What's a Smart Woman Like You Doing at Home?

Book excerpt: At the forefront of a revolution in American motherhood, the second edition of WHAT'S A SMART WOMAN LIKE YOU DOING AT HOME? is an inspiring & affirming book that celebrates the challenges & triumphs of being a mother at home, & refutes stereotypes such as "supermom," "housewife" & "working mother." SMART WOMAN reveals what today's mothers are really feeling through thoughtful analyses of social trends, poignant essays & real life stories. Using quotes excerpted from many of the candid & unsolicited letters received, the authors expose the gap between what the media often says about mothers & what mothers say about themselves. The publisher, Mothers at Home, is a non-profit organization founded in 1984 to offer support to mothers across the country who consciously choose to devote their exceptional skills & good minds to nurturing their families. For nine years, Mothers at Home has published WELCOME HOME, a monthly journal with a readership of over 30,000. They continuously receive volumes of mail, hearing from thousands of women. In 1991, Mothers at Home published DISCOVERING MOTHERHOOD, a collection of essays written by mothers about the challenges & joys of motherhood. The first edition of SMART WOMAN, published in 1986, sold over 20,000 copies. Just revised, the authors have included updated statistics on who today's mothers at home really are. They offer public policy recommendations for creating a society that supports all mothers. Today, the choice to be at home may well be the most controversial one woman can make. What once seemed natural now invites open criticism. SMART WOMAN affirms the importance of nurturing & mothering, & speaks to the millions of mothers who have rejected some of the popular assumptions about their own careers & instead have chosen to put their children first without putting themselves last.