Taking a 6-month paternity leave - some advice needed

Wyatt C.Regular

Dec 201 min read

Company approved it (!!) and I'm planning to start in March. But I'm nervous about a few things:

Will I look bad career-wise when I come back? My industry isn't exactly family-friendly
How do I actually structure my days? Do I need a routine or just wing it?
Should I tell my team I'll be unavailable or is it okay to check in occasionally?

This is my first kid (she'll be 3 months old when I start). Anyone done this and lived to tell the tale?

9 comments369 views

Comments(9)

GGreg M.RegularDec 21

I did 4 months when my second was born. Biggest thing I did was make sure to keep ONE foot in at work - attended 2 virtual meetings a month, stayed in the Slack loop. Not enough to ruin my time with the baby but enough to stay relevant. Made the transition back seamless

GGene K.RegularDec 21

Congrats on getting approval - that's the huge part. March is perfect timing too. As for looking bad, the dudes who take leave are usually the ones who come back knowing they can handle actually important stuff. Your job will be there

WWill R.RegularDec 21

Not a stupid question at all - most guys I know are scared of exactly what you're worried about. But here's the thing: being the parent who TAKES the time usually means you come back with way more credibility with your team because you did both things well. Keep your head down, do your job when you get back, you're fine

JJared C.RegularDec 22

Don't overthink the "looking bad" thing. Companies that penalize parental leave are the ones showing you what they really are. Take the time, be present with your kid, come back refreshed. You'll outperform the guys who burned out

RRay C.RegularDec 21

The career thing depends on your boss honestly. Did you get a sense from your company if they've supported other dads taking extended leave? That's usually the tell

PPete Y.RegularDec 22

The career thing is real and I'm not gonna lie. But I took 4 months last year and honestly most people didn't care. The ones who get weird about it? That's a them problem. You'll come back more productive. Just document what you do so you have wins to talk about when you return

GGabe R.RegularDec 23

I did 6 months and came back to the same title with a raise bump two years later. Industry IS slowly changing even if it doesn't feel like it. Just make sure you're actually present during those months - that's the real win

JJosh E.RegularDec 23

Congrats on getting it approved, that's massive. Real talk though - your industry matters a lot here. Tech? You're probably fine. Finance? Maybe more cautious. But the dads I know who took parental leave didn't see career damage. They came back more efficient because they had to be

NNoah B.New DadDec 23

Six months is going to fly by. Enjoy it. The "bad career move" thing is propaganda from people who never took it. You're investing in your kid AND yourself