About
Women's
Network
Women's Network PEI Newsletter Article:
June/July 2004
Submitted by Michelle Genge-Harris
Life is all about experience. A person's experience dictates how she views the external world and it influences how she actually perceives reality. All women have diverse realities because life treats everyone differently. What we, as women, have to recognize is that we have a duty to try to empathize with each other and to try to help each other out.
Case in point: When I had my daughter, I had a job which allowed me a comfortable income while I took my maternity leave. The year that I had with my daughter was incredible. I was able to breastfeed thirteen months without any worries, and I didn't have any overwhelming financial stresses to take away from the joy that I experienced every single day with her. I was able to witness her first crawl, her first walk, her first bite of solid food and her first word. My encounter with the new extended leave was wonderful.
I never had to get up early the next day for work or daycare after a night with no sleep.
I wasn't forced to forgo breastfeeding because I would be away from my baby for extended periods.
I never felt stressed, fatigued, or anxious because I didn't know how to pay the bills that kept coming in, even though my paycheques were almost cut in half.
I also never realized that my experience was the exception. I assumed that everyone had the same benefits and I never really cared to look outside the box. How could anyone ever complain about such a wonderful program?
The Parental Benefits Program was extended to one year so that our babies could have the best start possible in their fragile, new lives. It is a positive step for our future; but only for the women who are able to use it. Unfortunately, there are many Canadian women who cannot access this valuable resource. Their reality of their babies' first year can be quite stressful and financially crippling. Their bonding experience can be overwhelmed with the struggles of paying the rent and keeping their employment secure.
I began working as Communications Officer with the Parental Benefits Project at the Women's Network in June. My first priority was to become acquainted with the information that came to light with the focus groups that were held for the first phase of this project. I was amazed at the experiences that other women have been through. I knew all along that this would be an interesting project to be associated with; but I never realized how important it was to instigate positive change for the women who have been unable to take advantage of this benefit for their children. All children deserve the best possible start in life. If the government recognizes that one year parental leave is beneficial to our future generation, then we should all work together to ensure that all babies have this benefit; not just the babies whose mothers have enough hours to qualify.
The Parental Benefits Project is entering Phase II, and I am very excited to be a part of it and to share it's progression with you in future newsletters.
Please email me if you have any input or questions about the project. I look forward to hearing from you.
Women's Network Office
located at 40 Enman Crescent, in Charlottetown
mailing address:
P.O. Box 233,
Charlottetown, PEI C1A 7K4
phone: (902) 368-5040
fax: (902) 368-5039
e-mail:
wnpei@wnpei.org