Paternity leave was 2 weeks - here's what I learned

Jan 17·1 min read

My company offered 2 weeks paid, which I realize now is pathetic compared to some places, but I took it when our daughter was born in July. Spent the second week just doing baby stuff while my wife rested, and honestly it changed how I think about parenting. When I went back to work, I could tell she was doing almost everything - diaper changes, feeds, nights. It lit a fire under me to actually be present instead of just coexisting with my kids. Not sure how to describe it better than that.

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Comments(6)

JJordanNew DadJan 18

The US is so far behind on this. I have buddies in Canada and Europe who got 3-6 months and they keep telling me how different their first experience was because they weren't constantly stressed about going back.

PPete S.RegularJan 20

Did your company give you the option to take unpaid time after the two weeks, or were you pretty much expected back to full schedule?

VVictor M.New DadJan 19

This is why I pushed my job to let me work from home three days a week for the first month back. Not ideal but at least I could duck out if things got crazy at home.

PPaul K.RegularJan 19

What was the biggest thing you learned in those two weeks that surprised you? Like something about parenting or yourself that you didn't expect?

VVincentRegularJan 19

Two weeks is rough, honestly. I got four weeks and even that felt short when you're trying to actually bond with a newborn and help your partner recover. You basically blinked and had to go back to work.

JJoshua K.New DadJan 20

Two weeks taught me that bonding with your kid and helping your spouse are actually TWO full time jobs, not something you squeeze in on the side. The guilt when I went back was real.