The Evolution of Us: Portraits of Mothers and Their Changing Roles

“Actually,” I said in a hushed tone. “I have a job interview next week.” I wasn’t sure why I was practically whispering. Was it really a secret? Perhaps it was because I wasn’t so sure of myself, and didn’t want to admit it out loud. Was I really ready to return to work? Rose paused, looked intently into my eyes, shrugged her shoulders and said, “Ah, the evolution of us.” In The Evolution of Us, each chapter contains an intimate portrait of a mother with young children. The portraits vary greatly, from middle class to working class women, stay-at-home moms and working moms, heterosexual and lesbian mothers, and a mother of a child with special needs. By sharing and reading the experiences of others, the hope is that we can move forward as a generation of women who support one another, and who can work together to create a more stable system of support for the next generation.