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This Is How We Do It: The Working Mothers' Manifesto
A guide for working moms and their employers shares firsthand accounts of women who are successfully balancing the demands of a career with parenthood, drawing on the expertise of Working Mother magazine to propose strategies for overcoming key obstacles. 50,000 first printing.
- GenresNonfiction
288 pages, Hardcover
First published April 6, 2006
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
December 28, 2012
This was an encouraging book to read at a time when I'm about to dive into the world of being a working mother. Most of what I hear about being a working mom is, "it's hard," "it's exhausting," "I don't have time for anything," and "I feel guilty." This book doesn't ignore those truths, but it also discusses the wonderful benefits to being a working mother -- to both oneself and to one's children. The author discusses ways in which many of today's working mothers have the ability to build their own plans and career paths through part-time work, telecommuting, job-sharing, entrepreneurialism, and flextime, enabling them to create the rich, full lives that they desire and deserve. It also discusses the importance of a woman not feeling like they have to "do/have it all," because that's basically an impossible goal, and how women should feel comfortable and empowered accepting the help of supportive spouses, family members, and childcare workers in raising their children -- an "it takes a village" mentality. I feel confident about my choices now and lucky that I have the flexibility that I have in my current job situation.
Like so many other working-mother-themed books, this is mostly geared toward the married middle and upper-middle class working mom, which is a demographic I'm a part of, so I found it to be really useful and uplifting. But I always read these kinds of books with a twinge of guilt and frustration when I think about all the other working mothers, especially single working mothers, who don't make the money to pay for adequate childcare or who don't have the leverage to fight for better work-life balance -- women like my mother, who worked so hard to give me what I needed and set a good example for me, despite the incredibly difficult obstacles she had to overcome. I consider myself very fortunate to be able to simultaneously pursue a successful career while building a family, and I don't ever want to take that for granted.
Like so many other working-mother-themed books, this is mostly geared toward the married middle and upper-middle class working mom, which is a demographic I'm a part of, so I found it to be really useful and uplifting. But I always read these kinds of books with a twinge of guilt and frustration when I think about all the other working mothers, especially single working mothers, who don't make the money to pay for adequate childcare or who don't have the leverage to fight for better work-life balance -- women like my mother, who worked so hard to give me what I needed and set a good example for me, despite the incredibly difficult obstacles she had to overcome. I consider myself very fortunate to be able to simultaneously pursue a successful career while building a family, and I don't ever want to take that for granted.
January 9, 2009
So I just finished reading the book THIS Is How We Do It by Carol Evans of Working Mother magazine. I wish I had read this when I was pregnant with Little K and trying to determine how to continue my career and be a good mom. It's packed with great statistics and tools to help working mothers propose better work/life arrangements with employers. I like how it even discusses going into business for yourself when your employer just doesn't get it. Evans calls it voting with your feet and it's exactly what I did.
Any ways, it all worked out for the best as it always does but for working women pregnant (with their first, middle or last child) faced with career and family decisions, this is a great resource. It's also an easy read.
On top of all that, I really liked how Evans sprinkles stories of her own children and husband throughout the book to truly personalize the book (like how her daughter ordered 8 geese for pets!)n . My daughter is 3.5 years old but somehow I feel like Evans is preparing for what's ahead. She includes tales from when her kids are very young to college age. It's refreshing to see that she, like the rest of us, have struggled at times with parenting and yet continue to make it. Check out This Is How We Do It.
Any ways, it all worked out for the best as it always does but for working women pregnant (with their first, middle or last child) faced with career and family decisions, this is a great resource. It's also an easy read.
On top of all that, I really liked how Evans sprinkles stories of her own children and husband throughout the book to truly personalize the book (like how her daughter ordered 8 geese for pets!)n . My daughter is 3.5 years old but somehow I feel like Evans is preparing for what's ahead. She includes tales from when her kids are very young to college age. It's refreshing to see that she, like the rest of us, have struggled at times with parenting and yet continue to make it. Check out This Is How We Do It.
June 3, 2013
A great book! I liked the message, format, and style. You can pick it up and read a section in 15 minutes or less and feel like you've learned some 'nugget' of knowledge for your life.
Carol Evans presented MANY different examples of how women have learned to balance their lives with children ... working full-time, part-time, sometimes, or being a staying at home parent. She talks about stay-at-home dads, how to create your 'network' regardless of your working situation, and how to lower our standards.
Her writing style is honest and fluid which makes it feel like you're reading an email from a close friend. By the end of the book I FELT like she was a friend. Although the material is a bit dated (2006), the messages are timeless and the listed resources would still be relevant.
I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for ways to balance their life with their children or for any professional who is in a position to create work/life programs and policies at their work.
Carol Evans presented MANY different examples of how women have learned to balance their lives with children ... working full-time, part-time, sometimes, or being a staying at home parent. She talks about stay-at-home dads, how to create your 'network' regardless of your working situation, and how to lower our standards.
Her writing style is honest and fluid which makes it feel like you're reading an email from a close friend. By the end of the book I FELT like she was a friend. Although the material is a bit dated (2006), the messages are timeless and the listed resources would still be relevant.
I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for ways to balance their life with their children or for any professional who is in a position to create work/life programs and policies at their work.
June 3, 2013
A great book! I liked the message, format, and style. You can pick it up and read a section in 15 minutes or less and feel like you've learned some 'nugget' of knowledge for your life.
Carol Evans presented MANY different examples of how women have learned to balance their lives with children ... working full-time, part-time, sometimes, or being a staying at home parent. She talks about stay-at-home dads, how to create your 'network' regardless of your working situation, and how to lower our standards.
Her writing style is honest and fluid which makes it feel like you're reading an email from a close friend. By the end of the book I FELT like she was a friend. Although the material is a bit dated (2006), the messages are timeless and the listed resources would still be relevant.
I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for ways to balance their life with their children or for any professional who is in a position to create work/life programs and policies at their work.
Carol Evans presented MANY different examples of how women have learned to balance their lives with children ... working full-time, part-time, sometimes, or being a staying at home parent. She talks about stay-at-home dads, how to create your 'network' regardless of your working situation, and how to lower our standards.
Her writing style is honest and fluid which makes it feel like you're reading an email from a close friend. By the end of the book I FELT like she was a friend. Although the material is a bit dated (2006), the messages are timeless and the listed resources would still be relevant.
I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for ways to balance their life with their children or for any professional who is in a position to create work/life programs and policies at their work.
May 18, 2014
Superb book. The small sections made it easy for this Mama to read. Evans is understanding of the choices we have to make to balance our families and careers and offers a lot of practical advice to achieve a better balance. I highly recommend this for anyone who is committed to being a "working mom" (sorry for the exclusive phrasing work-at-home moms) with both a career and family life.
February 1, 2008
Humorous writing style overviewing women's struggles to achieve corp success while juggling family as well as proof texting corp profits increasing as flex time is embraced. Excellent read!
February 22, 2008
I went back to work 5 months after having my son and this book helped. Strong women just find a way, bottom line.
August 3, 2008
This is by far the most helpful book I have read with regards to being a working mom.
April 22, 2017
Funny yet super serious-exactly what a working mom needs!
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews