It's not as easy as it looks, it would seem.
Any mum who has ever been on maternity leave will tell you that it is a pretty far cry from the vision she no doubt had in her head prior to having a baby. I mean; I personally just saw it as one long holiday (I gave birth in Norway, where you get 12 months maternity leave), and saw myself sauntering from park to park, iced latte in hand, while my adorable baby snoozed happily in her pram.
Now, don't get me wrong – this did happen on occasion. And I did love my year at home with my baby. And my second year at home with my second baby a few years later.
However, I am not going to sugar coat it – it was also pretty goddamn full on. There is a lot of just feeding and changing nappies and wondering when the heck your last adult conversation was.
In the interest of equality, Norwegian dads get a very generous 14 weeks paternity leave – paid. Most dads I know split this up a bit, and instead of taking the full 14 weeks in one swoop, take 2-3 weeks here and there, and then happily goes off to work in between.
Because let's face it – being at home with a baby is lovely – but also hard AF.
Interestingly, a new study in Spain has shed some light on just how paid paternity leave affects fathers – and the results might (or may not!) surprise you.
In March 2007, Spain implemented a national policy which allowed new dads two weeks of fully paid paternity leave. As of 2018, this was increased to five weeks. And, while the amount of interest in leave continues to increase, economists were surprised by another finding in a recent
study.
According to the study, published in the
Journal of Public Economists, economists Lídia Farré of the University of Barcelona and Libertad González of the University of Pompeu Fabra, found that parents who had been eligible for the program were, "7 percent to 15 percent less likely to have another kid than parents who just missed the eligibility cutoff."
There are several reasons as to why this might be, and let's be honest, most of us mums are likely thinking the same thing: "because staying at home with kids is HARD!" And research is supporting what most of us already know. There is nothing easy about raising children. And, now more and more dads are getting a dose of reality. Staying at home may offer a new perspective for fathers; realizing just how challenging caring for children 24/7 can be.
Interestingly, while men's desire to have more children decreased, Farré and González found that the policy had the opposite effect on women. As the workload of the household and children became shared, the desire for larger families increased among women.
However, according to
Moms.com, while it is important not to make sweeping conclusions from one study, in one country, the findings are certainly thought-provoking. But let's keep in mind there are of course many factors that can impact the decision of whether or not to add to your family, such as the cost associated with multiple children.
What do YOU think, guys? Do you think there is an element of truth to this study?
