Day 2 - 2 comments (woohoo!) - 2 articles - 2 thoughts

Day 2 of blog and though it is less than 24 hours old, I am thinking this might be a good thing.

Thanks for the comments on my first post. Keep them coming!! I confess I feel a nerdy-love when people comment. Yes, a strange sense of affirmation.

I have two articles for you today. One can be considered more serious than the other.

First is this, http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/politics/tastes-the-same-defrosted--not-to-liking-of-all-20130627-2p04t.html sent to me by The Man. It is an interesting take on KRudd.  I can already feel Abbott getting more and more frustrated with every minute he has to look at Kevin's ever smiley face.

The second article is more informative and related to what this blog is really about. A friend sent me this article through my FB and clearly sets out the various policies of each party about paid parental leave and childcare. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-05-10/federal-election-parental-leave-childcare-policy/4671954

My two thoughts:
1) I am unsure which of the parental leave schemes I think is the best. They are quite complicated. I have two different experiences with paid parental leave. The first, when Peppa was born, was when there was no government paid leave. But my employer provided 14 weeks paid leave. I thought that was pretty generous and a great way of showing that they wanted to retain me. My second experience, when George was born, was with the government's paid parental leave. My employer actually provided 18 weeks paid leave on top of the government's paid leave which was simply amazing and generous. (And no, there is no requirement for me to return the money if I did not return). I see the way that my employer has taken the initiative as their point of difference from the competition. If they had to do this (as under Liberal policies) maybe it would not be as great? (Still thinking that through)
2) The main reason I think government paid parental leave is excellent is for people who do not work for large corporate organisations (like me) who provide paid leave. It just provides that help at a great time of change. A lot of women I know can get quite worried about going back to work and how their "career" or "work skills" may become devalued when they have a child. I think the paid parental leave takes the financial pressure off having a child and therefore the mother to return to work.

I also have some thoughts on childcare and glad that the major parties are thinking of reforming this. But I will leave that for another post.

Your thoughts?

(Paid parental leave experience #1 & #2)