This is so interesting! I am from Canada, but live in the US. To be honest, I would have gone crazy being at home for a year. I was relieved to go back to work after 5 months and a much better parent doing it part time. However, I could not have gone back to work after 6 weeks. That is just an insanely short amount of time to recover. I think there is no question the US needs more progressive policies on maternity leave.