Just had to make a few comments...  I was so excited to see this info about
Canada giving a year maternity leave! Bravo to Canada! This is what we have
been hoping for in the US, but even getting 6 mo. looked impossible. Maybe
we can copy our neighbor here and get it in the US of A!!!

I found it amusing to see some fears that it might be harmful to have this
law - that it might encourage mothers to not stay home with their kids full
time, but instead to go back to work when the year is up. But, lets
remember that this is the purpose of the law! We don't want to enact crummy
laws so women will 'give up'  and quit their jobs. And we don't want
maternity leaves that encourage women to not return to work, or no one
would want to enact them!

By the way, I think that some of you have fears that are unfounded.... I
can't imagine that it would result in less staying home, by the way -  it
probably would have no effect, but it could go both ways. Just as one mom
might find it harder to go back loving being home, another might find it
easier as she has gotten through this first year period that so many feel
is the crucial time. I doubt that you will find it affects either very much...

By the way, I found that I grew in my parenting. I was a real jerk while
pregnant, and was so sure that I would NEVER stay home with a kid. After
birth, my world stopped as I held that precious baby in my arms for the
first time. But even at three months of age, I contemplated day care -
until I realized they don't just hold your baby all day for you... now I
was very lucky that my husband is my partner, and he was able to go to the
office and work like a normal person until I figured out my role.
Eventually it was to stay home full time. I can tell you that at one year
if my 'maternity leave' would have been up, I would have been MUCH LESS
likely to return to work than at 6 weeks, or even 3 months...






Elizabeth N. Baldwin                    Baldwin & Friedman, P.A.
Phone: 954-966-7110                     Office: 305-944-9100  x233
Fax: 954-966-9796                       Office fax: 305-940-8544

Breastfeeding and the Law:  http://www.lalecheleague.org/LawMain.html
Website: http://www.compromisesolutions.com


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