Paternity Leave

Most dads get a raw deal: a few rushed days off, a pile of paperwork, and zero guidance on what to do once the baby is here. This book changes that. Written for fathers, stepfathers, adoptive fathers, solo dads by choice, and any father who wants to show up properly, Paternity Leave is a plain-spoken field guide to the leave you are owed and the days you will never get back. Learn how to dig up your legal entitlement, negotiate the dates and pay you need, and hand your work over without burning bridges. Then get practical about the leave itself—how to share night feeds, handle the mental load, safeguard your own mental health, and build a partnership that survives the shock of early parenthood. With scripts for difficult conversations with employers, checklists for the return to work, and straight answers to the questions fathers are embarrassed to ask, it treats you as the full parent you are. Whether you have six days or six months, you will finish this book knowing exactly what you are owed and exactly what to do with it. Part of The New Father Library.

About the author

Constance Glenbrook Ferndale writes for The New Father Library.