Not one, but two jobs

Is anyone actually surprised by this MSNBC.com article that says women still are more likely than men to take time off work for child care responsibilities?

Among the interesting findings:

"An Elle/MSNBC.com survey of more than 60,000 people found that about 15 percent of people thought their female bosses’ child care responsibilities interfered with their ability to do their job. Only about half that many — or 7 percent — thought child care duties were interfering with their male bosses’ workday."

One expert quoted said she found the 7 percent number encouraging, because it could mean men are participating more in child care duties.

But the problem remains that survey respondents still thought child care responsibilities interfered with their bosses' ability to do their job. (How many of those people actually have kids?)

I think the greater issue is the need for more flexibility in the workplace. Or, as the article states: "... Workplaces will develop more flexible policies for working parents only if men start taking on even more child care responsibilities."

Last Saturday, for instance, I ran into a male friend with his two kids at the Seattle Children's Museum. I happen to know his wife is in the middle of planning a major event for her employer, and he said he was taking the kids for the day so she could work. He said he was also watching the kids on Monday.

"Don't you have to work?" I asked.

Well yes, he did, but so did his wife, so it was his turn to take time off.

That's the nature of modern parenting when both parents work: Who has the deadline coming up? Who took time off last time?

Or even, who makes more money? Or who has the more flexible job?

Is it always fair? Probably not.