The Working Gal's Guide to Babyville

April 24, 2006
In the glut of parenting tomes, Hobey, a writer for Parenting
magazine, has found a niche with this informative and practical guide on becoming a working mom. The book, which tries to be all things baby, succeeds best when it focuses on work. Moms, for instance, don't need step-by-step instructions on how to diaper a baby (with no illustrations). And sleep-deprived mothers who barely find time to shower will plunge into despair over Hobey's suggestion that they productively use their maternity leave to try something new, such as "making caramelized pear tarts with cardamom cream." However, on the work front, her manual is not just instructional but indispensable. Worksheets help moms clarify the emotional and financial aspects of working versus staying home (what she refers to as "sequencing" work and family). Concrete suggestions on alternatives to full-time (e.g., flextime, freelancing, flexplace), how to choose child care and ways to continue networking are clear and well researched. Success stories and snippets of moms' lives make potentially dry material an easy read, plus the writing is frequently jaunty, attempting to step in as a modern Girlfriend's Guide
. This book should be supplemented with a true baby guide (the short asides from pediatrician Dr. Nied don't cover enough).