Women struggle with maternity leave, huge numbers of men want to be involved in raising their children and everyone’s mental health would benefit.
So why aren’t we talking more about Men’s flexible working?!
MENTAL HEALTH AND MATERNITY LEAVE
It’s estimated that 150,000 women a year struggle with maternity leave.
As James Millar, author of Dads Don’t Babysit describes in his blog post “That’s a mental health crisis by any standard.”
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-46221187
What can be a wonderful time is actually physically and emotionally draining - looking after babies is no work in the park, I know this, our daughter had quite nasty re-flux from birth. Fortunately for me it was under control by the time I took over at 6 months.
We need to talk about men
“The two of you sign up to bring life into the world together. Then, after two weeks, suddenly they are out the door, whether they want to or not, and you are left literally holding the baby.
For some couples, this moment, and the clear societal division of labour, can sow the seeds of resentment.”
Emma Barnett, Presenter, BBC Radio 5 live
SOMETHING MUST CHANGE
We know Men want to spend more time with their young families but society and the workplace is conditioned to treat men as providers (and women as carers).
Men who seek to spend more time with their families are treated with suspicion and are seen as ‘not committed.’ In fact, rather than spending more time with their new families men end up working harder and longer.
Lack of good work-life balance causes massive amounts of stress and potential relationship breakdown.
IT’S TIME FOR MEN TO STAND UP AND BE COUNTED
Your partner’s well being and mental health matters.
Your well being and mental health matters.
✅ Decide how you really want to live your life.
✅ Understand what your family wants and needs.
✅ Assess your work life balance.
✅ Start the conversation about flexible working.
✅ If you are an expectant Dad find out about Shared Parental Leave.
✅ Challenge the lazy stereotypes of Dads who ‘can’t’ be great parents.
✅ Sign this petition to treat ‘expectant’ Dads in the same ways as Mums.
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