drew’s news

For the last few weeks we’ve been lucky enough to have Daphne’s parents staying with us. Looking back, I’m not sure how we would have managed without them! Leo of course needs nearly constant attention, and everything else is secondary. Meals, showers, household chores… And we can’t ignore the dog - she defers to the baby and restrains herself quite well, but she still needs her playtime too. And I had to return to work after 2 weeks at home with the new family.

Just to rub it in, the latest issue of National Geographic magazine contains a map showing family leave benefits by country across the globe. The United States is one of only a handful of countries on the planet to offer no guaranteed time off for new mothers (with or without pay), let alone new fathers. My company offered a measly 3 days of paternity leave. Yet another reason why it may be time to pack up and head for the Great White North…

It’s tough to stay on top of it all without some help - grandparents to the rescue! The dog got a walk at least twice a day, we enjoyed amazing Japanese home cooking almost every night, and Leo’s happy grand- parents were excited to hold him every chance they could get. And as an added bonus they often changed his diapers and gave him baths! We learned a lot of good tips watching them care for Leo - in the midst of all sorts of conflicting advice, it’s great to watch someone who’s successfully been through it a couple times before…

My folks and my brother visited for a few days as well, and we had a full house. New babies are little magnets, drawing cards, gifts, and visitors from all over the place. It’s a happy occasion whenever friends drop by to see little Leo - he’s never out of someone’s arms for long!