[silexia]

I have twin two year olds. Early on, I had to do a significant amount of work because there is two of them. But even with that work helping my wife, I still did not need any parental leave. Newborns are easy for a father... Just change the diaper, feed a bottle, and comfort them. Now that my kids are two years old, I need to spend more time with them teaching them things and I am sure that will grow. Maybe mothers should get leave right after birth and father's should get it as the kids get older to teach them more things?

[padraic7a]

It's always dangerous to generalise too much from your own experience. I had 6 weeks off when my son was born and would have taken more if it was possible. He didn't sleep or feed very well so my wife certainly could have used the extra support.

Now that my kid is nearly four I would also love more time off. How about more family friendly, or just less time-demanding, jobs in general?

[going off topic a bit it seems to me like post-Covid lockdown more and more people are looking for this, and are leaving jobs that can't provide it]

[brodouevencode]

I think women should get more leave than what has been traditionally given. If a child is not properly socialized by the age of four, good luck after that. Women are just naturally better at doing that.

Now that my kids are older I spend a lot more time with them than when they were too young for school. All of them are very good gardeners - theyve been helping me in the garden since they were old enough to move around in there without hurting themselves. My oldest daughter can swing a hammer better than most men. I enjoy spending time with them and showing them how to do things.

[iammisc]

> If a child is not properly socialized by the age of four, good luck after that. Women are just naturally better at doing that.

I respectfully disagree. Men are better at socializing children. Children without fathers have lower levels of empathy, more likely to engage in anti-social behavior, and more likely to be narcissists.

Mothers indulge children, and care for them, which is great, but leads to self-centeredness. Fathers set boundaries, enforce rules, and stop playing with children when they get mean. Many traditional cultures see the father's role as introducing children to the outside world and teaching them their place in it, and I believe this is backed by empirical data.

[1] https://www.fox26houston.com/houstons-morning-show/fathers-i...

[2] https://www.theguardian.com/society/2001/apr/05/crime.penal

Mothers are certainly better at providing for the immediate physical and emotional needs for children.

[iammisc]

> Maybe mothers should get leave right after birth and father's should get it as the kids get older to teach them more things?

Absolutely agree. My toddler is much more difficult than my newborn, and much more likely to behave with me than my wife.