Discopants and Haircuts

I don’t know how people do it in the US. How do so many work and take care of their children? Here, Deb an I, work pretty damn hard to keep the houshold running smoothly. Natalie is two-and-a-half and a good child, Amanda is not two months old yet, and we are busy all the time. Doctors, diapers and dialogue are required constantly. If I and Deb were working 40 plus hours a week our kids would get shuffled around constantly.

I have spoken to my friend Robb about this. He’s married and works. His wife is a teacher. They want kids but are afraid to start. Their number one thought is ‘how?” How will we mangae to do it? The same goes for my buddy Dan. They have a daughter already. How do you manage to guide your children and still work a quazillion hours to recover from Wedding debt, mortages and student loans. Strap on a few other bills and you will have little life for yourself at all. Plus someone else will be raising your child most of the time.

Here a woman gets 1 year off with full pay. The husband or boyfriend also gets quite a bit of paid time off too. Health care, including dental is completely covered up until the child turns 18, at which time they must merely make a co-payment for services.. with a maximum of around $200 a year..

I say all this because, to me, what happens to a child in his first year is so important. They need their parents. They need to have them around…often. To hand them off, so soon after the womb, is probably what hurts them and society the most..

This was written after being up all night with a little baby who didn’t want to sleep. . .

Children