner is happy to go back to work in January by which point our little boy will be almost 7 months meaning I have a full 5 months to take, of which I've decided to take 3. Now this means that I finish up work on Friday and will not return until April 2012 which is quite a thought...
Any dads on here doing something similar? A few guys from our ante-natal group were going to do it but have now all backed out. Personally I think it will be an amazing experience that I won't get a chance to repeat so I can't imagine not doing it. I'd also like to think it makes employers less likely to discriminate against hiring women of 'child-bearing' age... but I guess this depends on how many blokes would take the plunge and become a full-time dad for a while.
Would you do it? If you're a mother would you be happy with your man looking after the little one? Will I end up going for coffee with other mothers and become an expert on Sex and the City and Desperate Housewives? Will I start to go insane from lack of adult interaction? So many questions....