Taking paternity leave

Most men probably don't take paternity leave although they have the option to, they probably think it is sacrificing their career but I think it is one of the more rewarding things I have done.  Now I don't work for a major accounting firm or for a energy company, so maybe my views are different but nevertheless when my daughter was six months old I decided to take 6 months off to spend the time with her instead and let my wife go back to work which she did happily.

I've watched my daughter go from lying their still, to rolling, then crawling and now almost walking.  Sometimes it has been terrifying but mostly delightful.

Not only have I discovered a lot about her, I've discovered a lot about myself.  Most people probably think that paternity leave is a lot of diaper changing, cleaning, feeding, and doing other chores, which it is but the baby has to sleep, and when everything is done and shes sleeping for the 4 to 5 hours a day then you get to spend that time with yourself.  For me this was the time I spent picking up a few extra hobbies.  Mainly woodworking, sewing and canning.  The latter I only got into after buying a canning set at a farm after buying a large amount of cheap fruit.

My time for paternity leave is coming to an end though and I will miss spending every day with my little girl I probably will not miss changing that stinky diaper as soon as I've woken up.  And even though I miss being around adults and working in the real world I'm sure I will look forward to my next stint of paternity leave in a couple of years time.