Life's Work: Confessions of an Unbalanced Mom
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The woman Mediaweek says "could very well be the next generation's Anna Quindlen" steps out from behind her celebrated New York Times column in a book about the intersection — or more accurately collision — of life and work.A few years ago, award-winning reporter Lisa Belkin left the office to work from home, amid the chaos of two young children, writing deadlines, and everyday domestic details. She began writing a very personal column for and about people trying to "balance" their lives, but hundreds of columns later, she noticed that she had not heard from a single person who had everything under control. Then she realized: Nobody can do it because it simply can't be done.Life's Work is the story of modern motherhood, where true happiness is often reached when you finally give up and give in. Belkin's is the funny, poignant, and always dead-on story of trying to do it all...and learning that doing just some of it is enough. Publishers Weekly Belkin, the New York Times's "Life's Work" columnist, has gathered some previously published pieces with some new material for a lighthearted look at many career moms' reality: juggling career, kids and personal needs. No one can give 100% to each, Belkin reassures, so "let's start by forgiving ourselves when we can't do it." To get readers in the mood, Belkin shares her own worst moments: potty training her son while on the phone with "Very Important Sources," having to finish work on some galleys at gasp! the pediatrician's office and her son's tantrums at discovering his work-at-home mom wasn't available for play. Tears at work, morning sickness, breast pumping, laptop addiction, work addiction Belkin at least mentions all the usual career-mom issues. But since the entries are only a few pages long, treatment can be disappointingly superficial: when stressed at work, eat a chocolate; consider buying a second computer for kids to channel them away from Mom's. Hidden in all the feel-better solidarity are some valuable nuggets. Describing the importance of the nanny/babysitter's happiness to her own mental health, Belkin identifies a feeling many women share, but rarely discuss. Also on target is her observation that her mother's generation "did it all," but serially first the family, then the career. Despite its old-hat thesis, Belkin's book will serve as a pick-me-up to some career mothers in need of sympathy. (May 1) Forecast: With a first serial in Glamour and second serial in Ladies' Home Journal, Belkin's sure to gain national stature, even if her short takes work better as newspaper columns than in hardcover. Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.
Introduction11Love (and Work) and MarriageWork Ethic21For Love or Money25Competition29By Any Other Name33Lunch36Firewalls39BabiesPregnant at Work45Internet Baby48Maternity Leave52Paternity Leave56Love and Work and Marriage and BabiesWorking Mom63Baby-sitters66The Grapes of Marital Wrath71Broccoli and Sauce75Take Our Daughters to Work, 200078Take Our Daughters to Work, 200181Take Your Parent to Work Day, 200184Bringing Life to WorkMore Lunch91Briefcases94Sick at Work98The Child Is the Father of Man101Crying at Work105Stress and Chocolate108Bringing Work Back HomeGoing Home Again115Life Is a Swivel Chair119Trying to Connect122Friends at Work126Getting Organized129(Lack of) Exercise132Riley, the Dog135Giving in to WorkThe Internet Baby's Birthday141Vacation144Random Thoughts from the Middle of the Night147When the Muse Goes on Strike150Mini-Vacations153Working After Work156Getting Back to WorkSeasonal Guilt161September 2000163My New Computer166Organize (Again)169Calendars172Life from a Pay Phone175Saturday Night178Hotel Rooms181Home Office Charades184Life's WorkWhat Next?189Back from Lunch191Change of Life194Hubie197Succession200When We Grow Up203Time206Resolutions209September 11, 2001212Epilogue215Acknowledgments219
