Play group Pal

Pal went to his first playgroup yesterday and he seemed to enjoy it immensely.  There were 2 other little girls there, one 13 months and one 17 months, both whom seemed well socialized and affectionate.  It took Pal a little bit to warm up to them, but once he got comfortable he loved running around and playing kitchen. 

Janine, the “lead mother” (for lack of a better word), enlightened me about the Australian maternal-child welfare programs lead by the city, which are far superior to those offered in the States.  When a baby is born, the family is assigned to a group consisting of other families with babies born around the same time and is lead by a maternal-child health nurse.  When the babies are young, the nurse holds support groups, lectures, workshops, etc regarding all things childcare.  As the babies grow, the group morphs in a social gathering for both the mothers and kids.  The nurse eventually isn’t needed any longer but the city still provides the group with a time slot and a play space for the kids.

Also, mothers with government-sponsored jobs are allowed 3.5 months of full-paid maternity leave.  They have the option to take half-pay and spread that out over 7 months.  Most remarkably, they have to option to take leave for up to 7 years (!!!) while they tend to their families.  The time is unpaid, but their jobs are guaranteed when they decide to return.

This system would never go over in the States, but its nice to see that women are valued as mothers first and foremost.