u/WorkLifeScience

Hello everyone,

as many people in this sub, I don't have anyone to practice with me. I got my license 10 years ago, but then moved to a big city where having a car is more of an annoyance than a perk. Now I have to drive for work, but I am struggling with driving anxiety (partially due to having lost friends in a horrible accident, so the fear of death feels very real).

I managed to feel ok while driving in the city, though that's stressful on it's own, but we have strict speed limits so it feels safe(er). However I can't find the courage to go on the highway, and I will need it for work eventually. I'm so scared of entering and leaving the highway, especially if there's a sharp curve after. How do I get over it??

Just a vent. My friend is on a super long maternity leave (2+ years), now merging into getting a second kid soon. She mentioned a very extravagant weekend away with her husband, so I commented something like "good for you" thinking how her husband makes great money.

Well, turns out that actually her dad is paying her a salary (it's a family business), so she can collect state benefits once the second child comes. To explain it in simple terms, in our country the state looks at the last 12 paychecks and that determines how high the money during maternity leave will be. Is her dad doing the same for other female employees? Of course not.

This has really made me upset, even though I usually don't care, because I love my job and am very proud to have build my career on my own. But then it got me thinking how unfair it is that some moms have to go back to work much sooner then they'd want to (I'm especially shocked by the USA). And then this example of treating women so differently within the same company made me sick to my stomach.

Again, I love my job, I was so happy to go back, but I did have my maternity leave, I did have a choice, and it breaks my heart to read posts on this and other parenting subs, where moms have to go back to work before they're ready.

A pointless rant I guess. As it inequality is really something new in this world.