This is what is being talked about in many European countries: applying quotas to get more women on boards of companies and in manager positions. The exercise has worked well in Norway where quotas implemented not only got the 40% required of board members being women, but they even did 4% better and are now at 44%. 

Time magazine just published an article on the matter that I urge you to read

And why wouldn´t women be close to 50% of those taking decision at a higher level? Especially when many fields and universities graduate more qualified women than men at this time. It also has shown itself that there are different "men" and "women" qualities that can be found in either sex...men are known to take more risk and be more financially-oriented while women are often careful and think more about social consequences. Of course these qualities can be found in either men or women although they're often called a "feminin" or "manly" side. Up until now "manly" qualities have dominated the business world, as well as politics and even the media.

Things are going to change and its about time. Qualities that before were attributed to women and were shut out will now become more and more in demand at decision level. But for women to want those positions, it also has to be adapted to people's lifestyle. Less women are ready to sacrifice everything for their career and I believe that will be the case with men as well. People in the west will want to balance work, family and personal time, in a Scandinavian style in the years to come. Unfortunately quotas, or at least the threat that they will be implemented seem necessary for things to change and countries such as Spain, France and Britain that have women making up just around 10% of top boards, are seeing the necessity to change this with legislation. But its not only in business the change has to happen.. a non-scientific observation tells me that women are much less in politics, express themselves less in the media and still have lower salaries than their male counterparts. This has to change and now. We need a true Revolution, but not only in the boardrooms of top companies. 

Im not dead, and I haven't stopped blogging.. but yes, being a double mom takes alot of time, but I knew that. When the little one, does not need to eat, burp, gulp or be helped to sleep, the big one wants to play, eat, show you something or just have some attention. Sexy papa Pete is doing a fantastic job but I still need to find the time to get a haircut, moisturize my face, knit a gift for a baby that will be born very soon, send a gift to a baby born already a long time ago, fix my CV and blog. With rising sun and more energy I will get to those things, all in good time my friend, all in good time. 

Meanwhile, happy easter little bunnies. 

I might say I live in a man´s world... with my three boys, the latest addition arriving the 17th of February safe and sound. What a relief. So Mr. F and Sexy papa Pete now have to compete with the fantastic mister Fox for my affection. Well not really.. like Seal once said, when you think you can´t give any more love, your heart just gets bigger. It feels like that. although, every thing has been getting bigger and sorer - I think every inch of my body has been aching these last two weeks but what do you expect after laying down for more than 4 months and then a birth that takes less that 2 hours.

I caught myself thinking this was a man´s world in the maternity ward as well. Of all places. After fantastic Fox had arrived we had to stay in the "ceasarian/complication" ward due to my loss of blood that seemed to be of some concern to the doctors. In that ward there were new parents and alot of screaming babies. And those taking care of the babies were the fathers. They were changing babies, getting clean clothes, heating the milk, washing the bottles, talking to the nurses and watching occasionally a glimps of the winter olympics in the common room with sleeping babies on their chests. The mothers were nowhere to be seen. They were recovering in their respective rooms while the men were in charge. There was something beautiful about that. So much tenderness and attentiveness on behalf on all these men becoming fathers for the first time or second or third in some cases. I noticed sexy papa Pete (who didnt have a bed and "slept" one night on a chair in the hallway and on an abandoned bed nearby the next night) was in his element. He knew where all the things were kept and showed one tired mommy how to change the nappy two days later when she finally stood up. Up til then he had done everything that had to be done. The third night when he had to go home I felt akwardly out of place changing my little boy while all the big boys were singing and holding their little ones in their manly hands. I didn't stay long in those eery hallways since they seemed to be reserved to the fraternity. 

It is nice to know that if allowed to take part, men can just as well be in charge of newborns as women. Mostly they dont because they are not allowed, by the mommies. The mothers always think they know best. And they might, but only because they have had the time to know their children and spend more time with them at home...

More paternity leave can only be beneficial, for all parties. For women to learn to share responsibility and for men to get comfortable with their children and get to know them better. This time I'm also seeing how breastfeeding is a barrier for new fathers. They don't get the closeness of feeding hours. Having bottlefeed Mr. F we now are seeing the "joys of breastfeeding". It is easier, if it works, but it means sexy papa Pete is excluded in those moments. But being the perfect daddy he is, I know he would breastfeed if he could and ease under the pain of this happy, but very tired mommy. How can one tiny mouth have so much to eat? 

Planning should be my strong side. Having been in charge of a news program where every second counts I thought I was so meticulous and I remember we did have more than one perfect "tener" in the days (A perfect 10 minutes 00 seconds broadcast). It was then, and now its now, and things go easily out of your control. That's life, literally I guess.

I am going to the hospital later today to get the cerclage removed - 3 days ahead of time. all because of the cholestasis. Seems Im not responding to the medication and the numbers are going up. I am prepared, at least we are prepared technically for the baby to come soon there afterwards. Mentally, I dont know. It seems that although it has only been a year since my last birth experience (that went so well and was only 5 hours) I cannot avoid dreading what comes next. Or maybe its just the uncertainty. Will labor start shortly after the stitch is removed? (Which can be expected since I was already open when I got the stich 18 weeks ago but like so many other things, you can never know. who knows, maybe i've closed up?) When pregnant with Mr. F I got the stitch removed but still had to be induced a week later since labour did not happen spontanously (regardless of all my efforts: spicy foods, glass of red wine, walking up and down stairs amongst other things).

Will the baby be strong and healthy, if it is made to come so much earlier? (more than 3 weeks before the due date) Sometimes I wonder if one of the reasons it wasn't possible to breastfeed mr. F was perhaps because he was born in week 38.

Is the baby better off coming out than staying in the stomach while I continue taking drugs that have not been clinically approved on pregnant women? (which kind of is impossible since its unethical to do testing on unborn children)

Is it healthy to ask yourself all these question when actually I (and we) should be happy to have come as long as we have? If I would have been told this 18 weeks ago I would have been ecxtatic, but being a perfectionist (in some things at least) I always want to push a little bit further... test those limits ... get to the finish line. When actually week 36 + 4 or more days should be a good end game. and who knows maybe nothing will happen and they will have to induce again in a week's time. 

And strangely this question hunts me, will it hurt? I dont get why I am so afraid of the pain. Its not like its something completely unknown to me, I know this already, I did fine last time. So why am I building up this fear in my head? its strange... but I guess its part of the process... and then at least I know I will have the hubby to yell at. Afterall, he is responsible for me being in this state, is he not? ;)

How do all these women do this?Lets not forget that in a normal pregnancy labour is everything but planned, it comes whenever. you dont have an appointment at the hospital like I do. So I guess I am more in control than most.

Like my grandma says, every pregnancy is different and every child is unique. And when this little fellow has hopefully arrived safely with all 10 fingers and toes, we'll have to start the namegame all over again. And now it not only has to match all those surnames and be pronouncable in French, Danish and Icelandic, it also has to make sense next to its big brother. Are we perhaps going to go for Mr. F junior?? 

To be continued...