Hellobee Boards

I can't wait to read this, DH and I were discussing work/life balance last night ( our baby is due in October) And basically we're discussing MY work life balance because my job is insane and I tend to work long hours and I make a fraction of what he makes. I know he'll be very involved (he works shorter hours and is home earlier) but it's kinda weird that I'm the one making the adjustments. This is going to be an interesting journey. I sent him the article to read.

I think it's awesome if this trend continues, because I think it will help open more pathways for both men and women to work more flexible schedules and spend more time with family.

I think a lot of the issues around work-life balance are "norms" imposed by society. It's perfectly acceptable for women to say they have always dreamed about staying home, but when you ask (even on here) about if their husbands would like to stay home, there is a lot of "lol no" like that isn't an equally valid thing for men to have wanted since they were little. Ditto on asking about mannies, many women say they would think a male nanny might be sexually attracted to their baby, which again stigmatizes men who want to caregive as "weird" or secret pervs.

I have never felt any guilt about returning to work, but used to be asked on a weekly (daily when inforst returned to work) if I was sad I didn't stay home. The only guilt I felt was guilt for not feeling guilt. So, while Im sure many women feel guilty working, I think I lot don't - but the norm apparently is that we should feel terrible and guilty about the choice to work. I'm not sure how much guilt is real, versus manufactured/assumed.