The 36 hour day

We're nearing the home stretch of the presidential campaign, and things are getting ugly. Or uglier, depending on your point of view. On Saturday, Democratic congressman and civil leader John Lewis accused the McCain campaign of "sowing the seeds of hatred and division," essentially playing the race card that both Republicans and Democrats have been reluctant to blatantly throw on the table. The issue dovetails with a really interesting conversation over at Work It, Mom!, in which a member asked if anyone feels pressure at work because they're black. The question struck a chord with me and really made me think. Read More »

On a recent national holiday (not yesterday), as I was scrambling to figure out how I was going to juggle work and childcare, I realized that I didn't actually have to drive in to the office that day and, for some reason, my kids' daycare was actually open.

My husband didn't have to drive in to the office, either. But he's so used to having to catch up on work from home, and I'm so used to having a big bunch of freelance irons in the fire, that it took us a while to see the potential in the situation: Work (optional) + daycare (open) = pre-paid childcare and time to ourselves. Alone.

He did the math more quickly than I did; when he asked me if I wanted to go to the movies after I dropped the wee ones off, I almost told him that I had been planning to work from home that day and wouldn't have time. Sad, isn't it?

When you and your partner are both working and juggling all the time, its easy to let your relationship simmer along on the back burner. Read More »

We've all experienced it at one time or another: The Mommy Drive-By. When someone -- a relative, another mom, a total stranger -- takes it upon herself to question your judgment or criticize your parenting.

Single moms get flak about their social lives. Step moms are looked down upon for not being "a real parent." Breast-feeding mamas get hit when they nurse their child in public; formula-feeding mothers get the evil eye when they whip out a bottle instead of a breast. Mothers from all walks of life are questioned for decisions large and small. And working mothers, well, they get a little bit of "all of the above."

I'm positive that I thought I knew more about parenting before I became a parent, so I can kind of see why non-parents feel compelled to tell parents what they should do differently, whether they are qualified to say anything or not. But when the drive-by comes from another working mom, I'm baffled... why do we do this to one another? Read More »