Maternity leave--- it's the least you can do

Everyone contributes to society's bounty and everyone takes from it. We pour and we dip.

Is maternity leave (12 weeks paid minimum) too much to take?

Is it too much to ask parents to produce children who are well nourished, socialized, ready and willing to learn, compassionate, morally upright but not uptight, non-aggressive but assertive, compliant but not apathetic, height to weight proportionate, psychologically balanced with a healthy body image and self esteem, able to develop and sustain friendships and caring family relationships,properly groomed and suitably dressed, confident but not arrogant, self-reliant but not loners,...am I forgetting anything? Surely!

If you have any hopes for the environment, the national debt, or your social security, you can add ingenious and tenacious problem solvers, capable of global consciousness and forgiveness, and willing to take care of your old, broken ass to the list.

A blank book

I have a beautifully hand bound blank book given to me by a dear and old friend for my 30th birthday. I put it in my sock drawer on a pretty tray. But I haven't written in it. I might think of something clever, quick, or insightful and consider writing on that first page of thick many. But I don't. I am too scared of writing the wrong thing. The first page could determine everything, I assume. I don't want to ruin the book.