The Bar Towel

First the bad: today's my last day of pat leave

Back to work tomorrow - it's been awesome, and I'm not ready to go back.

I can only say that if you're a new dad or going to be one or someday hoping to be one, if you're job lets you take time off with your kids, do it!

Even if you think you can't afford it, you'll figure out a way. We're hurting for cash right now, but it's still been worth it. It's been the best seven months I've ever spent!

Now the good thing:

Somehow there was a bottle of St. Ambroise RIS at the Square One LCBO...from 2009!!! The manager said it was a return and there was only one. They even made up a tag for it, and it was sitting right beside the Erindinder Dunkel...

I'm in the middle of my first week of pat leave. My kid arrived a month early so my HR is scrambling to do paperwork. Luckily, my employer tops up the EI benefit so we should be OK money-wise (although my wife is taking a year off without pay). It never occurred to me to not take the leave.

Jeff, I'm a full-time work-from-home'er and a part-time stay-at-home-dad, and I agree: it's awesome. I could do a 9-5er, and make more money, have benefits and probably own instead of rent. But I wouldn't trade watching the kids grow up for anything. Randomly going out to play in the snow in the winter, or wandering to the lake for a swim in the summer are "breaks" most people don't even get to dream of. It's a cliche, but it's true. You will never meet a retired person who said they wished they spent more time at work and less time with their kids. Money will come and go; time with your kids is outside the scope of financial value (worked really hard not to say it was "priceless" there).

Yeah - it really sucks to be going back, but I only have to hold out for five months, and I got the summer to be with them...

There was a good chunk of financial sacrifice, but worth every penny.

What is going to suck more though is working for a LONG time before I get paid - likely a month to six weeks.


Ceecee congrats on the baby and the leave!

Wasn't able to take Pat Leave due to Finances, but I have a boatload of vacation that I plan on using.

Currently on a pat leave, she's almost 3 months and every day has been a joy. I'm also sacrificing a bit of pay, gotta rent, but can't see myself looking back thinking it shouldve been different especially when she smiles the way she does.

sprague11 wrote:Wasn't able to take Pat Leave due to Finances, but I have a boatload of vacation that I plan on using.

Has your wife had her baby yet, I cant remember....

Few weeks back.

Congrats!

I spent 5 months back in 2010, and plan on spending another 5 in 2014 for baby no.2. First was the best time of my life. Second will be just as fun, and half as scary! Cant wait!

As for financials, you have the rest of your life to make up for it.

iguenard wrote:
As for financials, you have the rest of your life to make up for it.

It's such a cliche, but it's true: not going to look back on this and think, "Man, I wish I made more money in 2012."

Anyways, I don't mean to dwell on my own life..., but I remember a lot of you guys gave me support back 7 months ago when I started this leave so thanks a lot.

Also...

Babies are just awesome...

Yes Jeff, there is a high LIFE value in some things that is even more important than high dollar-per-hour value. Hopefully we all can make the best of both of those!

I'm working at home more, which creates a neat overlap of the two a lot of the time.

I wish I could have taken some pat leave when the kids were younger, "luckily" - I was laid off last summer (or more accurately, my 8 year employer just sort of imploded and disappeared). It sucks to lose the stability of a job, but having the summer off with my kids was something I could never do otherwise, and they are all in that 5-9 age range, so we had lots of fun. We made it through, I picked up some freelance work and I'm finally starting a full time gig next week.
So yeah we're in the same boat, hurting for cash, but it has been worth it.

I'm lucky I'll get topped up (to 75%) for 10 weeks this summer.

I say lucky because I'm not sure my wife would let me cut into her time if there wasn't a financial incentive! (her 26 week top-up will be done soon).

It was certainly more work than I thought it would be (the first time around)... but yeah, it's priceless.

That was an amazing find - and I am sure the story correlates in that you only found it because you were on pat. leave and that was the point right? That work interferes with our chances to find obscure beers?

I actually took time off with my little guy too. I agree - totally worth it, though I am ready to get financially caught back up, lemme tell you!