Thursday February 7, 2013, 9:25 am
The U.S. needs to learn about family. Thanks, JL

Thursday February 7, 2013, 9:39 am
I could never understand the need to bring a child into this messed place. The planet was doing fine until we showed up.

Thursday February 7, 2013, 9:45 am
No offense, but the US is so far from realizing what family is... Such a shame, the family is the basis of society!

Thursday February 7, 2013, 9:51 am
You are welcome Autumn.
You cannot currently send a star to Autumn because you have done so within the last week.
You cannot currently send a star to Michael because you have done so within the last week.
You cannot currently send a star to Melania because you have done so within the last week.

Thursday February 7, 2013, 1:16 pm

Family bonding time, we really don't think much about how much it is needed or how the distance from our children does affect our society. Even Mom's don't have much if any maternity leave, in the US. We like to think ourselves superior, but we could learn so much from the Europeans. Family leave, to more vacation time, how to linger over food and conversation, and not just gulp it down and rush back to work. In the US we live to work, we don't work to live. Think about it.

Thursday February 7, 2013, 3:01 pm
US needs to learn more from Europe,period. Ah, Kit just said this , yep! We too have paid leave for dads, not that much though, and of course for mothers.

Thursday February 7, 2013, 3:04 pm
The more I hear and learn about the US here, the more I come to think you call yourselves "the greatest nation on earth" because you managed to survive medieval time despite never leaving it behind.

Thursday February 7, 2013, 3:11 pm
Thanks Kit and Angelika for approaching the same aspect from the views of both sides of the Atlantic!
You cannot currently send a star to Kit because you have done so within the last week.
You cannot currently send a star to Angelika because you have done so within the last week.

Thursday February 7, 2013, 4:53 pm
Truthful words Kit...."In the US we live to work, we don't work to live."

And it's getting harder to even find a job to work at to live and if one has a job it doesn't pay enough to live off of. We get the short end of the stick in so many ways, many of us can't even get medical benefits to help us to feel good so we can be the slave wage employee for the company. Get sick, get tossed to the curb and they simply find another body to wear out.

I hear these Politicians go on and on about Family and how important it is but they do everything they can't to see that it is harder and harder to make it as a family anymore. No wonder everyone is in such a mess today.

Thursday February 7, 2013, 4:57 pm
Thanks for adding all the examples absence of family-friendly policies leads to that hurts families Dandelion! You cannot currently send a star to Dandelion because you have done so within the last week.

Thursday February 7, 2013, 7:12 pm
I wouldnt raise a kid in America. Its your own damn problem.

Thursday February 7, 2013, 7:17 pm
"I could never understand the need to bring a child
into this messed place. The planet was doing fine
until we showed up."
Soooo true Michael K.......I'd rather plant a baby tree
than another baby added to the near eight billion
babies who now are grown, old & just simply
overloading planet earth.

Wherever you go there once was a forest.
Plant & protect Danny's trees for life.
Trees are the lungs of the earth.

Friday February 8, 2013, 2:58 am
Noted, thanks.

Friday February 8, 2013, 5:05 am
forward thinking

Friday February 8, 2013, 7:42 am
You are welcome Joy.

Friday February 8, 2013, 7:50 am
Delightful! Go, Sweden!

Friday February 8, 2013, 10:26 am
It sure would help the bonding with the baby and allow both parents to share the child rearing responsibility! However, it might be very impractical to implement especially in the private sector.

Friday February 8, 2013, 10:40 am
You cannot currently send a star to N because you have done so within the last week.

Friday February 8, 2013, 11:09 am
Nice! my daughter Krystal has been having pregnancy trouble and actually has had Pneumonia for the past 6 weeks, my grandson Avian (her 2 year old) has had it for almost 2 months 8 weeks..and she has not been hardly able to get time off of work... day care won't take Avian.. so he been coming with me, I been sharing him with other Grandparents, It's been so stressful on her, she has barely put any weight on... USA and Maternal rights and Just general Health care has went right in the shit-hole... And the State of Wisconsin REFUSES to take medical care (OBAMA CARE)??? so at least they have morals! KILL THE WOLVES! and MINING! but women get no health care :) LOVE WISCONSIN!

Friday February 8, 2013, 4:22 pm
No respect for new parents and their babies. Only money counts, and companies do not care about human beings. How sad!

Friday February 8, 2013, 5:20 pm
You cannot currently send a star to Birgit because you have done so within the last week.

Friday February 8, 2013, 5:42 pm
Brigit.......Man has no repect for much of anything
ecept $$$ in his front pocket, back pocket and bank account.

Infact Man has no respect to keep right on reproducing life
in his image & then keep 90% of the population bowing
at his feet & rob the less fortunate while their eyes are closed
in prayer.

Wherever you go there once was a forest.
Plant & protect Danny's trees for life.
Trees are the lungs of the earth.

Friday February 8, 2013, 5:46 pm
You cannot currently send a star to B. because you have done so within the last week.

Saturday February 9, 2013, 12:52 am
thanks for the article

Saturday February 9, 2013, 6:42 am
ty

Saturday February 9, 2013, 7:21 am
Roxy, I'm sorry to hear of the health situations with your daughter and grandson. Is true, no mercy on the ill or even the children. Is a good thing your daughter has you and the other grandparents as you are correct, ill children will not be allowed in a Day Care situation. If they have no place to send the children then the Mother looses their job and there is little help now for the single Mothers since the changes were made during the Clinton Administration. A policy placed in during low unemployment is not working at all for many women today who are suffering greatly to keep their lives together and roof over their childrens heads.

Saturday February 9, 2013, 7:28 am
You are welcome June and Ro.
Thanks for providing the additional history Dandelion! Some hospitals recognize their employees' need for sick child care and provide using nurses when they provide other on-site day care. Few can afford to pay for such an additional service in addition to regular day care costs with the ratio of earnings day care already takes.
You cannot currently send a star to Dandelion because you have done so within the last week.

Saturday February 9, 2013, 12:28 pm
Thank you.

Saturday February 9, 2013, 2:58 pm
You are welcome Shanti.

Tuesday February 12, 2013, 7:53 am
Thanks

Tuesday February 12, 2013, 8:40 am
You are welcome Sergio