Fathers - How much time did you take off when your child was born?

[Wyndru]

My wife is due at the end of July, our second and I'm trying to figure out what a good amount of time is. At work I have tons of vacation time that I can take, but summer is our busy time so I don't think it would be a good idea to take more than a 1.5 week consecutive period.

This is our 2nd daughter, and for our first I think I took off 3 days...I was at a different job with less time available though.

I'm just curious what amount of time people think is appropriate for this. I really want to be around since that first week is hell on the sleep schedule, and getting our 3 year old adjusted might also be a bit tough.

Also, was it vacation or personal time you took? I'll probably just take vacation since I have a hard time using it all anyhow, but I think I should be able to take personal if I wanted to.

 

[JulesMaximus]

I took 2 days off.

And no, I don't think that's appropriate. It should be longer.

 

[CPA]

3 days for each, I believe. It's been a while.

 

[Markbnj]

Very little, a couple of days if I recall.

 

[Vdubchaos]

I was back to work next day......

 

[highland145]

I was back to work next day......

This. Month end reports wait for no one.

But I live 1 mile away and I could swing by any time necessary.

 

[dfuze]

Just a couple of days as well

 

[Conscript]

3 days as well, but I also work from home generally

 

[rpanic]

First one 3 months, second and third 1.5 month each.

 

[rsutoratosu]

0, no one at work knows about my 2 kids... and i still made it to work on time every day for the past 3 years... i like how people walk in at 9 and be like oh my kid is this and that..

when i drop the bomb end of the year, ill be like F U, i came to work every day on time and didn't make any excuses to be 2 hours late and all the bs

 

[Uppsala9496]

I took the first week off.

 

[RPD]

1st child, 1 week. Second was 2 weeks.

 

[MontyAC]

A week.

 

[JulesMaximus]

0, no one at work knows about my 2 kids... and i still made it to work on time every day for the past 3 years... i like how people walk in at 9 and be like oh my kid is this and that..

when i drop the bomb end of the year, ill be like F U, i came to work every day on time and didn't make any excuses to be 2 hours late and all the bs

You want a medal? 🙄

 

[highland145]

Hey, Sunny,......

 

[HardcoreRobot]

couple days. not as useful to be around with other family and in-laws there too. more important to be able to take days off for dr. visits & sick days

 

[MiniDoom]

2 weeks for both. wife had c section and had trouble getting around.

 

[surfsatwerk]

0, no one at work knows about my 2 kids... and i still made it to work on time every day for the past 3 years... i like how people walk in at 9 and be like oh my kid is this and that..

when i drop the bomb end of the year, ill be like F U, i came to work every day on time and didn't make any excuses to be 2 hours late and all the bs

You have issues.

 

[nickbits]

0, no one at work knows about my 2 kids... and i still made it to work on time every day for the past 3 years... i like how people walk in at 9 and be like oh my kid is this and that..

when i drop the bomb end of the year, ill be like F U, i came to work every day on time and didn't make any excuses to be 2 hours late and all the bs

i hate parents like that too. your job should be #1 priority or you should quit.

 

[NoCreativity]

I took a month. Was able to use sick leave.

 

[jaedaliu]

i hate parents like that too. your job should be #1 priority or you should quit.

wow, I know that I'm never working for you. I only have a job so that I can help provide for my family.

Granted, I don't have kids yet, but there's no way I'm putting my job above my wife or my (future) kids.

 

[JulesMaximus]

i hate parents like that too. your job should be #1 priority or you should quit.

Any parent whose family isn't their #1 priority in life is a horrible parent.

Obviously you have to have some balance between work and home life but to make a statement like you just made is just plain retarded.

 

[kalrith]

2 weeks for both. wife had c section and had trouble getting around.

Same here. I would've still taken at least a week if there had been no C section. It was like one week taking care of things because my wife couldn't get around much and then another week of enjoying the new baby.

 

[rasczak]

3 months. I was lucky with my first as I worked for a school at the time and we had summers off. The second though, she was born in the fall. I only took 3 days off.

 

[highland145]

3 months. I was lucky with my first as I worked for a school at the time and we had summers off. The second though, she was born in the fall. I only took 3 days off.

Sure. The real story is that you remembered the work involved.

😛