Mamaternity

Talking to my sister again today I found out that I am going to have a newborn baby for a month and a half... Her baby is due April 19th and school gets out the first week of June- almost perfect timing yes, however, she gets no maternity leave.

What?

Because her school has less than 50 full time employees they do not have to follow whatever kinds of rules that are in place for mothers and maternity leave. So, whatever time she takes off to recuperate and take care of her NEWBORN BABY will be unpaid. Also, the school does not offer healthcare for the baby either. While she is being unpaid to have a baby she has to take the money she isn't getting to pay for her child's health insurance. It's a small school with limited funding blah, blah, blah I get that but, to she told me that one of her coworkers was in the hospital with pneumonia for over a week and not only was she paid in full that week she was gone anytime she came to school looking a little bit under the weather she was told to go home (she was paid for those days as well).

But, what is even worse and highlights the gender issue or Callie's bosses issues with her pregnancy even more is that one of the male teachers who was married was given over a week of paternity leave when his child was born a few years ago. While a week is not as much as some get, and the fact that paternity leave is even an option is wonderful. However, the fact that this man who did not give birth to a baby was given a whole week off to help his wife who also got maternity leave from her job and Callie's time is all unpaid seems to be a little unfair? outrageous? I'm not sure of the adjective I need to describe how I feel about this situation but AH!

I offered to come and put her in a sleeping bag and push her down the steps(after baby x is born) like she used to do to me, or break her are where she would have to be hospitalized so her time off could at least be paid but she declined that offer. The fact that it has come to coming up with schemes like this so she can be treated somewhat justly is so unnerving.

She is now at a point that she feels like she is walking on thin ice because of her pregnancy that she can't speak up for fear of losing her job or the rest of the respect from those in charge.