I have an idea...

This week's speedy read was "I don't Know How She Does It" written by Allison Pearson. I was a bit turned off by the SJP cover obviously straight from the movie promo...Though I do kind of want to see the movie now that I have read the book. As the title implies, this book is about Kate, a hard working mother in a power job and the story of how she juggles work and home life. Or fails to juggle work and home life.

This book I think is meant to be funny, and it often is. I also couldn't help but feel angry at the mother in this book and the amount of time she spent slaving to her job and not with her kids. At times, I could totally relate to the feeling of being pulled in many directions and struggling with the choices a mother must make. The author obviously wanted to incite these feelings in her readers and she does so successfully.

Some of my fav quotes from the book:

There is an uneasy standoff between the two kinds of mother which sometimes makes it hard for us to talk to eachother. I suspect that the nonworking mother looks at the working mother with envy and fear because she thinks that the working mom has got away with it, and the working mother looks back with fear and envy because she knows she has not. In order to keep going in either role, you convince yourself that the alternative is bad. The working mother says "Because I am more fulfilled as a person I can be a better mother to my children." And sometimes she may even believe it. The mother who stays home knows she is giving her kids an advantage, which is something to cling to when your toddler has emptied his [sippy] of juice over your last clean tshirt. (Page 96).

At times I can be almost moved to tears by the picture of the thrifty homemaker I could and would become... And how would I be left alone with the kids all day? The need of children is never ending. You can pour all your love and patience into them, and when is it all right to say when? Never. You can never say when. And to serve so selflessly you have to subdue something in yourself. I admire the women who do it, but the mere thought makes me sick with panic. I could never admit this to anyone, but I think giving up work is like becoming a missing person. (Page 170).

Man announces he has to leave the office to be with his child for short recreational burst and is hailed as selfless doting paternal role model. Woman announces she has to leave the office to be with child who is on sickbed and is damned as disorganized, irresponsible. For a father to parade himself as a Father is a sign of strength, for mother to out herself as a Mother is a sign of appaling vulnerability. Don't you just love equal opportunity? (Page 260).

Quotes just food for thought, not trying to start any kind of debate! This is a good read to appreciate the struggle of modern mothers both at work and at home.