I’ve watched maybe 10 or 12 Momversation clips, and never once seen a single mom, hence the comment. However, you know that scene far better than me, so it must be just the luck of the draw (agreed that it makes little sense for this topic, of course… although I think a single parent’s commentary here could be highly amusing).

At any rate, glad to know it wasn’t a Momversation-wide decision. I think that would have been a poor business choice.

If you work for a mega-corporation, the benefits usually go along with that. If you work with a small company, can they afford to pay you to take time off?

There are a couple of single moms on the crew, but this topic wouldn’t have made much sense for them so they cast folks from two-parent situations.

Handing the kid off? It is fantastic. But in your situation, mama, you’re right that you have the better deal by far. Good work raising that kid of yours.

-M

I can’t help but ask, mainly because topics like this one just fill me with snark. Handing off the baby to someone because you’re “done”? Ha ha ha! That must be fantastic. Rotating primary parents with a chart? Also quite awesome.

To reply, though, to the question at hand: Who gets the better deal? I am a full-time single mother, I have been so since my son was two months old. My son has not seen his father in over a year. Hands-down, without question, I got the better end of this bargain.

And yeah, great hair. But we knew that.

I’m amazed at the differences between maternity benefits in Canada, the US and here in the UK. Currently in my department there are three women on maternity leave. This means that they are away from work, with their jobs protected, for a year. 12 months. During that 12 months they are entitled to full pay for the first six months and then half pay (which we call “statutory maternity pay” because it comes from the government). Just today, in the middle of a meeting about restruturing, during which it was discussed that some people may be made redundant, it came out that the three women on maternity leave would not be considered for redundancy. They will not have to worry about losing their jobs. Talk about being looked after! (Also, the company I work for makes no distinction between adoption leave and maternity leave…)

All that said, in a private conversation I had with one of the men I work with, it sounds like some men I work with resent this “preferential” treatment and think it’s “playing” the system to have a family. Ah well.

Totally unrelated but your hair looks fab in this video, I love it.

…doesn’t the radio-wave green pattern on the chair behind you drive you crazy?

Just asking….

…not in a creepy internet stalker way. You just seem like a really wonderful human being.