Return to Work: An Impossible Dream?

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Return to Work: An Impossible Dream?

Thursday, April 3, 2008

filed under: features

Literature Chick dishes on the "Nap" that prevents Moms from going back to work full-time.

When my kids turned 3 and 6, I was faced with the fact that I had to return to work. Recently separated and in financially precarious straits, I could no longer rely on my freelance writing to pay the mortgage or put food on the table. Even though I had worked off and on while raising my children, it proved exceedingly difficult to find a full-time position. The realization that I might not be able to get a job was like a punch in the gut.

In her newest work, The Ten-Year Nap, author Meg Wolitzer addresses this exact scenario. Told from the points of view of four friends, the book focuses on the crossroads a woman experiences when her children no longer need her full-time but she is unable to re-enter the workforce.

Wolitzer delivers a book that teeters on the edge of being the The Feminist Mystique of our day. Her voice and message are important ones--do women give up a part of themselves upon becoming mothers? Can women re-enter the workforce after taking a long sabbatical? Does there always have to be a choice between motherhood and career?

Whether they are stay-at-home or working moms, all women will find a piece of themselves in The Ten-Year Nap.

filed under: features

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Hi, it’s Meg Wolitzer here, and I came upon your blog and wanted to say thanks for these very interesting words. I am happy to be mentioned in the same breath as The Feminine Mystique; I’ll take that any day. And it’s always interesting to hear how readers have worked out their own work and home lives and the complexities of both. Again, thanks— Meg

- Meg Wolitzer

Posted 04/03/08 12:39 PM

I can’t wait to read this. I have struggled with carreer and staying home for the last 3 years. I feel blessed to be able to stay home and selfish for struggling with this issue since a lot of moms don’t even have the choice.

- Crisa

Posted 04/03/08 05:35 PM

As someone who worked full time for 8 years at a very demanding (read big law firm job), then went to a reduced schedule with the birth of the second child, I can tell you that the only regrets I have are not spending more time with the first child. I am sure no one remembers all the hard work I put in and all the sacrifices, but I do. And my son, now 13, says he was “raised by sitters.” I appreciate all the time I have with the younger son now and wish I could re-do things. But we don’t get re-dos. So the best advice I can offer is that if you have a chance to reduce ours and household finances can take it, do it. Not sure I would be a terrific full time stay at home mom but working part time is a wonderful solution.

- susan

Posted 04/03/08 09:38 PM

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