https://bit.ly/45W8sra
https://bit.ly/45W9W4N
https://bit.ly/4oSK9D7
https://bit.ly/4oKb57U
https://bit.ly/45zPO9v
https://bit.ly/4oUq6Eh
https://bit.ly/3HDPmxT

While I was guaranteed my job back I was also not compensated one cent for the 3 months I took off. I would have had have gotten supplement insurance to even pay for half of missing wages which I didn’t know about in time. Add to that I was incredibly sick the majority of my pregnancy which lowered my productivity and stock value and the last two months I couldn’t even sit on my desk and was lucky enough that work didn’t mind me using a lap top while being confined to a couch.

Do to my baby being in the NICU for one month I had 2 months to learn to care for her and to try to find daycare for a disabled child and was insanely lucky I was able to find it in such a short time. My work has been incredibly gracious when it comes to time so I can get to doctors appointments but that is probably due to my boss also having disabled children and being understanding. I could try to find a higher paying job but I also risk losing that understanding and my sister who also had a disabled child was fired from her work because they couldn’t be flexible with the doctor appointments she needed to go to.

So in the end the maternity help for women in the American job market BLOWS. It blows harder living in a state where it’s still not uncommon for one income per home so my appointments are always made during work hours which makes me even look LESS valuable compared to my male cohorts.

As for the OP what ever happened to a partnership being a team? You each bring your strengths and if you are worried about her being a free loader then pay attention to her spending habits. Taking her parents generous offer for less rent is not a blight on her character and this is coming from someone who makes more money then her husband.