Don’t you know how much I want to sell this house and give my man a much deserved break?

It all sounds fabulous. I did see that Daily Show bit and it was HILARIOUS. If only we spoke Swedish.

And the FABRIC! What I wouldn’t give to live in the land of Ikea, where everything is well designed.

Yep, we are living the socialist nightmare here in Sweden- http://www.thedailyshow.com/video/index.jhtml?videoId=225113&title=the-stockholm-syndrome

I just got a ‘raise’ in motherhood since I had a second baby- as your article notes we get child benefit money of 1050kr each, or about $275 total a month for the kids. So basically Sweden just bought me car- ours broke and now we have a car payment covered thanks to child benefit. I also get 80 kronors, or about $10 a day for being a stay at home mom, and so that other $280 a month or so comes in mighty handy. Plus 25 hours weekly of free waldorf school with organic vegetarian lunches. Plus free medical care and college, so savings goals are adjusted if we plan on the kids going to school here. and everyone expects parents to sometimes come in late or leave early to take care of the kids- the work of raising kids and the way it changes your life is respected here, and workers are not penalized or looked down upon for having to manage family responsabilites. The only down side- no kids in the neighborhood in the day. But you have the same issue-everyone paying to go to preschool. This help does make a huge difference. All this plus clean drinking water and great fabric. You should totally come. There are good jobs here that your man would fit with!

Please won’t you be my neighbor?

You are so right; I often think the expectation of mothers in our country today contributes heavily to post-partum depression. You are doing a great job, and when your children can watch the example of their mama happily savoring, it leaves quite an imprint. I’m really glad you wrote this.