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 the choices 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 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.

Praise for Maternal Optimism

“Maternal Optimism is a wonderfully optimistic book. Greenberg and Ladge 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 blue print 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, Greenberg and Ladge 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