How cute are dads with babies?

The other day ago in my Women Studies class, I read an article written about a type of Sweden’s policy. I thought it would be a boring article about the country and so on.  With it being in Europe, I assumed they did things differently over there, but I didn't realize how different they were and for the better.  Did you know by law, here in the U.S. those having children go on what we thought was maternity leave? Right? WRONG! It’s a family medical leave which is an act passed only a few short decades ago.  It allows families who have recently had a baby to take unpaid time off work.  Yes, you read correctly, UNPAID! They are guaranteed their job back after the short month or two; however, no income.   If you are like my family, not making income is just not questionable.   How is this possible?

Why are Swedish parents any differently you ask?  Well by law, they have a parental leave. The parents are allowed to take time as wanted to care and tend to the child.  This can be done in all sorts of increments. 

For example, the mother can take off for two months than the father for the same and back and forth for a short time and the best part ... IT'S PAID!!!  And YES, the father is expected in the country to take time off as well.  Here, if a man stepped out of the MAN BOX who knows what kind of ridicule he will receive from buddies and/or employees.  Would he be considered weak?

How cute are dads taking care of the kids just as much as the mothers do? Families in Sweden are much happier and have less divorce rate than here in the U.S.  Is this because both parents are sacrificing (if you even want to call it that) or is it because their government actually helps and plans for them to make families and have healthy parent-to-child relationships?

Do you think something like this could be done in the United States? 

If so, how long do you think it would take? 

What kind of things would need to be done in order for this to ever happen here?

In Sweden, Men Can Have It All

By KATRIN BENNHOLD

Published: June 9, 2010