> If you reverse the genders it happens all the time, just that no one would call that 'sabbatical'.
Because a sabbatical means that for a limited time you will do something different that you always wanted to do and go back to the job afterwards. Not cultivating a new hobby which will distract you from your job for the next, say, 15 years.
That would be a lot more convincing if his sabbatical wasn't around the in-laws. There's nothing wrong with paternity leave, maybe that's a stigma on resume in the States though?
Because a sabbatical means that for a limited time you will do something different that you always wanted to do and go back to the job afterwards. Not cultivating a new hobby which will distract you from your job for the next, say, 15 years.