I always thought it should be even between both parents, along with a staggered return to work at the end. So ideally you can have parents then working mostly alternate days for a few weeks before a full return to work. And the employer shouldn't be allowed to have any say in it because otherwise its inevitable that pressure is put on you not to take it.
this post was submitted on 15 Mar 2025
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More paternity leave everywhere, yes please.
I think maternity and paternity leave should both be compulsory six months, to be taken as desired between pregnancy and 2nd birthday
I wish I had paternity leave - I feel like I missed out on so much plus it was unnecessarily difficult for my ex. Back then we only had one week. However my mother-in-law came for that week and my ex “wanted her Mom”. So I sat at home for a week doing what I could while my mother-in-law took care of my ex and kid, then week two I had to go back to work and mil had to go back home, and my ex was home alone with the baby, no support
FYI - a bit eye opening on who some feminists actually are (in a good way) - a feminist group at work used me as a poster child to demand more paternity leave.
Paternity leave is awesome, did so myself (male). Even though it was 2010 and in Europe a lot of paperwork came up because it was not my wife...
Yeah probably as always only a matter of perspective. Don't listen to other men, just do what feels right for yourself.
I took a solid 9 months paternity leave with my son, and I think we just built the best base for a father son relationship I could ever imagine or hope to have. I know they don't seem like it as a baby, but you are building your foundation already.
This was 3 years ago and I still feel the outcome of it every day.
Go for it , be yourself, don't listen to others.
Yeah we haven't in Australia, seen people take it , it's a great idea
Make it a year of pto, and you get to spend that time over the next 18 years. I'd happily take a week after birth and then more time off later as they get older.
If you can live on 85% then it's an awesome opportunity, and super rare in the US. I'd be trying to find something to bridge the financial gap, some under the table gig or something because I already don't make enough.
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Not sure what this post is about, OP... What are you actually asking?
Paternity leave is obviously vital if you're a decent parent and partner. If you have it available you take it and you focus on your family. Your mentioned group of coworkers sound like fucking degenerate scumbags stuck on a pointless treadmill. I feel sorry for their partners and their children.
You should take some time to consider why you didn't have a visceral reaction of outright disgust and had to come here and ask for others to chime in. Tune in, bud. It's all about your kids now. Don't look for worthless approval from worthless people.
That's some assumption, I never said I agreed with them or was looking to take their advice or gain their approval. I said all of the things people are saying in here, I offended a few people who thought I was calling them bad dads which I never directly said, but that's their short line to draw to their own conclusion.
I more so was looking for input on the concept of paternity leave from people outside my small work circle because I thought the overwhelming hate on it was wild and for a minute felt like I was some new age radical who had just discovered the concept of taking care of your family. I knew I wasn't, but I don't hear much about it where I'm at so I figured I'd ask the general community.
Not assuming. I just didn't see you express that disgust, so even the omission says something.
IMO you need a lot more passion in your response, here and IRL to colleagues. These are obviously broken people around you. You smiling and nodding and coming here to quietly discuss away from them helps perpetuate their nonsense. Alternatively, if you had a gut reaction of "Dude, what the fuck are you talking about? How are you supporting your partner if you aren't taking that full leave? A newborn is 24/7 physical/emotional/mental gauntlet. Are you just leaving them to deal with all that, that's horrible, man... Do better." might have knocked some sense into them.
We break these toxic cycles by speaking to our peers with confidence and putting idiots on the spot by holding a mirror up to their childish bullshit. Sounds like you have the right position generally, I'm encouraging you to express it openly and forcefully to be a part of the change you seem to be in support of.
I love my wife and kid, but I was ready to get outta the house after two weeks and go back to work