From Publishers Weekly
In the glut of parenting tomes, Hobey, a writer for
Parenting magazine, has found a niche with this informative and practical guide on becoming a working mom. The book, which tries to be all things baby, succeeds best when it focuses on work. Moms, for instance, don't need step-by-step instructions on how to diaper a baby (with no illustrations). And sleep-deprived mothers who barely find time to shower will plunge into despair over Hobey's suggestion that they productively use their maternity leave to try something new, such as "making caramelized pear tarts with cardamom cream." However, on the work front, her manual is not just instructional but indispensable. Worksheets help moms clarify the emotional and financial aspects of working versus staying home (what she refers to as "sequencing" work and family). Concrete suggestions on alternatives to full-time (e.g., flextime, freelancing, flexplace), how to choose child care and ways to continue networking are clear and well researched. Success stories and snippets of moms' lives make potentially dry material an easy read, plus the writing is frequently jaunty, attempting to step in as a modern
Girlfriend's Guide. This book should be supplemented with a true baby guide (the short asides from pediatrician Dr. Nied don't cover enough).
(June) Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Product Description
You're an independent career woman suddenly dropped into the chaos of Babyville. You have a newborn to care for, three months (if you're lucky) of unstructured time to fill, a work decision to make (to go back full-time? part-time? job share?), childcare to acquire, and family finances to balance. You need someone to make you laugh during the hard times, a doctor to call in the middle of the night, and a good career counselor to boot. Never fear! Sure to become the gold standard resource during that crazy first year, The Working Gal's Guide to Babyville combines stories and sisterly advice from the trenches, infant care information and tips from a pediatrician, and career and budget guidance from a pro. From getting baby to sleep through the night to making the most of maternity leave, from weighing work options to finding childcare, from networking with new parents to emotionally transitioning from "Ms. Independent to Mom," it offers desperately needed, easy-to-execute strategies and expert solutions on all manner of Year One issues. The essential guidebook for today's busy career moms, it's every bit as hip, smart, and savvy as the women who'll be reading it.
