And What Do You Do?: When Women Choose to Stay Home

[PrincessFiona]

This is a great book by Loretta E. Kaufman and Mary W. Quigley. I just got it at the end of the week and devoured it over the weekend. This is the first book that I've ever read that looks at the sahm as being something other than the stereotype that we are all too familiar with. The sahm's interviewed for the book were doctors, lawyers, psychologists, social workers, high-powered CEO's etc. Many of left 6 figure jobs to stay at home with their children. Far from being a book that touts the joys of cleaning the kitchen and cleaning up after your group, there are genuine discussions about the joys and frustrations and also the idea that for many women who stay at home this is a time of "retooling" and refining their skills. Many of these moms volunteered, edited newsletters, got involved in the community and did other things to remain active mentally and to challenge themselves. Others took a college class a semester or focused on a hobby that they wanted to develop more. They considered their careers to me on 'simmer' not 'over'. Several of the women discovered new talents that eventually led to new, more rewarding careers than the ones that they had left. Instead of looking at the time at home as mind-numbing or negative, the attitude was really that staying at home is not only a great opportunity for you to parent your children and grow your relationship with them...it is also a time to discover who you are and who you are becoming.

I found it to be really positive and supportive of the idea that intelligent women who have invested money/time in their careers do stay at home...and that they often do return to work when their children/families are ready.....It's a great read.

kris