It. Goes. So. Fast. : the year of no do-overs / Mary Louise Kelly.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Kelly, Mary Louise, author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Kelly, Mary Louise.

Working mothers--United States--Biography.

Working mothers.

Women journalists--United States--Biography.

Women journalists.

Motherhood--United States.

Motherhood.

Mothers and sons--United States.

Mothers and sons.

United States.

Genre:

Biography.

Biographies.

Autobiographies.

Physical Description:

x, 226 pages ; 22 cm

Edition:

First edition.

Place of Publication:

New York : Henry Holt and Company, 2023.

Summary:

"The time for do-overs is over. Ever since she became a parent, Mary Louise Kelly has said "next year." Next year will be the year she makes it to her son James's soccer games (which are on weekdays at 4 p.m., right when she is on the air on NPR's All Things Considered, talking to millions of listeners). Drive carpool for her son Alexander? Not if she wants to do that story about Ukraine and interview the secretary of state. Like millions of parents who wrestle with raising children while pursuing a career, she has never been cavalier about these decisions. The bargain she has always made with herself is this: this time I'll get on the plane, and next year I'll find a way to be there for the mom stuff. Well, James and Alexander are now seventeen and fifteen, and a realization has overtaken Mary Louise: her older son will be leaving soon for college. There used to be years to make good on her promises; now, there are months, weeks, minutes. And with the devastating death of her beloved father as well as a surprising turn in her marriage, Mary Louise is facing act three of her life head-on. Mary Louise is coming to grips with the reality every parent faces. Childhood has a definite expiration date. You have only so many years with your kids before they leave your house to build their own lives. It's what every parent is supposed to want, what they raise their children to do. But it is bittersweet. Mary Louise is also dealing with the realities of having aging parents, and that marriages change. This pivotal time brings with it the enormous questions of what you did right and what you did wrong. This chronicle of her eldest child's final year at home, of losing her father, as well as other curve balls thrown at her, is not a definitive answer--not for herself and certainly not for any other parent. But her questions, her issues, will resonate with every parent. And, yes, especially with mothers, who are judged more harshly by society and, more important, judge themselves more harshly. What would she do if she had to decide all over again? Mary Louise's thoughts as she faces the coming year will speak to anyone who has ever cared about a child, a parent or a spouse. It. Goes. So. Fast. is honest, funny, poignant, revelatory, and immensely relatable"-- Provided by publisher.

Contents:

Changing places

Sticking the landing

Chicago

Keeping watch

The helicopter

Turning heads

Zero

We will not be intimidated

Showing up

Coda

What we pass on

We're nearly home

Letting the silence play out

The call

Listen to your own mom on the radio

This was Vladimir Putin's fault

The forces of nature

Retirement

We're nearly home (second attempt)

War

Curveball

Darkness and light

Two walks.

Other Format:

Online version: Kelly, Mary Louise. It. goes. so. fast.

ISBN:

9781250859853

1250859859

OCLC:

1352482165