Not Married Yet? No Kids?

What you do now will determine what happens then...

Take this quiz to see if you're headed in the right direction or into the Mommy Trap.

1. Do you know what your gender ideology is? Know his?
2. Have you thought about the way your parents divided family responsibilities, decision making, and household chores, and what you liked and didn't like about it?
3. Will you articulate your expectations and desires of a life-time relationship, career aspirations, and work and parenting roles before you say "I do" or have children?
4. Do you subscribe to the "marry-the-man-today-and-change-his-ways-tomorrow" dating strategy?
5. Do you believe that as long as two people love each other, everything will come out all right?
6. Do you think that having children brings the majority of parents closer together and strengthens the bond between them?

If you answered "yes" to the first three questions, you have a good understanding of some of the preparation women need to put in before they marry or get pregnant, if they want to avoid the Mommy Trap. But that's just the beginning, as the stories of how some women set up the partnerships they wanted — and how others failed — demonstrate.

If you answered yes to questions 4, 5, and 6, you have an unrealistic view of marriage and parenthood, and need to do some research before even thinking about getting married or having children. Check out chapters 4 to 9 of How To Avoid the Mommy Trap.