10 Tips to a successful Paternity Leave!

Last week I was listening to NPR’s Tell Me More  and the discussion was around Marissa Mayer’s comments about maternity leave. The commentary around her position wasn’t the most interesting, but the comments spoken by Leslie Morgan Steiner, editor of the book “Mommy Wars”.

Her comments were as follows:

You know what? I tell you, my husband took three days of paternity leave with my first child, and it broke my heart. It would’ve changed everything for me if he had taken the full month or six weeks that his company allowed. I think it’s a really big issue and I don’t – I think that the physicality of pregnancy is really – is a huge part of maternity leave. But I also think that we wouldn’t have this big problem and this big focus on maternity leave being only an issue for moms if men paid more attention to it and understood how incredibly important it is.

I was wondering if by chance other wives’ feel the same way. According to a CNN website on Parenting. 46% of moms get irate with their husbands once a week or more. Those with kids younger than 1 are even more likely to be mad that often (54 percent).  There anger stems from the fact that men don’t  seem to pay attention to or understand their children’s basic needs.

As husbands, if you are considering taking the scheduled paternity leave and support your family, here are some very important tips that can help you win.

1. If you take your child to a scheduled activity, the ladies of other children won’t necessarily let you into their circle right away. Make sure bring the hottest literature..i.e. 50 Shades of Grey to add value to the group.
2. Those same ladies also won’t be talking football, basketball, baseball or hockey so you must be up to date on the current reality shows, cutest fashions, or what’s happening in town.
3. Under no circumstances should your child be in a heavy diaper when your wife gets home. She will suspect the child has been neglected all day.
4. You will have to master at least two other skills simultaneously while taking care of junior. It will increase your security within the family unit, plus there may be some extra bennies later in the evening.
5. It will allow you to ask for a night to hang out with the fellas. I suggest you pick Friday night. Why, it’s the end of the week. She will want to spend time with the kids and you will be free.
6. Take your child to the park often. It’s a big ego booster, when mom’s see a man taking care of his kids.
7. You don’t have to worry about going to the gym. Lifting the car seat and hold the baby will do the trick.
8. Whatever you do don’t make any playdates with the hot mom’s you meet during your travels. You will surely fall into tip #3 which will lead to questions. If you are a risk taker, make sure you set a time at least two hours before your wife comes home.
9. If you master tips 1-8, it will be a definite boost to your sex life, but you will have to remember tip #4 and take naps when the children nap. Otherwise you will be the one that’s tired.
10. Have fun. As the children get older, the bond you have with them will be greater than you ever imagine.

 

Strivers! What do you think about the tips? What other tips are essential to a successful paternity leave?