There are multiple definitions of flexibility: the ability to quickly change one's schedule, the ability to to continuously work a non-standard schedule, and th

There are multiple definitions of flexibility: the ability to quickly change one's schedule, the ability to to continuously work a non-standard schedule, and the possibility to easily work part-time (and return to full time). All three are useful for parents of young children. And, interestingly enough, the first tends to be anti-correlate to the latter two among professions. Consider jobs where it's hard to reschedule work at the last minute: pilot, surgeon, lawyer, cop, cashier (at smaller stores), etc: all these jobs tend to allow people to choose schedules other than 9-5 rather easily. In any case: I think these are all solvable problems, and the old saying that if men where responsible for childcare, we'd have more day cares than Starbucks and mandated home office policies for every company comes to mind. Your last point of parent's being the only ones capable of raising a child is idle conjecture not supported by any research. And in any case, it would still allow to distribute child care more equally among both parents. Flexible schedules