Maternal Optimism

Every working mother's path is unique and should be celebrated, not lamented. Yet all too frequently, working mothers are presented with advice, rules to follow or guidelines as if all women's experiences are the same and a one-size-fits-all solution is appropriate. Maternal Optimism: Forging Positive Paths through Work and Motherhood aims to provide readers with stories and research that support the notion of women owning and feeling confident in thechoices they make, as they navigate a complex series of work and family transitions. This book challenges the impulse to reduce work/life challenges to a single point in time, such as the decision to return to workafter the birth of a child; instead, it recognizes that work and family decisions are anything but stagnant. They shift as life and career shift and are often filled with unpredictable events. By understanding and anticipating these shifts, working mothers can develop the resiliency they need at home and at work. This book is a resource for all professional women as they approach the difficulties and the joys of growing a family and a career.

“"This book is both a well-researched, respectable work and a warm, inclusive source of comfort. If that sounds like something you could use some of in your life. . . go read it. One of the unexpected joys of reading the words of Ladge and Greenberg is that you are both seen in your circumstances and you are challenged to think about those of women whose lives are very different from your own. This is healthy and helpful intellectually, emotionally, and maybe even spiritually." -- Eleni Lobene, District Growth "An essential text for any working woman who is or may consider becoming a mother. It approaches the working world pragmatically to help women understand their rights and figure out how they want to balance the responsibilities of work with the responsibilities of family. This well-written, clearly organized book deserves to be on every womans shelf." -- Choice "Maternal Optimism is a wonderfully optimistic book. Ladge and Greenberg turn many seemingly oppositional dichotomies into encouraging integrative ideas. And though they develop principles for women as well as organizations, they also emphasize the unique situation of any woman and any job. With great examples from real people, the book speaks directly to women. But it should also be read by these women's partners and employers. Without denying any of the difficulties, Maternal Optimism provides a blueprint and hope for the future." -- Lotte Bailyn, author of Redesigning Work for Productive and Satisfying Lives "Maternal Optimism should be in greater demand than ever before as more young women are graduating from college, having babies, and continuing with their careers. An engaging, thoughtful, and useful volume told through the experiences of many mothers, and the research findings of the authors and others, it is both an academic study of today's working mothers and a 'how to' book on being a successful working mother by two women who are." -- Claudia Goldin, Henry Lee Professor of Economics, Harvard University "In Maternal Optimism, Ladge and Greenberg provide an invaluable resource, practical and evidence-based, for everyone who cares about creating a nourishing context for raising the next generation by empowering mothers to lead the lives they want. It's a must-read for all parents (fathers too!) and for those who strive to help them grow their families and cultivate their careers." -- Stewart D. Friedman, Professor of Management Practice Emeritus, The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania and author of Total Leadership: Be a Better Leader, Have a Richer Life”

"This book is both a well-researched, respectable work and a warm, inclusive source of comfort. If that sounds like something you could use some of in your life. . . go read it. One of the unexpected joys of reading the words of Ladge and Greenberg is that you are both seen in your circumstances and you are challenged to think about those of women whose lives are very different from your own. This is healthy and helpful intellectually, emotionally, and maybeeven spiritually." -- Eleni Lobene, District Growth"An essential text for any working woman who is or may consider becoming a mother. It approaches the working world pragmatically to help women understand their rights and figure out how they want to balance the responsibilities of work with the responsibilities of family. This well-written, clearly organized book deserves to be on every womanâs shelf." -- Choice"Maternal Optimism is a wonderfully optimistic book. Ladge and Greenberg turn many seemingly oppositional dichotomies into encouraging integrative ideas. And though they develop principles for women as well as organizations, they also emphasize the unique situation of any woman and any job. With great examples from real people, the book speaks directly to women. But it should also be read by these women's partners and employers. Without denying any ofthe difficulties, Maternal Optimism provides a blueprint and hope for the future."-- Lotte Bailyn, author of Redesigning Work for Productive and Satisfying Lives"Maternal Optimism should be in greater demand than ever before as more young women are graduating from college, having babies, and continuing with their careers. An engaging, thoughtful, and useful volume told through the experiences of many mothers, and the research findings of the authors and others, it is both an academic study of today's working mothers and a 'how to' book on being a successful working mother by two women who are."-- Claudia Goldin, Henry Lee Professor of Economics, Harvard University"In Maternal Optimism, Ladge and Greenberg provide an invaluable resource, practical and evidence-based, for everyone who cares about creating a nourishing context for raising the next generation by empowering mothers to lead the lives they want. It's a must-read for all parents (fathers too!) and for those who strive to help them grow their families and cultivate their careers."-- Stewart D. Friedman, Professor of Management Practice Emeritus, The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania and author of Total Leadership: Be a Better Leader, Have a Richer Life

Jamie Ladge is Patrick F. & Helen C. Walsh Professor of Management at Northeastern University. Her primary area of research focuses on the psychological and career implications of professionally employed mothers and fathers. She also researches the diversity challenges and work and family boundaries of those holding intersecting social identities. Her work has been widely published and cited in both scholarly journals and in the popularpress. She received an MS and PhD from the Boston College Carroll School of Management, an MBA from Simmons School of Management, and a BS from Babson College.Danna Greenberg is Walther H. Carpenter Professor of Organizational Behavior at Babson College. Her research investigates how individuals navigate the relationship between work, family, and community as their careers and lives evolve. In addition, Professor Greenberg is actively engaged with research on the scholarship of teaching and learning. Her work has been widely published in both scholarly and practitioner outlets. She received a PhD from the Boston College CarrollSchool of Management and a BA in Psychology from Wellesley College.

Every working mother's path is unique and should be celebrated, not lamented. Yet all too frequently, working mothers are presented with advice, rules to follow or guidelines as if all women's experiences are the same and a one-size-fits-all solution is appropriate. Maternal Optimism: Forging Positive Paths through Work and Motherhood aims to provide readers with stories and research that support the notion of women owning and feeling confident in thechoices they make, as they navigate a complex series of work and family transitions. This book challenges the impulse to reduce work/life challenges to a single point in time, such as the decision to return to work after the birth of a child; instead, it recognizes that work and family decisions are anything butstagnant. They shift as life and career shift and are often filled with unpredictable events. By understanding and anticipating these shifts, working mothers can develop the resiliency they need at home and at work. This book is a resource for all professional women as they approach the difficulties and the joys of growing a family and a career.

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