The Working Mother's Guide to Life: Strategies, Secrets, and Solutions

By Linda Mason

After you've made the decision to return to work following the birth of a child, you may still wonder, "Am I doing the right thing for my family?" and "How on earth do I make this work?" Now, The Working Mother's Guide to Life sets out to offer you hundreds of answers to these types of questions, from nuts-and-bolts advice, such as finding top-notch child care and stress-free ways to manage your household, to more complex issues like separating from your child without feeling guilty and creating a rich, strong family culture that will thrive regardless of whether or not you are working. Author Linda Mason-herself a working mom and founder of an award-winning company that cares for the children of working parents across the country-provides a reassuring, practical, and comprehensive guide based on interviews with more than 100 successful working mothers from diverse backgrounds. Here are countless strategies and tips from these experts on everything from household chores and returning to work with a newborn to finding communities of support. Building the Three Pillars of Success: A supportive workplace, a "partner-in-parenting," and excellent child care Running a household, holding down a job, and thriving while keeping it all together-from getting food on the table to getting out the door in the morning Setting your priorities, including nurturing your family, satisfying your employer, and taking care of your own needs Tips from caregivers on how to help your children blossom and grow in a variety of child care settings

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0609807358
• ISBN13: 9780609807354
• Release Date: November 2002
• Publisher: Harmony
• Length: 496 Pages
• Weight: 0.10 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.2" x 1.3" x 6.2"

Customer Reviews

Absolutely helpful!

As a working mother and mother of a 6 year old son, I found this book very interesting and helpful! Eventhough I'm from Mexico, and there are some cultural differences, being a mother is the same. Every time that I have the opportunity, I recommend the book.

Very Helpful

This is a wonderful book! Not only is Linda Mason's nonjudgmental approach to different mothering styles and support systems very refreshing, but mothers from all backgrounds will also be able to relate to the many touching and humorous stories shared by other women. I am sure my whole family will benefit from the workable suggestions about managing the morning and evening routines and getting household chores done! I would definitely recommend this book to any mother, especially if she is working or planning to go back to work in the near future.

A very useful guide and great gift

After buying this book for myself, I went out and bought copies for all the other working mothers in my life (as well as a couple of expectant moms). It's full of practical advise -- true to its title -- with strategies, secrets and solutions pulled from real life examples. Mason clearly has a gift for getting other mothers to reveal the truth about their struggles and how they overcame them. It's wonderful to see someone take the approach that you can work and parent at the same time -- and the advice from her own experiences and those of the others she interviewed provide practical approaches that will fit the styles of a variety of women.

A Wonderfully Written Book

Linda Mason has done a masterful job at pulling the essential elements together for working women -- and their families -- in this highly readable field guide. Her compassion for the wide variety of challenges that working families face in keeping our children physically safe, emotionally secure, intellectually challenged and socially engaged shines through in every chapter. It belongs on the bookshelf of every family that is striving to bring up bright and happy kids. Bravo!

A Fantastic Book for Working Mothers

Highly recommended! I couldn't put it down - so informative and comprehensive, and chock full of advice and tips. I liked the personal, conversational tone the author used. Finally here's a book that's not just for "yuppie" moms but is so helpful for any mom. If you're a working mother, you need to have this book!