EP24: I Took 16 Weeks of Paternity Leave... Then I Had to Say Goodbye
Going back to work after having a baby is hard. But after spending 16 weeks at home with our two boys, Keith wasn't prepared for just how emotional it would be.
In this episode of The Jones Family Playbook, Keith opens up about the end of his 16 weeks of parental leave and what it feels like to leave his family and return to work. We talk honestly about dad guilt, working-parent guilt, motherhood, raising two kids under two, and why parents, especially fathers, shouldn't feel ashamed for being emotional.
Then, Holly surprises Keith with something she had been secretly writing for days: a letter about the 16 weeks he chose to spend at home with his family. ❤️
This episode is for every parent who has struggled with the push and pull between work and family, and for anyone trying to make the most of the little moments before they become memories.
In this episode:
• Going back to work after parental leave
• Why dads should take paternity leave
• Dad guilt and working-parent guilt
• The emotional reality of leaving your kids
• Raising two boys under two
• Holly's anxiety about parenting alone in the mornings
• Why men should feel comfortable showing emotion
• An emotional letter from wife to husband
• Giving yourself grace as a parent
• Finding gratitude in the chaos of family life
OUR LINKS
https://linktr.ee/jonesfamilyplaybook
👋🏻 ABOUT US
The Jones Family Playbook is where real love, laughter, and parenthood meet. Hosted by Holly and Keith, two broadcast journalists and working parents, this weekly podcast brings a blend of humor, honesty, and heart to every conversation, creating a trusted space that feels like a growing family.
Follow Holly!
www.instagram.com/HollyHarrarTV
Follow Keith!
www.instagram.com/KeithJonesNews
All Rights Reserved.
Copyright 2026.
#Parenting #ParenalLeave #MaternityLeave #PaternityLeave #WorkingParents #DadLife #Parenthood #Marriage #FamilyPodcast
