Re: Update/Kate/reply to Reb and regards to Sweden

[Guest guest]

I just love this post, and I treasure Pixie's "words of wisdom!"Love to you and to , and to your reasonable vacation plan!nTo: MSersLife Sent: Thu, July 15, 2010 11:53:52 PMSubject: Re: Update/Kate

The law says everyone must be granted 5 weeks of vacation (or 25 work days), and must use up at least 4 weeks (or 20 work days) every year. The surplus (whatever you have above 4 weeks) can be saved for another year (meaning if you take only 4 vacation weeks one year, you could take 6 the next year). actually has 6 weeks of vacation, but she usually divide it into 4 weeks in a row during the summer, 1 week during Christmas (together with the week off between Christmas eve and New Years day that all employees at her work gets, and all the holidays during that time of year, she could, on a "good year" make that vacation week into three weeks off). And then the last week she uses one day at a time whenever she feels like a day off during the year.Oh, and yes, the maternity/paternity leave is 18 months with pay – 17 months can be claimed by either parent, but 1 month is a mandatory "daddy month". In reality, most parents share

the leave kind of equally (with the mother taking the first part and the father the latter), but that's up to the parents to decide for themselves. Apart from those 18 months, the dad also has a right to 10 extra days right after the birth (meaning: for the first 2 weeks after the baby is born, both parents can stay at home with pay, that way they both get to "bond" with the child from early on, plus it could be that the new mom needs extra help so close to giving birth). And after the baby is 18 months old you can get temporary parental leave (with pay), when the child is sick, or if there is some acticity in the child's school you'd want to take part in. There is (of course) a limit to how many of those temporary days you can claim in one year, but I don't know the exact number. We had perfect weather when we went to the zoo, actually. A lot cooler, and a slight breeze. We thought that day was the end of the heat wave, but it seems it was only

a temporary break. The heat came back (although it seems, hopefully, to be ending now). However, it was great not to have to walk around in the zoo all day (or, ok, half the day) in those kind of temperatures. Pixie absolutely adores ! So she was glad to be able to spend time with her.Pixie presented an interesting theory regarding coffee one day. I was making coffee and asked Pixie to go ask her mother if she wanted some. Which it turned out she did. Pixie sat on a kitchen chair while I was making it and said: "But Pixie doesn't like coffee". I said that no, I was aware of that... And then she added: "And Signe Cat doesn't like it, and Wasti Cat doesn't like it. And the lizard doesn't like it." I asked her if she had asked the lizard (our salamander), she answered: "No, but mum said". And then she added: "I think only big ones like coffee". There you go, coffee drinking as a size issue, rather than as an age thing... Well, if you take the

animals (in our household) into consideration, I guess that's the only reasonable conclusion.. . ; )love/Reb>> Pixie is so cute and funny! What a doll! How was the weather> for the zoo? I hope cooler for you. Did go along also?> I imagine she did.> Wow, 4 weeks! I have heard vacations there are generous, but> that is fantastic. I think I heard too that fathers and mothers are> both given good maternity/paternity leave. True?> Continue to enjoy your wonderful family!> love to you all,> Kate> > > > > > ____________ _________ _________ __> To: MSersLife@yahoogrou ps.com> Sent: Thu, July 15, 2010 4:01:58 PM> Subject:

Update> > > We have had my sister and her daughter (Pixie, 2,5 years) here this week. > > We went to the zoo (in another city) this tuesday. Or, in Pixie's words, we > "went to see the bear" (clearly the most interesting part of the trip as far as > she was concerned). On the train there, when the conductor came through the > train car, Pixie called out "I want a ticket". We explained that we actually > already had tickets, but he was charmed by her and stopped for a talk, and asked > her where she might want a ticket too. She said "I am going to see the bear" > (and we translated that for him as: "We are on our way to the zoo"). He said, > "Oh, the zoo, how exiting!" and asked what animals she hoped to catch a glimpse > of. She answered (of course, duh...): "The bear". He continues the conversation: > "Yes, of course, but apart from the bear". Pixie's

answer: "Oh...maybe. .. > Another bear". > > > 's vacation starts tomorrow, and will last for 4 weeks. We have a few plans, > but will mostly try to just relax and take it easy.> > love> /Reb>

[Guest guest]

Thank you, n! Attached is a photo of Pixie when she finally saw the bears... Or rather when we tried to get her to leave the bears...love/Reb

1 of 1 Photo(s)