Last week I caught a news story about a 38 year old woman who wrote a book titled, Maternity, and in it she talks about how all women should get maternity leave, even if they didn’t give birth to a child. Uh…what?! Her name is Meghann Foye, and while she has never had children, she thinks everyone is entitled to a few months of Maternity Leave…just to be fair. She told the “New York Post” she was jealous of all her friends who’d get time off when they had a baby, because they’d come back more sure of themselves. And that having kids was the only path that provided flexibility at work. She commented to the New York Post, “There’s something about saying, ‘I need to go pick up my child’ as a reason to leave the office on time that has far more gravitas than, ‘My best friend got ghosted by her OkCupid date and needs a margarita,’ but both sides are valid.” Until last month, I only knew about maternity issues from talking with my mother or friends who have had kids. But now that my wife Jenni has given birth to our son Reed, and is on maternity leave, I have a WHOLE NEW PERSPECTIVE on what this absence from their 9 to 5 job is truly all about. Last night was a prime example: Reed is 3 weeks old as of today. Last night he kept us awake from 11:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m. Okay, let me correct that…Reed kept JENNI awake. We both share in the responsibilities of raising our son, but knowing that I would have to get up early for work, Jenni took the late night shift and rocked our son, changed his diaper multiple times, fed him, sang to him, and I know she is totally exhausted this morning. So to Ms Foye, I say, Maternity Leave is little about sipping margaritas and taking time off for a break. My wife will tell you that her stress level is as high as it’s been as she worries about our son, her routine at work and with friends and family has been put on hold for the next three months, her body is healing from the delivery, her hormones are adjusting, she is pumping milk from her breasts every four hours, she has not slept more than an two consecutive hours since giving birth…and she would tell you it is absolutely worth it, and we would do it all again. I include myself in this adjustment, because as a hands on Dad, my life has completely changed. I took two weeks off from the Morning Show to spend with my wife and newborn son, but it was not a vacation. I wasn’t vacationing at Hilton Head Island…not relaxing by the pool. I quickly realized that my wants would come second or actually third to the wants and needs of my family. I’ve experienced sleep deprivation, have been learning my son’s needs, changing diapers at 1:00 a.m., walking with him when he’s fussy at any hour of the day…the list goes on. But again, we would not change a thing. We are beyond blessed by what God has given us.
