Personally, I didnt really notice it , well, if someone had asked me "who carried around the baby" I wouldve said the woman, but other than that it didn't cross my mind. I personally don't think it makes too much of a difference, but after reading this I get what you mean, and I guess it would be nice to share the parenting duties with the father but I don't think its vital, and may not be worth the coding.

Also did anyone think that maybe its to stop you getting the mother constantly pregnant to try and get as many kids as possible? Maybe it's some kind of detterant or something.. I don't know, but in other games there's been things like that.

Also, about the requests for it in VV, i know its a bit off topic, but I'd have one father to multiple children (different mothers) especially when my tribe was low on people. I'm not sure if it would work in VV for that reason, but maybe, I don't know.. just a thought

Anyways, in conclusion, I don't think it's worth the hassle, no offence, if I've caused any, but I'm sure if the whole career thing is that much of a problem to you you can find some way around it.

I'm not a feminist and believe it's good for the mom to stay with the kids when they're small. Why should it be different in the game? If you don't want babies you don't have to have them. It's that simple! I stayed with my kids when they were little. It's really a choice. It would be nice if the women could get some advancement for childrearing and good homemaking, but as others have said...it's just a game. If you don't want kids simply don't have them. You can also wait to see if the game will give you an adoptable child if you want. One showed up on my characters doorstep. They already had five kids but adopted her anyway.

I love the kids..Love hearing their giggles and sqeals of delight. I would make more if the game allowed.

Just an update...

My Vmother and Vfather are at the same career status, they have one child, but the Vfather does make $9 higher in salary. He is a rocket scientist and she is a baker...and I had him for awhile before accepting a marriage proposal. So...??? It doesn't sound like things are too bad for her

I did want to say that HP's advise of having the male stop working while the female is nursing is a good idea if it's an issue...but I think it'll all work out just fine.

Also, again, I have to agree with HP about the designers listening to requests. Really, VF is one big example of this with the previous discourse on marriages, family trees, taking notes, selective childbearing. I guess I am beginning to wonder...if they haven't changed it thusfar...there may be a reason why? Maybe?

I think it's a good thing for the whole family if the father continues to work while Mom carries the baby. The more he advances the better off the family is, and family is what the is about isn't it? It's not really a game about 'career advancement' as much as it is about 'family success'. My women don't seem to have a hard time catching up after the baby is walking, so it's not an issue with me.

I think that it's fair, since the father has to do work while the mother is taking care of the baby. Both jobs are of equal importance; the father works tirelessly at his job to feed the family and upgrade the house while the mother works tirelessly to make sure the new baby is okay.

It is just a game and i don't see why you can't have the father share in the responsibilities while the mother has the same available time to advance her career. I am also a programmer so I can appreciate how difficult it may be to add all requests. I am happy to see that the mother can do other tasks while nursing now. I think this is a huge improvement.

I downloaded the trial of Virtual Families (because I played all three Virtual Villagers and liked them) and now I have a family with twins and Mom is carrying them around and cleaning house and doing laundry and food, but won't work. And Dad isn't having anything to do with the children, and doesn't seem to dust (but will do laundry if pushed). What I didn't like about VV 1-3 is that the kids seems to have only one parent. Why can't Dad carry around one of the twins? Or change the diapers? Or play take a turn showing the babies the toys? Why can't the biological father also be a parent? And if Mom can do all the housework and browse the web, why can't she do her job? (Mine is a graphic designer.) This is not 1950, so why does the parenting have to be so unequal?

And why is Mom the only one who seems to be able to work on a recipe or prepare a meal and Dad only looks for snacks. If I put the woman in the kitchen near the row of cookbooks, she'll study a recipe or prepare a meal. If I put the man there, he will look for snacks. Is it too much to ask for gender equity?

Also, in VV you get to play slow, regular or fast, but not here. Surely we should be able to play fast instead of hanging out and waiting for stuff to happen.

So far this game a disappointing. I hope it gets better. There just isn't enough stuff happening and I want Dad to be able to do his share.

I find that the families are so different and random. I have a family with six kids, the kids do all the cooking and cleaning, while my parents are still novices and watch tv all day. Lol, seems perfect.
Another of my families the mom does everything, and another family everything is almost perfectly equal.
Like I said sooo random.

It's a game. I don't get what the big deal is.

I completely agree. It's only a game.