Q&A Forum - August 2008 (Best of Elise)

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Now the second topic that is related but separate is the all important bonding between a woman and her new born child. This is a role that only a woman can fill. A man cannot bond with a child like a woman because a man does not produce life and does not carry a child in the womb. There is a bond between mother and child that a man cannot duplicate. Therefore, a woman needs to have that special time with her child after birth. No matter how important her career, she needs to spend those first few months with her child. Some child psychologists recommend six months to a year.

There are ways a woman can do this and still continue to work, as many companies make provisions such as allowing the woman to work from home or even allowing the woman to bring the child to the workplace, providing on-site nurseries. One of the changes you will see as women take more control over the workplace and the business world is a better work environment for mothers. We are seeing that today. Family leave policies, nurseries and child care at the workplace are all the results of the influence of women in business.