billyz expansion v 2.0: Paternity leave is a good thing...

I don't know how it works for anyone outsidenthe province of Quebec, but if there is one thointhe governement here has done right it hjas to be governement sponsored parental leave. For those of you who don't know, Quebec is the most highly taxed place in North America: 15 percent sales tax when you factor in both provincial and federal sales taxes, and some crazy steep income taxes.

 On the plus side , I get the next five weeks off at 70% of my salary, while my wife gets 50 weeks off-- the first half of which she gets 75% of her salary, and 55% for the remaining half. There is another option which allows one paretnt to have 3 weeks off at 75%, and the other 9 months off at 75%.

 Personally I think this is fucking brilliant, since it allowed me to not only help my wife with her post c-section recovery ( which is no joke, really), but, more importantly, allowed me to get to know my oldest daughter-- and threw that I actually got to learn to be a" hands on parent" as opposed to  the "walking ATM/breadwinner" model of parenting every man in my familly has alwyas been.

 I guess a bit of context is needed here: I'm the first generation Canadian born son of Greek immigrants. Traditionally Greek men do fuck all when it comes to child rearing -- except for putting food on the table and making  asses who get too big for their breeches blush. I can honestly say that until ,like,  now my father has nevre held a baby in his hands,and that he has never changed a diaper, prepared supper for the kids without mom's assitance (keep in mind that the man was a restauranteur...), put the kids to bed , or kept the kids while mommy went out and had a good time with her friends. nither did any of my uncles or any of their Greek friends.

 The point here is that I honestly credit my wife's dogged determination ( she is and will remaion then only person that can ever get  me to do something I don't want to), and the provincial governments parental programs, gave me the inclination and the financial security needed to become a better parent.

I asked my dad the other day why he was not more of a hands on kind of dad.  Answer: " I worked 120 hours a week when you where born, most of that undeclared.  it just wasn't an option."

It  got me thinking about other countries /places that don't, much like ol' dad, don't  have that option-- for whatever reason-- and was wondering what that's like.

Anyone?

P.S: my fatherly pride won't allow me to not at least show you guys one pic of the little one.