Customer Reviews

From High Heels to Bunny Slippers: Surviving the Transition from Career to Home (Capital Lifestyles)

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

If you're OK with feeling guilty about anyone besides you or your spouse caring for your children before they go off to college then this book is for you.
I recently left work to stay at home with my 1 year old baby. I had hoped this book would help me with perspective on leaving my career and finding fulfillment and balance in staying home. Instead this book was full of ridiculous biased views. The author cites several examples of parents who left their children with caregivers/daycares/babysitters only to find their children were raped, abused, or belittled. This book details very specific and disturbing examples which are extrapolated to all caregivers. Other extreme views in this book: pets are bad; buy second-hand clothes to save money; don't think about going back to work until your kids are well into teen years or you are selfish and destroying their future; get your man to help with chores by using sex -- Quote p. 109: "So how do we get our man to help? Sex, of course." Not helpful at all. FYI - the author, Christine Conners, has also written a book called "Lipsmackin' Vegetarian Backpackin'." Uh, OK. Wish I knew this before I bought the book.

As a stay-home mom of 4 boys and former professional (speech-language pathologist), I have often felt lost, alone, bored and guilty for being so ungrateful.........a rather vicious, unrelenting cycle of self-abuse!! Reading this book has set me free so I can better stop this dysfunctional cycle and move forward with acceptance and knowledge that others feel this way too. This freedom propels me into a higher level of appreciation of myself, my family, and the decision to stay home, which continues to be the right decision for OUR family. It provides insight, but also ideas as to how to nurture myself,which ultimately benefits my marriage and family. Thank you, Christine, for being so brave in discussing this issue, researching it, and taking time to write the book.

This book purports to be about the transition from career woman to stay-at-home mother, but what it's really about is justifying the author's lifestyle choices.

Although I don't use strangers as babysitters or daycare, I found her discussion of daycare to be very biased. She mainly uses scare tactics, such as tales of children being abandoned or nearly molested by the babysitter, and controversial comparisons of violence and intelligence between children in daycare and those who stay with their mothers. She also is opposed to having other relatives care for one's child, which I found strange.

While she claims that women should embrace their nature of taking care of children, breastfeeding is depicted negatively in at least one example (where she is at the doctor and her milk comes down, leaving her wet with what's described as sour milk), and she suggests that breastfeeding women keep formula on hand. Her stories of her own post-partum weight retention and untidiness could have been expressed more clearly and in a way that suggested some solutions.

I also found her rants about "discipline" to be totally out of place. She insists that she is a psychologist who knows her stuff and therefore is qualified to inform you that if you don't use her behaviorism-based "discipline" plan, you will be in a world of trouble. She shares a story about ignoring her screaming 18-month old strapped in a shopping cart, until he "learned" that that would not get him any attention. (Let's all hope we don't shop at the same stores as the author.) The bottom line is, it's sad that a book on mothers misses the point and becomes a book about her approach to parenting. And her view is made very clear -- put up the reward chart, trot out the punishments, embrace behaviorism in its entirety, or woe to you! The instructions to readers to "reward" our husbands with sex, and that every woman needs to hire a maid, are also out of place, particularly because of the way she suggests them.

I found this book to be disturbingly off-topic and disappointing.

As activists in the Women's Liberation Movement, my generation worked very hard to give you, our daughters,choices ... in your work, your life, and your home. Now many of you are struggling to decide what to do--quit your job to rear your children or stay on the job. It's a big decision. In FROM HIGH HEELS TO BUNNY SLIPPERS psychotherapist Christine Conners offers her savvy sane advice to women leaning toward the full-time mother choice -- at least while their children are very young. She also recognizes that the transition is hard for those used to the independence of a career. And she gives some great advice for money, marriage, and outside activities that will make the time at home with children a time of fulfillment, not frustration. I highly recommend this book, and might even be inspired to become a full-time grandmother because of it.

An insightful book that details all the issues that parents face in debating whether to stay home and raise your children or place them in childcare. Author Christine Conners discusses and provides solutions for all the issues - finances, household chores, marital happiness and mental health, just to name a few. She provides clear evidence in support of your decision to raise your children full-time. Having children and all of the ups and downs that go along with children can be stressful but this book will provide major support to help you through the difficult times. I think this would be a great book for both mothers and fathers to read - not just the parent that stays home.

I really enjoyed Christine's sense of humor. I found myself many times laughing out loud and nodding in agreement with many topics. There were many days I wondered if I was doing the right thing since leaving work; but, I finally realized I had to re-prioritize my life. I wish I had read the book a lot sooner. It was also wonderful reading that other mothers experienced the same things. Thank you Christine for writing this book.

This book let me know that I am not alone. I am the type of stay-at-home mom that volunteers because I feel that it is my obligation to society. As I looked at my PDA and there was nothing but kid's functions filling in my days. This book gave me insight to what may really be happening in my brain (scary). I have a renewed perspective on my daily chores and events. If you have any feelings of "What is it all for?" this is the book for you.

This morning I walked my son to the school bus stop with a renewed sense of self. I felt better and more positive than I had in a year. Why? Because I spent the past few days reading "From High Heels to Bunny Slippers", authored by Christine Conners. What a wonderful and inspiring book! Although I have been self-employed and my little one came to us through adoption and that meant that I missed the 3 am feedings and dirty diapers I still related to what the author had written. I went from feeling ostracized by my peers and feeling worthless to the realization that I had the most important job in the world. Conners made me laugh, cry and dig deep into my heart. Having a child is a big enough life change but making the decision to jump into the bunny slippers with both feet is a tough one. Christine helps readers get past the stigmas, guilt and other range of feelings that come with this decision. She covers childcare and other issues as well. My only regret is that I did not have this book a year ago when I first entered the career of motherhood.

A great resource for stay at home mothers who are struggling with losing their identity. I stayed home for 12 years and can relate to every issue Christine addresses. I encourage mothers who are home with their children and those who are considering staying home to read this book.

There are so many factors involved in being a mom and staying at home. Where do we turn for advice? I sure need it? Wow and here is this great book, From High Heels to Bunny Slippers. Where have you been? I'm over here hidden behind the steering wheel and overflowing grocery bags being an at-home mom, air traffic controller and part-time female goddess deluxe. Lucky for me there is a great book I have been reading that helps me deal with my stay-at-home momhood; From High Heels to Bunny Slippers, by Christine Conners, MA, Therapist and Counselor, ISBN: 1-933102-14-4.

And what is it like being home alone? There are the issues of scheduling, the kids, the pets, the animals, the house and all the social issues, and these are just the home issues, no longer the paid for job issues. I get overwhelmed by the daily minutiae that "must" be taken care of just to keep the ship steering clear in the channel every day.

This book is written in a fresh and vibrant voice. Mrs. Conners is in the trenches with us as we plough away each day. This book has helped me cope with some of the loneliness and repetition that rarely occurred when I used to work in an office, but now work alone in a home with kids as clients.

I wear my bunny slippers proudly. Granted they are stained with last nights dinner and the left one got left outside in the rain, but the conversations, advice and thoughtful tone of this book have helped me in so many ways.

This is a must buy and must read for anyone considering the joys and dramas of being a center stage at home parent. Thank you Mrs. Conner for your frank view into my world and for giving me a voice in the otherwise overwhelming din of my lovely, busy, noisy life.