Photo is of PCSW's Executive Director (at podium) surrounded by Connecticut legislators in support of paid sick leave.

Simply, Apple

At the 2011 New Jersey Governor’s Conference for Women<

Like most little girls, Blanca Lesser loved handbags. But growing up in El Salvador, Lesser never had what she most coveted. After Lesser emigrated to the U.S., she scored the job of a lifetime—as a handbag buyer in Macy’s. After seeing season upon season of logo-driven bags, Lesser didn’t find the trends she was personally looking for. Sensing the void, Lesser connected with Abe Dweck, the owner of Accessories Exchange in NYC, and the handbag line Olivia + Joy was born. Named after Dweck’s two daughters, Olivia + Joy is an affordable bag line with a price point of $100 or less.

Before my first son was born, I obsessed about who would take care of him when I returned to work.  I vividly recall standing in my kitchen about 7 months pregnant when the wife of one of husband’s colleagues called. She had a young son and was pregnant again.  S

From the August/September Issue of Working Mother

Making sure everyone is on task, figuring out a new (less expensive!) solution, making your deadline come hell or high water. If you’re anything like me, you’ve spent the better part of the summer getting the job done—at work and at home. All of which brings me to this picture. To me, this is what it’s all about: making sure everything and everyone is working smoothly so I can escape with my family for some pure do-nothing time.

They are among the world’s most powerful women in business, according to Fortune magazine which is known for its list of America’s big companies. And what’s interesting is that the most top ten elite women named are almost all moms. That strikes a blow to the idea that moms cannot make it to the top–though it’s not easy.

As Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton has proved her great strengths in leadership, diplomacy, depth of knowledge and perhaps, cunning. Many thought her star had fallen when she was passed over as the Democratic candidate for president. But not so. She is stronger now than ever.

Katherine Lewis writing for About.com noticed that Ms. Rodham Clinton is topping the polls and being talked about constantly in the media. Here's her take.

Working Mother Media recently launched their campaign to gain paid parental leave in the United States by 2015. In honor of this important campaign I’ve taken to a little poetic doggerel.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thanks a lot for the unpaid leave.

Unfortunately, it’s only a minor reprieve -

We’ve got bills to pay and mouths to feed

And losing our income makes us quite frenzied.

If family values are what our country supports

Then why aren’t we cohorts

Tonight as I helped my 13-year old with a school presentation she needs to give on Friday, I noticed how small she made herself look to her teacher.

As I gave her suggestions on what to write, she immediately shouted, "This is not how 13-year olds talk!" Ok, so somehow our children have been conditioned to think that they can't be smarter than what their age "says" they should be.

Somehow my daughter is learning that she needs to play dumb, actually not play dumb, but be dumb, so that her teacher won't doubt her work, or anyone else for that matter.