Innholdsfortegnelse for August - September 2016 i Working Mother

Is your calendar as jam-packed as mine? ’Tis the season of back to school and all the curriculum sessions, PTA meetings and, in our case, visits to prospective middle schools (it’s a stressful NYC thing) that come with it. And to think just yesterday we were scrambling to get the kids ready for summer camp! Something top of mind for me as we head into a new school year, and soon a new presidency, is the curse of hunger in our nation, our communities, our schools. As you’ll read in our powerful story, “Why Are Working Families Still Hungry in America?” (page 38), one of every five kids struggles with hunger. That so many working moms and their families are hungry is something we all need to take responsibility for…

JUMPER CROP This lacy floral skimmer slides on effortlessly—a no-brainer for fall: Draper James Short-Sleeve Blue Lace Dress with Satin Collar ($285, draperjames.com); Nine West Academy Double-Strap Metallic Heels in Black ($99, ninewest.com). NEAT PLEATS Pairing this sleek knit skirt and fitted shortsleeve sweater—totes adorbs! Kate Spade New York Bow-Collared Sweater ($298, katespade.com); Talbots Textured Chevron-Pleated Skirt ($109, talbots.com); Ivanka Trump Suede Lace-Up Ankle Straps in Gray ($140, bloomingdales.com); Robert Lee Morris Tenacious Tortoise Hoop Earrings, Two-Tone Gold-and-Silver Cuff and Gold Wrap Band Ring ($32, $58 and $38, robertleemorris.com). Two fall style trends to take to work: schoolgirl jumpers (think contrast collars peeking out from dresses and tops) and pleated skirts. CHECK MATE This duster-length topper makes a regal statement: French Connection Prince Mix Suiting Jacket ($398, usa.frenchconnection.com); Talbots Ruffle-Front…

Paid leave, equal pay, flexible work, affordable childcare— or at least a higher cap on flexible spending accounts. With each presidential cycle, we working moms watch as candidates use these crucial issues to excite voters. Then the cycle passes and our wait for change continues. Working Mother is nearly 40 years old, and in that time we’ve seen some improvements on the working-family front. Certainly the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) of 1993, which now gives about 60 percent of employees access to protected unpaid leave, was a step in the right direction. But how long do we have to wait to step up to paid leave? Or affordable childcare, and even the right to request flexible work? To get the inside scoop on these burning questions, we tapped two…

Arnold & Porter Washington, DC Female attorneys excel at this firm, which nurtures their development with myriad training initiatives, flexible schedules and at least 18 fully paid weeks of birth or adoption leave (plus $10,000 in adoption aid). Excellent subsidized childcare abounds. Baker & McKenzie National This firm’s Global Gender Initiative helps propel its talented women to success, generating opportunities (among them a 12-month sponsorship program) that raise their profile and increase their odds of being named partner. Widespread telecommuting boosts flexibility. Bradley Arant Boult Cummings Birmingham, AL In 2015, 50% of new associates at this firm were female. Jennifer McGahey and Anne Marie Seibel, both moms, chair the recruiting and associate committees and drive policies supportive of caregivers. FMLA leave includes phase-back options. Cooley Palo Alto, CA Every year,…

It’s no coincidence that our dance studio is in the same shopping center as the supermarket. They know how much a working mom loves the chance to multitask! That’s what I was thinking a decade ago when my 4-year-old twins, Emily and Heather, first skipped off to the studio door, pink flouncy tutus bouncing behind them, leaving me one glorious hour to grab groceries and run errands. Little did I know my Saturday morning routine was the first step to becoming a dance mom, and not the kind who can rock a hair bun. Five years later, the girls asked to try out for the competition team, which meant all-day Saturday rehearsals. My mind went straight to open afternoons, catching up at home and having quality time with my husband…

Once you’re used to working from home, it can be hard to transition back to an office. Maggie Lord knows this well, having built her wedding site, Rustic Wedding Chic, at home with remote employees before deciding to relocate to an office. The best tool for the transition, she says, is your power of observation. “When adjusting to an office, take the first few weeks to see how your co-workers cohabit. Do people eat at their desks? Is it OK to have a cellphone out? How do people dress?” Then you can make office rules and accommodations that suit you. And though you’re back to the world of co-working and commuting, Lord also advises to embrace the physical distinction an office provides. “Being able to separate my work life from…

Crystal Patriarche, CEO and president of SparkPoint Studio, BookSparks, SparkPress, She Writes Press and SheWrites.com, Phoenix, AZ. Initial investment: $0 (barter). Mom of Anna, 16, Eli, 12, and Caleb, 8. I was the kid who went to the library every Monday, all summer long, to check out six books at a time. Even so, I never thought I’d have a career in books. I pursued engineering, which evolved into doing PR for software and startup companies. When I started my family, I was still working at a PR agency and had clients all over the country. I was breastfeeding and wanted to be home more, so I quit my agency job and began working from home, doing freelance writing and PR. My freelance projects began to add up—like so many…

Forget heavy ice packs to chill school lunch bags, and clunky thermoses to warm soup. The colorful, bento-style OmieBox features separately insulated temperature zones— plus a vacuum-sealed bowl—so you can pack hot dishes and cold snacks together with no fear that it’ll all be lukewarm (and yucky) by noon ($40, omielife.com). Move over, text messages. You just can’t digitize the warm feeling that comes with a good ol’ lunchbox note. And Love Milk stationery by One Little Bird for Minted does it so sweetly with note cards you personalize with names, color, shape and photos. Your little milk drinker will love you for it (from $25 for 15 notecards, minted.com). When it comes to woodland creatures, foxes are the new owls—we’ve seen them pop up on T-shirts, jewelry and, now,…

As we celebrate the 50 Best Law Firms for Women and applaud their efforts, I just can’t take my eyes off the elephant in the room. Among the ranks of the most highly compensated lawyers, there are few women and even fewer women of color. In the 200 largest U.S. firms, only 4 percent of managing partners and 17 percent of equity partners are women, according to the National Association of Women Lawyers. The numbers might be improving (slowly), but it’s still hard to explain the dearth of women at the top. Out of the gate, 48 percent of law school grads are women. They certainly start out as eager to find success and partnerships as their male counterparts: Female students hold 54 percent of leadership positions in law-review journals…

BABYATION (babyation.com) Breast shields are worn discreetly under a bra, and milk flows through disposable tubing so collection bottles don’t hang off breasts. The pump is controlled wirelessly, and it automatically logs pumping data. THE FREEMIE (freemie.com) This award-winning pump features collection cups that can be used under clothing; the cups also work with many major pump motors already on the market. THE GALA (kohanainc.com) Instead of suction, this pump uses (gentle) compression to mimic handexpression of breast milk. NAYA HEALTH (nayahealth.com) Innovative water-based vacuum technology aims to achieve or beat hospital-grade efficiency, while silicone flanges make for a more comfortable pumping experience. This smart pump works with a smart bottle and app to track feeding and pumping data. MIGHTY MOM(mighty-mom.com) Cases specifically designed to work with Medela pumps dampen…

, commiserate or do a cheeky hair-flip about , there are some working-mother occasions that cry out for new symbols. To the Unicode overlords, here are emojis we need.…

MY BEST MENTOR TIP Set expectations for those you work with, and make it a contract. The same goes with your kids; let them know you won’t make every game. Communicate with both your staff and family about what’s what, and then, if you can make something extra happen, great. THE MOM Melissa Adami President and co-owner of RISE Residential Construction THE KIDS Avery, 7, Liam, 5 LIVES IN Dallas, TX MOST SURPRISING THING ABOUT ME That I’m a theater geek! Also, I started at KPMG tax and audit and wanted to be a partner, and thought I would never have kids—but things certainly changed! My Job We develop, construct and manage affordable, high-quality apartment communities for a mix of lower-income residents—many of whom are single mothers, veterans and people…