Is Paternity Leave Working for Working Dads?

Bud Fishback says he was grateful for being able to spend time with his kids during his leave. “They grow up so fast and it allowed me to connect with them,” he says. “I also developed an appreciation for all the work full-time caregivers do.”

Both parent and child reap the benefits of connecting early on, says Levine. “Many studies have shown that children seem to do better in all areas when they have a close relationship with both parents,” he says. “And fathers are constantly saying they want a different relationship with their kids than what they had with their own dads.”

Bro, for one, is determined to maintain a strong and loving relationship with his son. Reminiscing how he let Nathan stand on his belly, he says the positive repercussions of his paternity leave four years ago are long-lasting. “I can still feel the imprints from his feet,” he says.

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