ALSO CAST ASIDE

EMANCIPATED, ELITIST WOMEN WHO WRITE THAT "AMID THE JOYS AND REWARDS OF HAVING A BABY, TAKING MATERNITY LEAVE CAN TOUCH OFF A SERIES OF LOSSES AT WORK. STEPPING OUT FOR CHILDBIRTH OFTEN MEANS GIVING UP PERKS, STATUS, BOSSES' ATTENTION AND BONDS WITH COLLEAGUES. ALL THIS CAN MAKE IT EASIER TO BREAK THE UMBILICAL CORD - THE ONE THAT ONCE BOUND YOU TO YOUR JOB." CLEVER METAPHORICAL LANGUAGE CANNOT DISGUISE MY OUTRAGE OVER THIS RATIONALIZATION FOR CASTING ASIDE CHILDREN AS AN ALL PAIN, NO GAINER BY WORKING MOTHERS. CHILDREN ARE NOT ONLY NOT EMBRACED, THEY ARE INCONVENIENT. FURTHERMORE, WHEN A COLUMNIST CALLS THIS "A MOMMY DRAIN," SHE'S EXHIBITS FEMINIST THINKING ABOUT HOW INADVISABLE IT IS FOR MOTHERS NOT TO BE WORKING, HOW SECONDARY ARE A HUSBAND AND A HOME LIFE. LIBERATED, LIBERAL THINKING SUPPORTS THE MYTH THAT WHEN NEW MOMS TAKE MATERNITY LEAVES, IT LEADS TO A "DAMAGING LOSS OF SKILLED EMPLOYEES." EMPLOYERS TRY TO LURE THEM BACK TO WORK WITH TACTICS AND