I think that’s the word. The thing is, there isn’t really any other leave than “maternity” in either the US or UK as far as I know. In the US you can stay at home (without pay) for a number of weeks (!), then you have to sort out your own finances (better have that american dream in the bag already). In Britain, you have (according to my publisher) four or six month with full pay, then an additional three or so with a heavily reduced (or no) pay. In Poland my friends told me they were lucky to manage to have six months instead of four, which is all you get. My daughter Elvira will be one year old in two weeks time (as dedicated followers of this blog will know). My fiancee managed to stretch her nine months by not taking all the days per week, so she went back to work two weeks ago. Now I start my half of our collective allowance of 18 months(!). So now, I’ll be with my daughter for an initial six moths, then resume my theology studies in mid January, and then take my remaining three months next summer.

And as for being the perfect housewife, as you know by know I do a lot of cooking already. But now I’ve also dove head first into baking bread. These baguettes are for lunch today.

Also, I try to look fabulous at least one day a week. =)

Yours truly,
daddy blogleg.