My Swedish friend tells me that new mothers are required by law to take one year paid maternity leave and fathers, 6 months. I guess in Sweden they put their "no child left behind" money where their mouth is. OTOH, they have like 11 1/2 months of darkness, so...

OKY, I think my friend is full of shit: http://www.thelocal.se/14022/20080829/ and

http://www.thelocal.se/10420/20080312/

What should I expect from someone who consorts with squirells?

I guess even in Sweden, fathers would rather go fishing than to help raise their kids! LOL I probably should say....MOST fathers seem to fall in that catergory but not all.

I read an interesting article awhile back--I want to say in the New York Times, but I can't remember--that talked about how in countries with very long government-mandated maternity leave (3-4 months is common in various places in Europe,) women just have that much more trouble getting hired in the first place. The article claimed it was standard practice to remove one's wedding ring for an interview, and even lie about being married if asked, because if they thought there was even a tiny risk you might get pregnant they wouldn't hire you, plain and simple. Illegal, of course, but government mandates usually don't work out as intended...

"There was an old woman
Who lived in a shoe
She had so many children
her uterus fell out."

Sunday. And on Mother's day at that. Momma's boy? hmmmm...

Looking at the poll results, its amazing how so few here were born on a Friday.

Is this where I confess that I only put up this poll as a result of LJ's poll "How many choices can you put up for a Poll"?

I feel so violated.

Friday night, I crashed your party.

Yes, yes it does.

Sunday. HAH!