The kids are sick but the boss needs the presentation on her desk by ten. The parent-child kindergarten brunch can’t be missed, yet the business meeting beckons. When the only thing she knows for sure is that her day will bring a new set of challenges and priorities to be juggled, how does a stay-at-work mom do it all?Wendy Sachs, stay-at-work mother of two, has interviewed women from every walk of life— from celebrities like makeup maven Bobbi Brown, designer Vera Wang, CNN’s Soledad O’Brien, the Today Show’s Ann Curry to everyday moms from all over the country—and has uncovered some inspiring answers. For starters, some stay-at-work moms have given up striving for balance; for true happiness and sanity, integration is the real key. Others have discovered that compartmentalization—wearing different hats at different times of day—is the only way to thrive. For all, the psychological, emotional, and financial payback of work is what keeps them feeling alive; even if they could afford not to work (and many can afford the choice), they wouldn’t have it any other way.Demonstrating that a byproduct of having career ambition is a happier marriage and family, How She Really Does It will validate the millions of women now attempting to “have it all,” or at least some of it all the time. Revealing the keys to staying-at-work, staying sane, staying satisfied, and staying at the heart of her family as well, How She Really Does It is a modern working woman’s handbook.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
In the wake of major media attention paid to the complexity of women's professional choices during their childbearing years, Sachs, a former network television producer turned freelancer and mother of two, sets out to reveal winning strategies for mothers who wish to continue working after having children, interviewing celebrity and "everyday" moms about their decisions and work-life arrangements. Of course, there is no magic secret to reveal, but what Sachs does provide is an in-depth consideration of the successes and failures of various choices individual women have made. A major theme is the importance of being flexible in both schedules and expectations. The women also agree that excellent child-care options, supportive spouses and an ability to let go of perfectionism in all realms are key to obtaining a happy life/work balance. Stories from women like cosmetics entrepreneur Bobbi Brown, CNN anchor Soledad O'Brien and NBC News anchor Ann Curry provide motivating models of determination (though readers will note that these women can afford child-care choices unavailable to many). But celebrity splash aside, Sachs has a clear focus, examining the personal priorities of women who may or may not have the choice to continue working, but who all believe that their professional identity is an integral part of their satisfaction with life and a beneficial component in their ability to be good mothers. (May 1)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
From Booklist
Movie titles pose the question. Book after book attempts to find the answer. And legions of psychologists and psychiatrists grapple with the issues hourly. Broadcast journalist Sachs does not even try; instead, she interviews more than 100 stay-at-work mothers to uncover tips, tricks, and techniques. Many celebrities grace her pages, all with very personal stories, including designer Vera Wang, who adopted two late in life; Soledad O'Brien and Ann Curry, brilliant TV anchors and loving moms; and even Sex in the City's Cynthia Nixon. Every aspect of "having it all" is explored, from pregnancy and maternity leave (163 countries--but not Australia and the U.S.--offer guaranteed paid leave in connection with childbirth) to women entrepreneurs and the new opt-out revolution (a five-year hiatus from the workplace). The consensus? It's up to the individual, with no neat and tidy answers. Or as former secretary of state Madeline Albright explains: "Women's lives don't go in a straight line, they zig-zag all over the place." Barbara Jacobs
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
What a disappointment,
By
This review is from: How She Really Does It: Secrets of Successful Stay-at-Work Moms (Hardcover)
I went back to work when my son was 8 months old. Like many mothers I worried incessently about how this would effect my relationship with my son. I wanted to stay home, but couldn't financially, so I've resigned myself that I have to work and make the best of it. So, I pick up this book thinking that it will give me concrete ways to be an effecting "working mom." Basically, it doesn't. All this book does is tell stories about super rich and powerful women who go to work because they want to. I could not relate at all to a bunch of upper-class exectives living in Manhatten who can afford a nanny and special schools and all the other perks that wealth and or celebrity bring. This booj offered no advice and was completely irrevelent to the middle class, who like me (a teacher), wants to really get some ideas on how to balance work and children.
14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
mostly celebrity moms but still dishes some dirt,
By
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: How She Really Does It: Secrets of Successful Stay-at-Work Moms (Hardcover)
Most of the moms profiled are truly high profile (Vera Wang, Liz Lange, Ann Curry, Soledad O'Brien) celebrities who make millions of dollars (though they work their butts off for their success) *and* are married to men who make money. Thus it was hard for me to relate to such women, who presumably have their pick of live-in legally documented nannies. Still, it is fun to read (schadenfreud) that even such women find it hard to work and raise small children at the same time. So much harder for the rest of us... True to their class, the celebrity moms complain in oblique, muted ways, not in a gut wrenching way. At first the writing struck me as fluff and PRish, but after finishing the book, I found it was innovative in getting these glamorous moms to bitch a little. Although some of the women Sachs profiles are non-celebrity upper yuppies, I would have liked the book more if she had profiled more middle class professional women from a greater mix of careers. Few perhaps no single moms or divorced moms or lesbian moms. The male income is a unspoken subtext. One irritating feature of the book was the physical descriptions ("pin straight black hair," "almond eyes," "stylish brunette," "attractive," "looks ten years younger") that (I thought) detracted from the stories and degraded the women by emphasizing their good looks. Isn't that what everyone else does.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Stay-At-Work-Moms- Are They Successful?,
By
This review is from: How She Really Does It: Secrets of Successful Stay-at-Work Moms (Hardcover)
I was caring for my three month old grandson, so his parents could go out for the first time together, and found myself reading this book. My daughter went back to work last week as a school psychologist, and it was a gut wrenching event for her, her husband and baby. Hubby is a new stay-at-home dad, and it is difficult for him too. No breaks, can't rush out for coffee whenever he needs a fix. This little boy needs his daddy all the time! This book by Wendy Sachs verifies that all of the feelings of loss, guilt and anger are right on and ok for mom and dad. Everyone feels the same. Some women are more successful at working than others, just as some women need to stay at home. Wendy Sachs was a producer at "Dateline" and loved her job when she became pregnant. She wanted to go back to work after the baby was born, and then the next baby was born. Eventually she did go back, but she learned some lessons along the way. She met other women at a professional mommies get together. She learned the secrets of success of same women, and the not so successful secrets of others. She interviewed 10 women, most of them famous. But they all had their ups and downs. I found that Anne Curry gave the best advice and was the most down to earth. "You must learn to live without enough sleep, she encourages women, just try and organize your life the best you can. When your children are in school, it will all even out somewhat." Ye Gods, 6 years it takes, without sleep? All of the celebrities had guilt and sorrows. The missed soccer games, the plays, the children crying for mommy to stay home just 100 minutes! Valuable advice and a book for every working mother to read. Or for every women who wants to work and to have children. Learn the best way to plan and organize, of course, it won't fit into your lifestyle, but you will gain some insight. My daughter is reading this book and was gratified that I had read it and agreed with the premise. She is not alone, nor is her husband or her baby. Highly recommended. prisrob
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