The Parent Dilemma

I always thought I could manage it and have it all. And I did. For some time. Then, on my daughter's 11th birthday, I couldnt be there. It killed me. Then, her studies started to decline. She's a bright kid, but misses a lot of school due to her asthma. She makes up for it if I'm around (or my husband -- when I was travelling, he taught her, and the marks demonstrate it). But when we cant, and ask her if she'll cope, she always says yes. But she cant. Poor girl. Dont blame her.
For 11 years, I haven't ever felt guilty about leaving my kid to the maids. Today, when the quality of her education suffers, I do. And we are those kinds of parents who are fine with average marks -- average marks that really mean average -- 60%, no more. But yet, the joy and pride AND ego of a parent whose kid gets 85-90%, which our daughter gets when we hand hold her -- is a lot to give away for letting her just cope on her own and get a 60% (except in subjects where she is a natural).
It's a tough call. Many friends (read mothers) have quit working in these crucial years. Is that the right way to go, when you have taught your child to be responsible and independent? When I look back, my marks have never counted -- I'm doing very different stuff from what I studied for anyway. So is my husband.
So I wonder -- how much of this dilemma worth it in the long run?

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Companies With Women Directors Outperform Competitors

NEW YORK, NY -- Fortune 500 companies with the highest representation of women board directors attained significantly higher financial performance, on average, than those with the lowest representation of women board directors, according to Catalyst’s most recent report, The Bottom Line: Corporate Performance and Women’s Representation on Boards. In addition, the report points out, on average, notably stronger-than-average performance at companies with three or more women board directors.The study, which is the second of Catalyst’s Bottom Line reports, looked at three critical financial measures:

Return on Equity: On average, companies with the highest percentages of women board directors outperformed those with the least by 53 percent.

Return on Sales: On average, companies with the highest percentages of women board directors outperformed those with the least by 42 percent.

Return on Invested Capital: On average, companies with the highest percentages of women board directors outperformed those with the least by 66 percent.The study is sponsored by The Chubb Corporation.

HIM/HER AT WORK

The family picture is on His desk - Ah, a solid, responsible family man.The family picture is on Her desk - Um, her family will come before her career.
His desk is cluttered - He's obviously a hard worker and a busy man.Her desk is cluttered - She's obviously a disorganized scatterbrain.
He is talking with his co-workers - He must be discussing the latest deal.She is talking with her co-workers - She must be gossiping.
He's not in the office - He's meeting a customer.She's not in the office - She must be out shopping.
He's having lunch with the boss - He's on his way up.She's having lunch with the boss - They must be having an affair.
The boss criticized Him - He'll improve his performance.The boss criticized Her - She'll be very upset.
He got an unfair deal - Did he get angry?She got an unfair deal - Did she cry?
He's getting married - He'll get more settled.She's getting married - She'll get pregnant and leave.
He's having a baby - He'll need a raise.She's having a baby - She'll cost the company money in maternity benefits.
He's going on a business trip - It's good for his career.She's going on a business trip - What does her husband say?
He's leaving for a better job - He knows how to recognize a good opportunity.She's leaving for a better job - Women are not dependable.

Quick Fact!!!!

In a study of more than 900 senior-level women and men from Fortune 1000 companies, Catalyst finds that women and men have equal desires to have the CEO job.Source: Women and Men in U.S. Corporate Leadership: Same Workplace, Different Realities?, Catalyst 2004

A woman's best protection is a little money of her own.
-- Claire Booth Luce, American Diplomat & Playwright

Benefits of being a Woman

• We got off the Titanic first.
• We can scare male bosses with mysterious gynecological disorder excuses.
• We never ejaculate prematurely.
• When we buy a vibrator it is glamorous. When men buy a blow up doll it's pathetic.
• Our boyfriend's clothes make us look elfin and gorgeous - guys look like complete idiots in ours.
• We can be groupies. Male groupies are stalkers.
• We've never lusted after a cartoon character or the central figure in a computer game.
• Taxis stop for us.
• Men die earlier, so we get to cash in on the life insurance.
• We don't look like a frog in a blender when dancing.
• We can hug our friends without wondering if she thinks we're gay.
• We can hug our friends without wondering if WE'RE gay.
• We know The Truth about whether size matters.
• If we have sex with someone and don't call them the next day, we're not the devil.
• Condoms make no significant difference in our enjoyment of sex.
• If we're not making enough money we can blame the glass ceiling.
• Nothing crucial can be cut off with one clean sweep.
• It's possible to live our whole lives without ever taking a group shower.
• We don't have to fart to amuse ourselves.
• If we cheat on our spouse, people assume it's because we're being emotionally neglected.
• We never have to wonder if his orgasm was real.
• If we forget to shave, no one has to know.
• We can congratulate our teammate without ever touching her ass.
• We never have to reach down every so often to make sure our privates are still there.
• We have the ability to dress ourselves.
• We can talk to people of the opposite sex without having to picture them naked.
• Our friends won't think we're weird if we ask whether there's spinach in our teeth.
• We know that there are times when chocolate really can solve all your problems.
• Gay waiters don't make us uncomfortable.
• We'll never regret piercing our ears.
• We can fully assess a person just by looking at their shoes.