Staying Home: From Full-Time Professional To Full-Time Parent (Paperback) [Paperback]

 

 

Create your own review

This book was incredible. I am an attorney, with a two year old daughter and I am due with our second child in a few months. I have been working full-time since my daughter was born and have found it difficult to juggle my career and family life. When I found out I was pregnant with our second child, I was happy, but terrified as to how this would further impact my ability to continue with my career. I have been an attorney for five years, but I worked full-time and went to law school at night before I became an attorney. I have worked very hard to attain my professional goals and would not have thought of giving up my career when I had kids, until recently. I thought that women could have it all, kids and career, but I have found that, at least for me personally, I didn't feel like I was able to give 100% to either. This book really helped me to do some soul searching. It is based on a study of professional women who have chosen to stay home for a few years or indefinitely. It helped me to realize that while I love my job (and the income), it is okay (and, yes even normal) that my priorities have changed since becoming a mother. It was reassuring to know that I am not alone, and that other professional women have faced the same issues. Since reading this book, which I have now read twice in the last few weeks - the second time highlighting insightful sections/ideas - I have resigned from my firm and my last day will be shortly before my second child is born. This was one of the hardest decisions I have ever made. This book was invaluable in helping me to work though the psychological issues about staying home - such as loss of identity, loss of self worth and independence - which scared me even more than the financial implications. The book inspired me to make the decision to stay home, offered helpful suggestions on how to validate myself once I am home and emphasized the importance of discussing key issues with my husband BEFOREHAND to ensure that he and I are on the same page and that I have his full support. This book helped me to cope with the feeling that I was "giving up" my career and all that I have worked for. I know that it will be a difficult adjustment to be a stay at home mom, but I feel quite sure that I have made the best choice for myself and for my family. This book also helped me to realize that, as a professional, I can always go back to my career later, but that I can never get these years back with my daughter or my future child(ren). The book offers an unbiased approach to helping women focus on whether or not staying home is the right thing for them and their families. I liked the fact that this book provides the pros and cons to making the decision to stay home instead of preaching one way or another. I would recommend this book to anyone who values her career, income, etc. but who, since having kids, has had a shift in priorities and may need some support in making the decision to stay home.

Staying Home should be required reading for all who leave their jobs to be with their kids!

The parts of this book that are most useful are the
early chapters that hold your hand through the all the
agonizing over whether or not to leave a job for home.
However a major shortcoming of this
book -and pretty much all books that treat the
"coming home" issue - is that the economical/political
implications and risks of staying home are not sufficently
dealt with. I'm not talking about the grand scheme of things,
but the politics within the marriage itself. This book,
and the others, gloss over this very loaded issue much
too lightly, probably because almost nobody in their
right mind would quit work and stay home if they knew
the risks involved, especially for women. A truly useful
guide for staying at home would spend less time belaboring
the obvious (i. e.,that Mom will be more devoted to and
emotionally vested in a kid than a minimum-wage daycare
center employee), and devote a lot more attention to
securing tangible economic/political parity at home.
For some intelligent and useful discussions on these
matters, I highly recommend Rhona Maloney's "Kidding
Ourselves: Babies, Breadwinning and Bargaining Power",
and Anne Crittendens' "The Price of Motherhood".

Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review

› See all 14 customer reviews on Amazon.ca

 

5.0 out of 5 stars A must read!
This is a must read for any woman looking to leave the work force and begin a career as a full-time mother at home. Read more

Published on Sep 12 2001 by Rashonda Andrews

4.0 out of 5 stars Helpful and validating
I enjoyed this book's tone -- reads like a sociology study, very unbiased and straightforward. Non-judgemental. Read more

Published on July 18 2001

5.0 out of 5 stars A Guide For Every Woman Considering Motherhood
In Staying Home, authors Darcie Sanders and Martha M. Bullen have taken a wealth of surveys, statistics, anecdotal evidence, and plain old common sense to put together a guide... Read more

Published on April 3 2001 by C. Appel

5.0 out of 5 stars Just what I needed!
I am a newly pregnant, first-time mother living in a new community in a new state. During a 3-month vacation after moving, I became pregnant and had to decide whether to go back... Read more

Published on Feb 6 2001 by donalyn1

5.0 out of 5 stars The road map for mothers' journey from work to home
Women are blazing new trails in balancing work and family. Very different from the at-home mothers of the fifties, these women consciously "sequence," moving in and out... Read more

Published on Oct 27 2000 by Joanne Brundage

5.0 out of 5 stars Friendly guidebook for transitioning from office to home
Staying Home authors Darcie Sanders and Martha M. Bullen have synthesized the words, feelings, and concerns shared by this growing segment of the population into a friendly... Read more

Published on Oct 27 2000 by At-Home Mother magazine

5.0 out of 5 stars Buy this if you are thinking of being a full time parent!
I left my job to be a full time mom to my daughter, who is now 10 months old. Even though I love being with my daughter and KNOW I am doing the right thing for us, I have felt... Read more

Published on Aug 14 2000 by Surarj

5.0 out of 5 stars It's good to know you are not alone ...
After weighing the options,I decided become a full-time mother to my 18-month old daughter. I received much encouragement from career-minded women that I was doing something... Read more

Published on Aug 12 2000

5.0 out of 5 stars A terrific resource for women considering at-home mothering.
Staying Home is a phenomenal resource for women considering at-home mothering. It addresses issues of living on one income, relationships between friends, relatives, and the... Read more

Published on May 21 1999 by C. Schival

5.0 out of 5 stars Staying Home got me through the transition from work to home
Making the decision to stay home with my two children after a 12-year demanding, successful career that I loved was very difficult for me. Read more

Published on May 21 1999 by Laurieten@worldnet.att.net, La...

Search Customer Reviews
Only search this product's reviews

› See all 14 customer reviews on Amazon.ca

Search Listmania!