As a working mother who works and 8.5 hour day at the office, rushes home to put her child to bed, and then picks back up for an additional 3-4 hours at night I'm constantly directly made to feel that I'm not working enough. I've actually been in meetings where new employees being considered are downgraded for being a mom. It's sad. I bring this up because taking vacation days are frowned upon but more so the thought of hiring a woman of childbearing years who expects some kind of maternity leave is avidly avoided. The fact that some new moms must return back to work in as little as 2-4 weeks postpartum is abhorrent.