http://allday.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/05/18/195164.aspx(From Janet Shamlian, TODAY Correspondent)I'd never been to New York's famed 21 Club before today's story on women and the glass ceiling, but what an appropriate spot to talk about career building and networking.  Once a speakeasy, it's now a spoten-USCommunityServer 2.0 (Build: 60608.1)http://allday.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/05/18/195164.aspx#195207Fri, 18 May 2007 12:32:47 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:195207Barb aka Mom4LifeWomen have to make sacrifices. Alot of women have given up the option to have children in order to have a high profile career. How many of those 12 women ceo's (fortune 500 companies) have children? Just curious. At least they are smart enough to know they couldn't give their all to both. Some women are smart enough to seek careers that allow them flexibility. Then there are others...the regular people... who don't get to choose whether to work or not. A Stay at home MOM is to me...the ultimate promotion. Unfortunately...it isn't an option for me. I am not a single Mom, but I have the insurance and make more money. I also have 4 kids (boys at that!). I never hear stories about the women who would LOVE to be Stay at home Moms. People would say...you could do it...you just choose not to...I suppose in a way that is true. We could join the ranks of the families on Welfare and do it that way. Maybe it is pride ...or is it ethics...We are determined to pay our own way. We don't live "fancy" (don't even own a home). But we dont get any assistance either. Anyway, wish I could hear in some of these stories...that there are LOTS of women...who would love to stay at home with the kids! They just cant. It is only a choice for some people. http://allday.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/05/18/195164.aspx#195212Fri, 18 May 2007 12:40:22 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:195212N. Cates, Webster, New YorkIt sounds to me like women don't want a "level" playing field they want it slanted towards them so they can work fewer hours, take time off to have children and still make the same as a man. By the way I am a woman who worked for 39 years. We can't have it both ways. I think we have lost sight of a very important factor. If we decide to have children we should raise our children. Too many children are being raised by someone else, babysitter, nanny, daycare. Today's society is a mess.http://allday.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/05/18/195164.aspx#195375Fri, 18 May 2007 13:19:55 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:195375Christina Paschyn"and if you do, the new ride comes with a healthy slice of mommy guilt. An inescapable feeling, I've come to accept, it's in our genetic makeup." It's not genetic, it's how we've been socialized. And you should ask your husband (who I assume works) if he ever feels any guilt about juggling a career and a family. Why is this always a woman's problem? http://allday.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/05/18/195164.aspx#195441Fri, 18 May 2007 13:54:32 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:195441Kathi HaywardI travel weekly. I would be offended to be in a hotel that had a mens' only floor; therefore, I think it would be offensive to have a womens' only floor. I do not return to hotels where I do not feel safe or am not treated respectfully. One specific security measure that I appreciate is that hotel elevators and stair wells require key card access.http://allday.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/05/18/195164.aspx#195488Fri, 18 May 2007 14:14:49 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:195488Sarah Cable, Louisville, KentuckyI was disturbed by the last few seconds of this morning's segment. The author of "On Ramps and Off Ramps" was asked what is the one piece of advice she would give to women as they approach the balance between career aspirations and family. The author stated that she would advise women to rethink their career goals early on in life and look for jobs in more family-friendly markets if they are interested in having children. I am deeply disturbed by this advice. It seems to be telling women that if they think they would like to have children eventuallly, then they should potentially focus on a career path that may not be their passion. What this excludes is the fact that although many young women think they would eventually like to have children, things do not always work out that way. They may never get married, they may get divorced before they are able to have children, or they may have trouble getting pregnant. Having children is a situation that women do not have complete control over. So, I think it is dangerous and sad to tell women to reconsider their career goals if they think they would like to have children one day simply to avoid the on ramp-off ramp dilemma. As a 24 year-old about to return to school to become a lawyer (a profession not known to be family-friendly), I can't imagine myself being happy doing a job that I may not thoroughly enjoy just because it is more convenient for the possibility of having children. Personally, I plan to do everything I can to ensure that I get the best job I can for myself...a job that will fulfill me, challenge me, and make me happy. Then, if I have children, that is great. But I can't say for sure that I will have children, and I'm not about to give up on a career goal of mine just because of a possibility that I do not have complete control over. If this is the best advice we can give young women starting out in their careers regarding the balance of family and work, then I can see why we are still struggling to find that balance and advance ourselves.http://allday.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/05/18/195164.aspx#195489Fri, 18 May 2007 14:14:49 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:195489Lisa Barnes, Chicago, ILI so resonate with the message of this book/article.... as a working professional of 18 years, I have actively chosen to take a scenic tour of my career for the last several years. I am employeed full time, but in a position that affords me flexibility and financial stability, rather than career growth. We, as women, absolutely need to find a way to improve our networking capabilities to be able to learn from, and leverage each other to further these topics. People oh so often, when an article is written about a professional woman's struggle to manage her professional and personal life, manage somehow to twist the meaning of the article into a definitive statement about the woes of society, and how kids these days just don't behave the same as the kids of old. To me, this article talks about the almost silent struggles of many talented women (working or not) trying to figure out ways to make their own lives productive for their families and for themselves. Professional nor stay at home women should not be subjected to anyone else's value systems or harsh judgement. That's part of our problem (women) - we are so quick to judge others rather than working together to find a solution that works for all of us. Kudos to the author to bring this important topic to light, so that women can speak to their challenges openly, honestly and without judgement or reproach. Nobody's decision is bad or wrong - the article to me is about how, as a woman navigating through her career of 30-40 years, you find or are allowed to pursue options that work for you and your family during that very long time period.http://allday.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/05/18/195164.aspx#195490Fri, 18 May 2007 14:15:29 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:195490Michelle Caban ,Reedley, CASpeaking as a mom who has done both. I've worked part-time and in between having my four children(three pregnancies, first born are twins)and I have been married for almost seventeen years. I am now in a full time job with 5weeks off in the summer. I work at the local HS. It is not easy, especially when the kids were smaller, but we did it and yes we were on aid but only for 1 year, it was just a hassle filling out the paperwork and jumping through hoops for this "easy money". We just made do and rarely ate out. I kept taking classes at the community college and received my AS degree in gen. ed. Altogether it was a difficult time but my kids are no worse for the wear. A woman/mother does what has to be done. I won't ever make what my husband makes in a year(he is a journeyman in auto-body) but now, we are better off than when we started 17 years ago! We have full medical Insurance !!http://allday.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/05/18/195164.aspx#195538Fri, 18 May 2007 14:34:47 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:195538Heather Wortley, Boise, IDAmen! Why is this always a woman's problem? And why aren't there more employers willing to have a family freindly work environment? I think more specifically, there needs to be some seriuos revamping of laws regarding maternity leave in the U.S. We are one of the worst countries as far as public policy on maternity leave. There are countries which manditorially grant 2 years of paid maternity and paternity leave!! Why are we so far behind the curve when it comes to policy about taking care of families in America. Employers would have a much more loyal workforce if they would only demonstrate some understanding toward families and the work it takes to raise children. http://allday.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/05/18/195164.aspx#195605Fri, 18 May 2007 14:54:17 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:195605JLI just think women should have the option of staying at home to raise their children without worrying what other people or society are going to think of her. And yes I believe it should be slanded because you know what "women and men areeee different folks. Women are the ones who get pregnant and have to give birth to the child not men. So like it or not we should be treated with a little more respect then we have been. Im sickend that we live in a socity where its more acceptable to have a career as a priority then it is to have your chidrens.http://allday.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/05/18/195164.aspx#195755Fri, 18 May 2007 15:41:19 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:195755Gary SailerI have to agree women feel they have to make some difficult choices between career and kids, I noticed your article only addressed one woman juggling work, children and a husband. Please remember to give men some credit as well. Most of us would love to spend more time with our families, - children and spouse ... but men don't get everything they want either. After my wife left us (we have two children) I was presented with some unexpected circumstances and the choices that go with them. I found that just like the ladies in the story I had to compromise my career so that my children would not be raised by a babysitter. I did have to find a new job though as someone had to pay to support us. Yes it did pay about half of my previous position in dollars, but I found I got it all back in time spent with my children. http://allday.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/05/18/195164.aspx#195927Fri, 18 May 2007 16:17:59 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:195927Tracy Hintermister, Annapolis, MarylandThis is an incredibly timely topic. Now is the time for women to reshape corporate America through the age old concept of supply and demand. Companies today are beginning to face a huge talent shortage (demand). Moms who are currently home with their children are an amazing untapped talent resource (supply). Professional women have the power to find careers that will fit in with their unique lifestyles. I have started a staffing firm with the sole purpose of connecting moms with careers. I whole-heartedly believe that this will provide a huge benefit to the companies that hire this talent and to the women who are ready to on-ramp. If you are a mom who is ready to on-ramp or if you work for a company who would like to benefit from this talent source, please contact me at momsync@comcast.net. -Tracy Hintermister, CEO, MomSync LLChttp://allday.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/05/18/195164.aspx#195969Fri, 18 May 2007 16:23:37 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:195969Jeanette Meyer, Kalamazoo, MIJanet, I remember when you were back on Channel 8 in Grand Rapids. When I heard Brian Williams mention your name a few months ago it was a pleasant blast from the past. You were an excellent reporter then and are even better now. This blog caughtme up on what you've been up to - five kids - what a pleasant challenge. Keep up the good work. http://allday.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/05/18/195164.aspx#196789Fri, 18 May 2007 19:19:57 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:196789Meghan McCartanI watched both Janet's piece and Ann's piece with Lisa Belkin and Sylvia Ann Hewitt this morning with great interest. I am a mother of 3 under 4 and I work "full time" in a flexible schedule job while focusing on what has become my passion: a conference aimed at putting practical resources at the fingertips of working mothers (or those who intend to return to work at some point). My conference, On Ramps and Detours (onrampsforum.com) was born 100% from my own personal experience in trying to find a job that fulfilled me and gave me time with my kids. One of the women in Janet's piece said "You'll never get that time back with your kids" as she touched on how many in her Harvard MBA program questioned her decision--I had the same reaction from colleagues (mostly women) when I walked away from my Marketing job (after getting my MBA) and it's tough! What makes it even tougher, I think, is to be in a situation where you do NOT like what you're doing--a job that might fit your schedule but that doesn't feed your passions. I think it is so much harder to tear yourself away from kids if you don't care what you're doing. Of course not everyone has the luxury of choice, but to say that women should choose a career based simply on its eventual flexibility is not entirely realistic. For the most flexible career can feel like never-ending tedium if you have no interest and would rather be home. Luckily, I do think a lot of companies-as exemplified in both pieces this morning--are working to try to let women (and men) put family first while contributing significantly within a job. Everyone knows that happier employees are more productive...there's always more money out there, but a company that treats its employees well will keep them. My goal in creating this conference-after looking for options myself as a well-educated, experienced and talented (if I do say so myself) professional--was to put the theoretical discussions that are out there about options for women to practical use--by putting companies that care, resources for moms (like MomCorps), programs for career development, and more in a one-day event that women can be apart of and feel validated through. I hope it will make a difference. It's amazing how far we've come in 5 years but I hope we come a lot further so my daughters don't have to spend the time I spent agonizing over the decision to spend even two days away... http://allday.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/05/18/195164.aspx#196924Sat, 19 May 2007 00:32:25 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:196924PS, CaliforniaI was an engineer for 15 years with long hours and a longer commute prior to off ramping in order to spend time with my children and regain my sanity. During my time off, I maintained my network of business contacts and also did a minimal amount of part time consulting. After three years at home I have regrouped and have decided to go back into the business world. My network and part time work assisted me in bridging the resume gap. I have been very fortunate in finding a job close to home with a significant increase in salary.