We know from scientific research that a mother raising her children results in less violence from her offspring, and that this is a lasting change. Of course there are a multitude of benefits that spring from that one effect, from fewer people being jailed and a more productive society, to less violence in the next generation, since negative cycles don't have a chance to be begun, let alone perpetuated.

I also enjoyed the novel idea that stay-at-home parents are beneficial to the economy right where they are. If you have a smaller labor pool, wages should increase, according to the law of supply and demand. A smaller labor pool would be to the benefit of the economy as a whole, especially during recessions. My husband and I are both advocates of having at least one parent available full time for the children. Although this book is geared towards women, I don't judge as to whether it should be the mother or the father. Hopefully we are making progress in treating men and women as equals in all their choices. A parent with a flexible schedule and who places a priority on parenting reduces stress on everyone, and if there's one thing today's families need -- it's less stress.

I'd give this book four stars. As I mentioned before, Dr. Schlessinger's attitude towards working mothers and single mothers isn't friendly. I can't recommend it without reserve -- even it's target audience needs to approach it aware of her prejudice.