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Home arrow Our Publications arrow Past Issues arrow ParentMap, March 2008

ParentMap, March 2008 

March cover

Those little bundles of joy can make a train wreck out of any career. Get yours back on the rails! We've got info and inspiration from the best in the business...to ease your merge onto the ol' onramp. Plus, is your preschooler a specialist? Learn eight types o' smarts ...and find out how to keep girls interested in science.

Feature: Mapping your career after kids

From the Editor: About this issue


Ages & Stages:

Getting School Ready: Keeping girls interested in science

Relate: Try a little kindness at home

Out & About:

Media: This month's recommended media

Media: This month's featured media


Postings:

Giving Together: ParentMap's 2008 Giving Together Partners


From our Readers:
Letters to the Editor

Classifieds: View our current Seattle-area (PDF) and South Sound (PDF) classifieds.


About this issue

Dear Reader,

Yes We Can! 

Call me shameful, but I proudly borrow the motivating and oft-repeated Obama line that is helping to move our sometimes-apathetic population to fiery heights of political action. Born with a “Just Do It!” mindset, I embrace an optimistic, action-oriented approach without constraint to just about any situation. We must elect leaders who will govern differently and we must provide a better work/life balance for parents, and so much more in between.

I want to encourage business leaders to adopt the “Yes We Can!” attitude when it comes parents re-entering the workforce (“Mapping your career after kids ”). I was amazed recently by a phone call from a New York magazine publisher who was astonished to learn that ParentMap has 25 employees — all working virtually. She asked me, “How do you do it?”

“How don’t you do it?” was all I could respond.

I assured her that there is a direct correlation between our insanely talented and dedicated employees, our well-respected social venture products, and the flexible, family-friendly work environment — and benefits — that we offer (sorry; we’re not hiring!). I adore it that no one on our staff feels guilty about participating in their kid’s day-time activities, and there is no compromise in the quality of work delivered because of that freedom. It took me a very long time to feel comfortable with all of this, coming as I do from a traditional law background. We do all suffer a bit from the 24/7 of virtual work life, but name me a professional in 2008 that doesn’t. 

My brain cells have been diminishing for some years now, so I took copious notes while reading Brain Boosters. I personally don’t get the sudoku craze — I can’t even get to my book club book — but I’ll give it a try, since the Brits are endorsing it in their schools. And I guess it’s time for me to stroll, head down, into my 17 year old sons’ room and tell him, “you are right.” We often verbally arm-wrestle about his sleeping too much on weekends, but the experts say just what he does: “Almost all teenagers in this country are sleep-deprived.” 

What better way to launch into springtime then with a joint read with your honey of “Choose to relate kindly with your partner? " Simple, true, powerful and possibly life-changing; we can all practice and role-model kindness for kids!

—Alayne Sulkin, Publisher/Editor

P.S. Pathways tickets are still available!