Mother in the Middle: Searching for Peace in the Mommy Wars

This book comes under criticism from both the right and the left, for addressing two halves of a problem that each side only acknowledges one part of. The truth is that most women are happier if they are able to spend some time with other adults in like-minded pursuits, making the sort of contributions one makes in the paid workplace; and that there is a real cost, especially in the world as it is now, to leaving your children with someone else, even for just a few hours a week. After bringing up these issues, this book goes the next step, and proposes solutions. It got me thinking in such a way that my husband and I started coming up with other options for our own family; and the fact that it was personally helpful is what made it pass my test for a really good book.

As a girl, I had no idea how motherhood would be. This book openned my eyes to the actual struggles that mothers deal with. Before reading this book I was uncertain when married, if I wanted to stay at home with my kids or not. After reading Mother in the Middle and all the studies and facts they presented, I felt like a experienced mother had taken me under her wing and shared truth -- clearing up all the other arguments. I realized how much a working mom has to overcome from trying to actually make money, to the underdevelopment of children placed in day-care. I would recommed this book to all women, all ages because it changed my thinking so dramatically.