Moms

So, it would appear that UPS hates mothers...

I'm sure that's not really true, but they did fur-low a soon to be mother because she was going a baby.  Now, whether or not the supreme court sides with her or UPS is really not the point for me.  For me it seems to go deeper than that.  For me it seems that in the society and this culture we have begun to treat pregnancy as a disease.  It has become something that women are afflicted with for nine months and then it is purged from them along with a newborn.  Not only that, but we now treat the fathers as though they are no longer part of the equation.

This is not the opinion of those who have families.  Nor is this the opinion of the incredible online community that helps, supports, and encourages new parents.  This is the hyper-polarizing view of the mainstream media and social media outlets.  Why is it that for so many its only the moms who endure this emotional roller coaster when it comes to raising a child.  I see so many signs and commercials telling dads to "go home and be a good dad".  I want nothing more than to be the best dad I can, but it seems to me that being the best dad I can be gets in the way of being a good employee.

We discuss at length the need for paid maternity leave in this country.  I give that idea a resounding YES!  Mothers should never be penalized for wanting to be and becoming mothers.  When did it become okay for us as a group to stop helping new mothers.  When did we decide that the almighty dollar was more important that bringing up a child.  Small communities used to raise children as a group.  Everyone was willing to help with whatever was needed.  Now it seems that parents are expected to raise the child with only help from the immediate family.  There is a very strong online community to support and help, but why is that limited to the online community.  Why aren't our neighbors there to help.  Why aren't our employers willing to give us time to be with our newly minted families.

Moms have, HAVE to be with those new babies.  But so do dads.  I wish that I could spend more time with my family, but I don't get to do that.  Bills have to get paid.  Money has to be made.  I hope that the Supreme Court rules in favor of this mother.  I hope that it opens the door to legitimate maternity leave in this country.  I hope that we as a society will see that nothing is more important to a family than the ability to be together as a family.  Because hopefully the idea of real PAID maternity leave will lead to real PAID paternity leave.

Mainly because I don't want to miss my sons first words, or first steps, or anything else because we as a society think that money is so damned important.

A New Page

Well, I'm back. I know it had been a while since I have posted, but...life happened. Had a baby, graduated from college, became a pilot. I am quite a ways from where I was the last time I posted, but  I am still as passionate about life as I ever was. More to come. Stay tuned...