Moms Are People Too: Experiences of a Working Mother

When Marjolein Hurkmans started working at the Telegraaf almost ten years ago, the editor-in-chief at the time gave her a stern talking to: you are a journalist 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, he said. You must always be on call. A few months after that first day at work, she got married. And now you definitely want a child, the editor-in-chief in question said sadly. One child? She had three! No one gave her a stern talking to this time, she found out for herself: you are a mother 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and you must always be on call. That is difficult, because since then she has been a journalist and a mother at the same time and there are still only 24 hours in a day. She wrote this candid book about her busy life, in which she describes the most terrible situations with a great sense of humor. She talks candidly about her feelings of guilt, fears and the stress of being a working mother and she puts into words what many women experience but do not dare to admit. In addition, she certainly does not lose sight of the advantages of combining work and children. The stories from the author's life alternate with the stories of other working mothers. In interviews, a midwife, an economist, a professor of childcare, a sexologist and many other women with expertise tell how they organise their own lives. They also give tips from their personal professional experience. All in all, Mama's zijn ook mensen is a feast of recognition for every mother, but above all a book from which you can learn something.