I can’t help but write a blog about this.
There was an article in the New York Times about a month ago written by a female doctor with four kids and she stated no woman should go to medical school if they are not going to work full time when they are done. I won’t get into the arguments for and against her, but I applaud her for bringing up the conversation. Needless to say, my hypereducated Bay Area group of female friends, many of whom are lawyers, doctors, and business school types, have had lively discussions about this. And it prompted us to make a book club, and our first assignment? To read “Torn, True stories of Kids, Career, and the conflict of modern motherhood,” edited by Samantha Walravens, with chapters by some fantastic writers, career and noncareer women, who share their stories.
The crux?
Working mom, Part time working mom, Stay at home moms. There are many different paths we can take, and since you are on this website entitled body post baby, you have already made the one common choice- to have a child (or many children).
So then you get to the this thing they talk about … “BALANCE.” What is that?
The stories are well written, insightful, and open. I found it refreshing to see women really talk about their lives and the complexities. And it writes about both sides of the fence: those who are working with kids, and those who “opted out” and are stay at home moms. Both groups have issues with balance. Both groups have issues with navigating our current world and how to mother in it.
I’ll update you on the gist of my book club meeting. Should be interesting. But for any of you who want a good read in tiny bite sized pieces (the only kind of book to read when you have the craziness of kids), I like this one.