There's got to be a way that this can contribute. A few years ago I read the book I Don't Know How She Does It by Allison Pearson (who since then has apparently gotten herself into a bit of trouble with the Duchess and her publisher) and was really amused by how witty and how very honest it was. I mean, not every female executive has an affair and ultimately leaves her corporate world to make preserves or whatever it was that the main character ultimately did, and I was a bit angered that in the end, our "heroine" gave in instead of fighting the good fight and moving the gender a bit forward in some ways, but the book's pathos with those of us who move a warp speed yet ultimately deliver less than optimal results in all aspects of our life just really struck home. Since then, I've been waiting for dear Allison to publish something new (one of the reasons she is in trouble with her publisher, I might add) but nothing has been put forth. And yet as a female executive, I continue to live the life of which she wrote - better managed perhaps than in the past, with far fewer pangs of guilt as I (and my children) age, but it still feels like someone needs to create a community for the other female execs of the world to help all navigate without losing ones way - and without giving up because this world needs more of us if we are to make "things" better. Not an angry, "feministic" community - though I am a feminist in the true sense of the word, meaning that I believe in equal rights across the board without bias towards any gender - but rather in a "hey, this happens to all of us and here are some ways you can deal with it without losing your mind" sort of community.

I have three kids - from ages 10 - 17 - and they are my world. I have a high-stress job , working with absolutely ludicrous people- and it is my world. I have a dear, sweet and frankly - somewhat neglected husband - and he is my world. And I have me - the part of me who screams for autonomy and independence and the ability to shut everything else out for JUST 5 DAMN MINUTES - and I am my world. These worlds rotate around one another, energize one another - and sometimes just plain crash into one another. Some days, the "bar" has to be lowered so much that it is hardly worth reaching for - while other days I place it so high that nobody -and I mean nobody - could possibly reach it. But I will try like a demon and curse myself when I fail. And in all of this we find the humor and the learning. We find the wise and the ridiculous. We find something to which so many can relate and from which others hopefully can learn or maybe just realize that they are not alone. And if nothing else, I get to vent. So, stay tuned.