Two Dads Share Their Stories of Fatherhood

Studies have shown that taking paternity leave helps fathers to feel less stressed, anxious, and depressed. The reason this happens is because of a hormone called oxytocin. When released, it promotes bonding and reduces stress levels. 43 percent of fathers are taking bonding leave through CT Paid Leave. This gives fathers time away from work with income replacement so they can bond with their baby whether by birth, adoption or fostering. 

Just in time for Father's Day which is June 16th, I talked with two fathers for a special podcast. Guest David Sergi lived in a state without a paid leave program when his first child was born, and moved to CT so they could expand their family in a state with a paid leave program with their second child. Guest Charlie Johnson has resided in CT and wasn't able to use CT paid Leave for his first child because it wasn't available yet. He was able to use it for his second child. Both David and Charlie say being able to take bonding leave has been life altering.

David and Charlie discuss the stigma of being a father taking bonding leave, how long they took off from work, how the CT Paid Leave program worked for them and how it changed their relationships with their families.

To find out more about bonding leave or to apply for benefits go to:
Qualifying Reasons (ctpaidleave.org)

https://ctpaidleave.org/s/?language=en_US



https://www.facebook.com/CTPaidLeave



https://www.instagram.com/ctpaidleave/



https://twitter.com/CTPaidLeave



https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=ct+paid+leave

Transcript

Nancy Barrow: 0:01

Hello, Connecticut and welcome to The Paid Leave Podcast. The title basically says it all. I'm Nancy Barrow and I will be delving into this new state program and how it can help you and your family. This podcast will give you information you should know about Connecticut Paid Leave, and maybe just a little bit more. Connecticut Paid Leave brings peace of mind to your home, family and workplace. Welcome to The Paid Leave Podcast. Father's Day is Sunday, June 16 in 2024. And today we will be celebrating fathers and focus on this podcast is father's taking paid leave to be at home to bond with their babies. Paternity leave is an important opportunity for fathers to take time off to work actively and participate in the care of the new baby. And studies have shown that taking paternity leave helps fathers mentally, they start to feel less stressed out, less anxious and depressed. And the reason this happens is because of a hormone called oxytocin and when it's released, it promotes bonding and reduces stress levels. 43% of fathers take bonding leave through Connecticut Paid Leave and we're so happy that we can enable fathers to take time away from work with income replacement to bond with the addition to their families. Joining The Paid Leave Podcast today is David Sergei, who first reached out to me on LinkedIn to say that he had listened to one of the podcasts. And he had a unique story about Connecticut Paid Leave and bonding that he wanted to share. So that has led David to be actually the poster child for fathers taking bonding leave with Connecticut Paid Leave, he has done testimonials for us. It's led to a wonderful relationship. And he can be seen on our website and our YouTube page. But the website is ctpaidleaveorg. So welcome to The Paid Leave Podcast David.

David Sergei: 1:51

Thank you so much for having me. I'm so honored to be able to tell my story. And that's why I originally reached out when I took the leave, I said why aren't more men doing this? Yeah, I felt getting that message out there of how rewarding it can be. It really changed my family dynamic for the better. And I really started to ask around and I noticed all my peers didn't take the Leave for the kids. And I said, why is that? And it was the same thing that we're talking about, a fear of job, what's going to happen there and can I bond with my kid is what will happen. And none of those fears were true. And I said in order to change our culture, somebody has to speak up a little bit and why not me?

Nancy Barrow: 2:32

Why not you? Well thank you so much for being on the podcast. Also joining us is Charles Johnson. I will call him Charlie. He came to us through one of our board members, Justin Zartman, who said his friend got to use Connecticut Paid Leave for one of his children, and that he would be great on a podcast. So welcome to The Paid Leave Podcast.

Charlie Johnson: 2:52

Thank you, Nancy. And thank you Justin for the recommendation. I'm happy to be here and talk and have this conversation, you know, echoing similar things that David just said, you know, yeah, being able to use the leave for one child, but not to I know, we'll probably talk more about that. But it just it was totally different experience. And like, David, I hope everybody takes advantage of this opportunity. It was really great for me.

Nancy Barrow: 3:18

Yeah and we were really surprised 43% of dads are taking the time off. And I think this generation is a little different. You know, and I think it's, it's it's so rewarding for us to know that dads are really taking the time off. It really helps the moms, it helps the babies, it helps everybody.

David Sergei: 3:35

You're exactly right. And I think you know we sitting here have a unique experience, because we both took it with our second kid. And I lived in Florida. When I had my first child and I didn't get leave, I literally my son was born. And I had to take PTO and I went back to work. I didn't have that experience. So when my wife and I were planning to have a second kid, and where should we settle down, we really did look for a state that was more family friendly. And when we landed here in Connecticut, we learned about CT Paid Leave, and I said I don't want to miss that opportunity. And it really led us into having the discussion of can we have a second kid? And I said yes. And then when I said I had that ability to actually bond and I had to go back to work right away. It changed everything. But I think ultimately, you know, my experience was a little bit different. You know, I was a caretaker for a very long time from my father who passed away. And truthfully, I I didn't get any benefits. You know, I worked right through all of that. And, you know, I you know, I really struggled and you learn about how something like CT Paid Leave yes is for fathers and families, but it's also for caretakers, and there's many different applications of what this program does. I think that's why I was also very passionate about speaking up as I think back my own past experiences and I say, Wow, I could have really used it in other parts of my life. As a caretaker who experienced burnout and things like that, you know, I relate to the many of the stories you do on this podcast, not just this. And I do think that is what this program is about. Yes, we're today we're talking about fathers and we shouldn't be celebrating and encouraging them. But, you know, later in life, you might need this program in some other different way. Absolutely. I think that's also the message I want to preach to other men out there is yes, you should use it for this but and also in the future, you might need it or again, or somebody else in your life might need a program like this.

Nancy Barrow: 5:31

Right? Even if you're a parent, and something goes wrong with your child, you can take caregiver leave to take care of your child if it's a serious health condition. So it is there's so many caveats to paid leave that are so important in every stage of your life. Charlie, why don't you tell me a little bit about how you became a dad and and how you came to use this program?

Charlie Johnson: 5:53

Yeah sure I'm happy to, I won't give you the whole background of me and my wife, but my wife Alyssa and I, we both have lived in Connecticut our whole lives. And we went to University of Connecticut, and then settled back into our hometown of Maryland. And, you know, we always knew we wanted to have a family. And so nothing was really going to stop us once we were ready. So we had our first child, and it was terrific. I was a state employee at the time. And I used a couple weeks of PTO and went back to work. And that's just how it was. So, you know, even in a state, like Connecticut, that's great for families always has been, I don't even think that this shouldn't be a thing or should exist, right? It was just not in existence at all, or on my mind.

Nancy Barrow: 6:36

But FMLA, so you could get your job back. Right.

Charlie Johnson: 6:38

And that's what my wife ended up using, you know, yeah, for her. So sure, you know, so, so we went that route, it was very difficult, but it was also the first child. So everything's a learning curve. We always knew we wanted more than one child. So when, when we felt ready, we want to have a second one. And by now, by that point, you know, this was a thing, this was this program was in existence, and just like, oh, yeah, of course. Of course, it should happen, of course, and everybody should do it. Who can take advantage of the program, you know, my work was going to be fine. Like, my work is pretty normal. It's not, you know, I'm not doing anything hypercritical of like, needing to be there hands on, you know, 24/7. So I was so happy to take the opportunity. And the difference in raising the second child while on leave was just so stark, the difference. You're still trying to shuffle you know, shuffle around a preschooler, she has a busier social schedule than I do. Yes. And so you're doing that going to preschool and trying to come back and, and then on top of the fact that, you know, my wife had a C section. And it's like, of course, I should be there for her for at least the six weeks that the doctor says she shouldn't be, you know, lifting heavy things, and moving too much. So while she recovers, it's just it was so clear. And but just have been here the whole time and think I didn't even think that this should be available to me. I didn't know that it should be available to me to it being available to me. What it's like night and day. And I think everybody should take advantage of it.

Nancy Barrow: 8:14

So to how much time did you take, Charlie?

Charlie Johnson: 8:17

So I took I ended up taking two months, I took eight weeks, my employer was generous enough to make my salary full. Oh, that's fantastic. If I did the CT Paid Leave for eight weeks, right. And, you know, taking any sort of, you know, decreased can be hard on anybody. Yeah. So the fact that they were able to do that, I know that I was still a little bit eligible, I think for another four. But at that point, we were kind of in a good swing of things. That's how long.

Nancy Barrow: 8:47

And it's interesting to like that last four weeks, you could have spread out. So if you needed to take a week, you know, here and there to bond with your child, you can do that for the first year, which is really nice.

Charlie Johnson: 8:58

And the other thing is when you're preparing for a child, you're like, for that moment, yeah. Right. And so, you know, I should have taken the other four weeks spread out, you know,if I found some time.

Nancy Barrow: 9:09

Which wonderful, because you can take it Yeah, like we say, you know, intermittently or reduced schedule from work. Just, you know, just so you have that in your back pocket and in your brain. I don't know if you're going to have another child but you know, just just to know those things. And what about you, David? How much time did you take with your second child?

David Sergei: 9:30

So you know, I took the full a lot of time because I really understood how precious this time was second gig it started saying with parenting, the days are long, the years are short. So you realize that you have challenges but the time just goes by right away and what they don't want CT Paid Leave doesn't actually prepare you for is a day that it ends the day you have to go back to work and your kids in daycare if you want an emotional day you think They're caring for your kid is hard. Wait until that first few days that you're no longer bonding with them. What CT Paid Leave does is it keeps your kid on you 20 Literally 24/7 Because you pick up other responsibilities around the house, I'm sure you experienced this as well, where, you know, when the kids napping, you're suddenly the cleaner and you're doing laundry and you're doing the whole thing. I'm really picking up for everybody in the house, because you have all these new responsibilities. And then you go back to work, and you're like, wait a second, this kid should be my arms.

Nancy Barrow: 10:29

Did you feel depressed? Going back to work?

David Sergei: 10:31

I want to say Yeah, and I think you're not doing it right. If you're not right. Yeah, you're absolutely right. Because that is how strong that bond is, during a time when you don't have the distractions of going to work or financial, you know, you're focused on being the best dad, you can be during that time. And then when it ends, and you have to handover the responsibility to the daycare, which we had to your a little bit.

Nancy Barrow: 10:59

Yes,stressed out!

David Sergei: 11:00

Yes, yes, absolutely. And you shouldn't be because you certainly have helped, but you are more stressed out because you want to still be the caretaker forever. Yeah, you are, but in a different capacity. Right?

Charlie Johnson: 11:12

Well, I would say like, when my leave ended, you know, my wife was still on leave. And so he, he didn't go directly to daycare, but I think I was mentally preparing for it in a way that I didn't, I wasn't able to the first time. And so I just like, I was just thinking logically and strategically, like when you have to go straight back to work. And you're not sleeping, and the baby's feeding every two to three hours and is up when on their schedule, if not more often. It's like, how am I supposed to do it? So just because I was able to stay home with CT Paid leave? For a couple of months, he got into a better schedule, which allowed me to function as a human being in the outside of my house world. Yeah. And so I was, you know, that was the biggest thing for me. It was it was still challenging to leave the family, but like to have those extra eight weeks is just or 12 if you use all of them. Yeah. It gets you ahead to the point where you can maybe function.

Nancy Barrow: 12:16

How did people react when you know, you said you were going to be staying home with your your child? Did you get different reactions from different people about staying home? Because there is still a stigma to it!

Charlie Johnson: 12:28

There still is there is it's coming down. I don't know. You know, the generational thing is definitely effect. You know, I shouldn't don't want to paint with a broad brush. Yeah, everybody thinks differently, you know, age groups. But I will say, whenever I told an older person, they didn't understand it. And then when I told a contemporary or a friend or a colleague, they were like, That's great. You know, so it for me that, and not everybody, some people who said that's great, you know, pretty much across the board. But yeah, it's still people were suprised.

David Sergei: 12:58

The same, same, same reaction over here. And once again, it was like a motivator of like, what you don't think I could do this for 12 weeks? Yeah, you don't think I could be the best dad without my wife and that, like, I almost saw it as a challenge. I'm like, No, I'm gonna, I'm gonna do I want to do 16 weeks, I'm working forever. People challenge you. And like, of course, I could change diapers and feed, like, I can figure this out, not just from other men in my life, but other, you know, females and family member Yes. Of like, David, you're gonna stay on and I'm like, I am a grown adult with my second kid.

Nancy Barrow: 13:39

Its Womans work is really honestly like what people traditionally think like, the mom stays home, the dad has to work, they have to bring home money, but now with paid leave, It really alleviates that problem.

David Sergei: 13:50

Yeah. And I think you know, you know, supporting my wife, believe it or not, you know, her career has always been better than mine. And it was important for me to support her in that way. You know, she does a lot of good work. And she's super passionate about what she does, and she wanted to re-enter the workforce. And that's the underlying thing that I'm so passionate about with CT Paid Leave, is, she's worked so hard for that. But also, she wanted a family and I want us to support it. But it was important for us to allow her to go back to work, something that she loves doing. This is being a mother is part of her identity, right. Just like being a father is a part of our identity. But also we're lucky enough to enjoy what we do for a living and want to support our teams and our colleagues and we're passionate about our professional life. And that's what this program does. It allows us to have more of an identity than just be a parent, you can step away but then also, you can support your spouse who to go back into the workforce.

Nancy Barrow: 14:50

Research is showing that beyond improved relationships, moms are more likely to return to full time work when dads have access to parental leave. And the financial impact is pretty significant. For every month that dad takes paternity leave a mom's income goes up about 7%. And by giving three months of paid parental leave to dads and having them take it, so mom can get back to work, you can basically get rid of the parent, non parent wage gap. And so it's really interesting financially, how how that can help, you know, like you were saying, like, you know, getting your wife back to work.

David Sergei: 15:30

You're exactly right. And it's more about, you know, you could say, you know, there's an underlying Yes, money, kind of, but it's also about being integrated to your teams, again, that you're back at work and supporting, I think your colleagues, and that, yes, you can lead to the financial probably wide that that happens. But I think that's not wasn't her motivator, or hey, this, does it. Yeah. But it's like, how do I go back and support that team? And the mission of that are our organizations are trying to achieve? And they that, yes, if that leads to financial, that's great. Yeah. But it was ultimately, hey, I still care about that. I care about my kids and my family. And that's how this whole thing is tied together. And that's why when I love and when employers embrace these programs, I think that's the other difference between Connecticut and Florida, where I came from it is the employer saying, take this leave, I never felt any pressure not to do it.

Charlie Johnson: 16:28

I would say, you know, just, I can't speak to everybody's experience. But I would imagine, I can understand those statistics and seeing how, you know, it would help people get back to work, where they otherwise might not be able to, I can talk about our specific experience, and that my wife was always going to go back to work, she's worked very hard for her career as well. But, you know, not every program necessarily needs to be about some wide sweeping benefit. Sometimes it can just be about making things a little bit easier. Like we were going to do this, we were planning on doing this, but thank you for making it a little bit easier. And like, that's what people who are like, Oh, I can handle it, just Yeah, but sometimes it can be a little easier.

Nancy Barrow: 17:14

Research also shows that when infants experience strong attachments from the get go, they are better poised to mature to a happy, independent and resilient grown up. And it's really interesting. They say that a paternity leave can lead to stronger attachments that last. In 2019 A report said that even nine years later, children's whose dads took at least two weeks of paternity leave, reported feeling closer to their dads than the children who didn't have their dad take any leave. Did you know have you noticed anything different about your second child's level of attachment to you or happiness or independence?

Unknown: 17:54

Yeah a huge. I mean, my first I took the two weeks, which was the guideline, and I have a terrific relationship with my first child. And it's great. She's five. My second child seems to be all over me, way more than the for me. Actually. Sometimes, I guess, you know, a little sad that I didn't have that in the first 18 months, you know, maybe he'll change but according to the statistics, maybe he won't. But you know, in this first 18 months, it's been so close. That I wish I could go back in time and have that with the first child.

Nancy Barrow: 18:34

And it's hard to say that because it wasn't available to you.

Charlie Johnson: 18:39

No, you're right. Of course. Yeah. So we concoct these, you know, imaginary scenarios in our minds. It's like, Oh, that would be nice.

Nancy Barrow: 18:46

It would have been nice, right? You know, and it would be nice if there's a national program, so you wouldn't have to worry about that at all. But we're working on that.(laughter)

David Sergei: 18:54

I'll tell you a funny story. It was it made my wife way more comfortable with, you know, leaving the kids with me. She was after the first kid. I never saw her leave the house. But after I took the leave, she was I'm going to yoga class. I'm going out with the girls, book club night, I can stay late at work because she goess she goes well you just did it for 12 weeks. You know, and I think her level of oh, you've proven you know what you're doing right? Which has actually almost immediately helped her have more of a social life or being like, yeah, I can leave you home with the kids who go grocery shopping or go to the mall go with those errands don't don't get its cuz. You right and think that's another underlying benefit of this program. Hopefully with you know, men taking it is it's not just, you know, the right the wife or the mother going back to work. It's also being comfortable for their own leisure. After and being able to go yes, I could take a mental health break because you now have the experience with that child your your bond is stronger. So they don't have to be on top of their kids as much. And it changed that relationship as well.

Nancy Barrow: 20:08

Yeah. Interesting. I was going to ask you about how did the relationship change between you and your partner like it? Did it improve it? Because you took this leave? And you, you know, really helped her exponentially? I mean, honestly, I mean, it really shows that it decreases any kind of postpartum depression in women.

David Sergei: 20:29

You're exactly right. And that's the energy shift. I felt in our house, it was just the level of comfort of like, if she was running 20 minutes late, there was no text messages. Correct. It was not even. It was just, it was okay. And I promise you, that was not the case out to the first kid because I want maybe I was also a new father. But I never had that time. I mean, I was back to work. And at the same week, it was scary.

Charlie Johnson: 20:55

Yeah, I mean, that's. So it definitely a lot more comfort, a lot more comfort, baby, too. But just like to everyone's who's might be listening, like, it was her first child too, she doesn't, she didn't know what she was doing. And I think they're the assumed stresses that she has to take on as like, I'm in charge. I'm new to this. Like, that seems a little bit ridiculous that we don't like expect the same of the Father. And so, and I was guilty of it, too. I remember her first trip to target when we had one kid. And I was like, Okay, try not to call her. Like she needed like an hour, she just to herself, but I could have gone to target whatever, or whatever, you know, I could have gone, you know, so just it's always that assumption that it's gotta be her. You said before, I'm a grown man with kids, I can handle it. And so yes, this paid leave, gets you in the action right away all the time, and makes you more prepared for it. But like, honestly, that's how it should be like, we should all be prepared to take care of our children.

David Sergei: 22:03

It takes both parents to really raise a really healthy, wonderful family. And I think that's one of the things that you're both telling me that paid leave allowed you guys to do. Yeah, and you hope to change generations, I hope. You know, I very much did this, for what I hope the memories of my daughter and my kids will be a long time from now have, they could tell this story. My dad stayed home with me, he stepped away from his career, it actually does change generations and the stories they will tell 20 and 30 years from now, it's a bit of a big picture. But I think that's why this program is established. It's not for you. And I it's actually to change our kids lives and the stories they're going to tell. And hopefully other programs will come of this based on their experiences and those stories that we share about programs and you know, the government that do help people. That is why parents should do this, you have to set a good example. And a good example of parenting is saying yes, I will step away, I will give you the dedicated time that I'm allowed to take, yeah, plus, I'm willing to do it. And then for their things will hopefully change for the better for, you know, kind of on a larger scale society.

Nancy Barrow: 23:26

I did a podcast with a really incredible researcher. Her name is Mya Rossin-Slater. And she is the Associate Professor of Health Policy at Stanford University. And one of her findings was, if you have a male co worker who takes paternity leave, you're more likely to take paternity leave yourself. So I think that's another way that things are changing, you know, because I think this younger generation, you know, you're talking to your coworkers, and you're saying, I just got to take, you know, three months off to bond with my kid.

David Sergei: 24:03

You know, it is the domino effect of people, you can influence others, it does shine a light on this program, when one person does it. In an office setting I totally believe that because the office environment I was in, I stepped away and do you know how many people came over to me privately and said, Wait a minute, you could do that. And, you know, it's still a little bit unknown, this program. That's why this public awareness campaigns are so great, and there's a lot of good government does. You can ask for assistance. It's okay. Then when you ask for assistance, somebody else will ask for assistance and they're better off.

Charlie Johnson: 24:38

I did talk with some female co workers of mine about the process about how I said our, our, my employer will, you know, compensate or add to the leave. And so that process I helped other people who weren't fathers, they were going to be mothers to figure out how to navigate that.

Nancy Barrow: 24:57

great. So they ended up you know, get paid leave to supplement. Yeah, yeah, that's that's what that's great.

Charlie Johnson: 25:03

But I am well, you know, in my friend group, we were the some of the first ones to have children. And that has definitely like, if you can, like, just do it. Yeah. But again, it's like a little bit of a generational thing. But like, if everybody starts to it's a domino effect starts to do it, even in your small circles, you know, they have small circles.

Nancy Barrow: 25:26

Yeah. I mean, it'd be great if it does get over 50%. I mean, 43% will take it. I think that's really amazing that fathers are using that bonding leave.

Charlie Johnson: 25:34

That is amazing. But I was 100% going to take it. So it's hard to believe it sill feels low. But it's great that 43%

Nancy Barrow: 25:42

Yeah so David, I know that you have a father's group that you belong to. So tell me a little bit about what you talk about. Did you talk to them about your paid leave?.

David Sergei: 25:51

Yeah so you know, my story, once again, was interesting, because I was a transplant to Connecticut, I moved here professionally and to start a family. This is where I really wanted to settle down as I really moved here with no friends. And I got one of the luckiest breaks, I was walking down Main Street in Wethersfield, and I saw a sign join the Wethersfield's Dad's club, and I said a dad's club? I could do that I could be you know. And really what that did was, it's a built in community where you just have a group of dads that help coordinate playdates. Sometimes it's a book club, sometimes it's a dads only event where we will go golfing or we meet up. And we just do different activities. And we have just community organizers of dads who try to keep dads busy and out of the house, which also maybe helps you get a, you know, some break from your kids, or maybe just things that don't cost money, right? It's we try to do a lot of free events, where you don't have to go to spend money at, you know, the trampoline park every weekend, we spend a lot of money there. So and we just do different activities. But I think what I try to preach with the dads club is best parenting, what are those practices, those best practices? CT Paid Leave is one of the things that we often talk about is, you know, how do we encourage other dads to do it or some dads are a little bit older in a group and maybe their caretakers for their parents or they're thinking about that. And they have other applications they were they're caring for somebody else sick in their life. And it's just more about having the conversation but for somebody, and I think, you know, Connecticut is seeing a rise of people move here from out of state. That's why I do think a lot of these super local organizations that support parenting, and fathers and Connect community are vitally important. Because you know, at one point, I was a transplant to another state when I moved to Florida, same thing, I joined a lot of community groups, I started organizing, just volunteering, and he made you make friends. Yeah. And with that you have community. And that's what that Weathersfield dads club did for me here was it gives you friends, and it gets you out of the house gets you socializing, talking, having fun.

Nancy Barrow: 27:45

Yeah. And I think it's really interesting that you bring, like your life experience of what Connecticut Paid Leave did. And did you recommend it to other fathers?

David Sergei: 27:54

You know, I'm constantly recommending it, because you know, I'm also at the right age where people were my peers are, are doing this, and I think it's a little bit of what we say is the past generation didn't have this, they wish they had it. So we really have to be the ones that are, you know, the 43%? Or who actually use it, we have to be the loudest and trying to get that number higher. And how do we do that is by sharing our story with other dads because the number should be higher.

Nancy Barrow: 28:21

Any final thoughts about Connecticut Paid Leave and bonding with your children and Father's Day?

Charlie Johnson: 28:28

You know, there's a lot of things that, you know, government does for you that you don't see. And sometimes it can be difficult to to like really internalize how anything benefits you even though it's all around you, it's just harder to see. So this program, just so specifically cut and dry benefits me. And so it was just nice to have that as an additional program, that I can feel good and appreciate that I knew life before it and I know life with it. And it's better with it. So yeah,

Nancy Barrow: 29:04

the difference between the two kids is really apparent.

David Sergei: 29:08

Yeah, you know, and I think for me, I go well, I've benefited so much from this. And then it's, you hear the stories, like we said of the generation before us to not have this, and they go wow, David, I wish I had that. So it does get you to think what program should we be advocating for right now that doesn't exist that my kids would benefit from so this is wonderful, been such a great experience. But it should keep you motivated to go, what else might be missing out there. And you should look at programs like CT Paid Leave and go, what else needs to be modeled around this in our state that might be missing that could make the next generation better that we could work towards this, like this program did not come out of nowhere? I would imagine. There were endless years of advocates,

Nancy Barrow: 29:55

I think about I think it was started in 2012 and didn't pass untll 2019.

David Sergei: 30:00

See that? And all those people, are the heroes of this program that I've benefited from? And we all did as men and community members to say you have to go? Who else needs a champion in this state? Who else? Should we be a voice for that it might take five years for that legislation or that funding to come? So it does get you thinking, when you're sitting at home for 12 weeks holding your baby in there napping on you? These are the thoughts you're having, which is also the underlying why people should do this is yeah, the baby's napping and laundry will be done and everything will be and you actually have a moment to go. Wow. What do I want to do? In the future? Right? What do I want to be? What should What should I advocate for? Right? That is the I think the underlying mission and success of this program, it allows you to have those type of thoughts. Yeah and it's it'll be exciting to see what happens. There's lots of other programs that are out there. So it's, it's really wonderful. I want to thank my guests who are remarkable dads. David, Sergei, thank you so much. Charlie Johnson, thank you so much. I hope you play this podcast for your kids when they're older so they know how much they meant to you. Playing on Father's Day.

Nancy Barrow: 31:14

Right. Thank you so much for being on The Paid Leave Podcast.

Charlie Johnson: 31:17

Thank you for having me.

David Sergei: 31:18

This is wonderful. Thank

Nancy Barrow: 31:19

you so much. And Happy Father's Day to both of you

Charlie Johnson: 31:21

Appreciate it.

Nancy Barrow: 31:22

For more information or to apply for benefits. Please go to ctpaidleave.org. This has been another edition of The Paid Leave Podcast. Please like and subscribe so you'll be notified about new podcasts that become available. Connecticut Paid Leave is a public act with a personal purpose. I'm Nancy Barrow and thanks for listening!