• There's Still A Long Way To Go, Baby

• The Problem With No Name Revisited

• The Tired Superwoman

• A Life Of Balance

• The Way We Whine

• The Glass Ceiling Is In The Nursery

• What Did You Expect?

• Term Limits

Chapter 1

There's Still A Long Way To Go, Baby

"Even though things are supposed to be different today, one way or the other, I'm still responsible for all of the things my mother took care of when I was growing up. And I work, too."

Lauren Martling, mother and graphic designer who works from home.

7:30, Monday morning, An American City

Mary Clayton turns away as her husband Mark tries to kiss her goodbye. Resigned, he leans down to kiss their eight month-old son Jeffrey instead. Mark has grown accustomed to Mary's resentment, which rises each day as he prepares to leave the house for work. Mary would like to walk out that door a couple of times a week to go to her own job but has not yet found a childcare replacement she can trust.

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Around the corner. Lauren Martling counts the minutes until her son's nanny will arrive. Dan woke up three times last night. Lauren can't wait to get out of her drool-laden pajamas and take a shower. She pours her third cup of coffee. Dan on her lap, she sends her husband an email message, in capital letters, reminding him of his promise to babysit on Saturday when he returns from an overseas business trip.

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Three blocks over, Ann King hugs her husband Mike and giggling eight-month-old daughter Maggie goodbye. A psychologist, Ann walks downstairs to her office. She wishes that Maggie seemed sadder to see her leave, but appreciates that Mike makes Maggie's breakfast so much fun. At one o'clock, Ann will take over with Maggie. Mike will spend the afternoon drafting an architectural bid for a house renovation project and attending a meeting at city hall. Ann looks forward to seeing her first client, and spending time with Maggie later.

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