Mat Leave and Stay At Home Moms

CanadianGurl

I currently work from home FT (although my fingers are crossed for a PT position to become available) and am considering quitting to stay home. We've had 1 child and are ready for more, whenever they come. But one thing I'm struggling with is deciding to stay at home when we get a year of (partially) paid mat leave. Any SAHMS husbands' take advantage or part or all of the parental EI leave? Do you think it's wrong for a working parent to go on parental leave when there is already a SAH parent in the relationship?

jrnewhook

If you can afford to work part time and your SO also be home on paternity leave, then go for it! Imagine a whole year of spending that much quality time with your H and your children. It sounds fantastic! Do what's best for you and your family and ignore what other people think.

theb

I took the full year of Mat. leave with my DD and loved it. My employer paid 97% of my reg. wage for 17weeks-but not many jobs do that.

The mat. leave pay from the gov't is only $400something max. That's if you qualify for the max ( hours, etc.)

I would recommend staying home and taking the mat. leave if you can. Why not?

Jaimels78

Take what you can!!  You pay into it, use it!  You will never get those years back.  Spending time as a family is more important than work.

S&R Godin

I'm on mat leave right now and when my son was 6 months old my husband got laid off (seasonal worker) so its the three of us home every day all day and we love it. My husband loves being home with the baby and watching him grow just as much as I do. I love having an extra set of hands around and we only have one child. So if you and your husband can afford for him to take the year off I say go for it, especially if its going to be when you have a second child. You'll want all the help you can get.

brideon082104

If you can afford it I say go for it!!! I'm a SAHM and when we have baby#2 my dh will take a few weeks off at the beginning. We can't afford for him to take months and months off but I'll be grateful for the first 4-6 weeks off at least!