THE WORKING MOTHER'S GUIDE TO LIFE: Strategies, Secrets and Solutions

Mason, a mother of three and co-founder of Bright Horizons Family Solutions, draws on her strong background in employer-based work-site childcare as well personal experience to outline steps working mothers can take to make their lives easier. In some instances, however, her utopian ideas conflicts with reality. Although Mason did include poor single mothers along with middle-class professionals in the study she conducted, women with greater financial resources will have a far easier time following her program for successfully combining work and motherhood. Based on interviews with mothers and childhood educators, Mason has concluded that it is necessary to have a partner in parenting (not necessarily a husband), a supportive employer and excellent childcare as the three basic "pillars of support" for working mothers. Although she does offer strategies for achieving this ideal situation—such as how to convince employers of the value of a family-friendly workplace or ways to identify quality caregivers—many of these proposals are simply not available to most working mothers. Mason is more successful when she offers practical ideas for maximizing everyday quality family time. She suggests, for example, that when the traditional family dinner conflicts with schedules, gathering for dessert, playing games together or taking a family evening walk can provide the same degree of closeness. National publicity. Author tour.(Nov.)