Book SummaryIt. Goes. So. Fast., by Mary Louise Kelly

1-Page Summary1-Page Book Summary of It. Goes. So. Fast.

The challenges associated with maintaining a balance between career and parenting duties.

Drawing on her considerable background in journalism and her role in raising two sons, she explores the delicate balance between advancing in a demanding career and providing care for her family. During this segment, she contemplates the choices she has made and comprehends the fragile balance.

Juggling professional responsibilities with commitments in the domestic sphere.

The narrative explores the author's continuous struggle to juggle her commitment to her career in journalism with the unyielding needs of her children. Kelly effectively illustrates the persistent challenges of mothers striving to maintain equilibrium between their professional lives and parenting responsibilities.

The author's personal experiences involve missing out on important occasions because of work commitments.

The author candidly expresses her struggles with missing her sons' soccer games due to the conflicting demands of her job as a news anchor. She had long since reconciled with the reality that the kickoff at four in the afternoon invariably coincided with her live broadcast of NPR's All Things Considered. Despite initially justifying her absence from various events by promising to attend future ones, she reveals with a touch of sadness that this pattern continued until her eldest son was in his last year of school, when there were no additional chances left.

Her professional responsibilities took a personal toll as she covered the American defense secretary's journey in Baghdad. The healthcare professional at the school informed the author about her son Alexander's significant health challenges, particularly with breathing difficulties. Strikingly, even in this high-stakes environment, she found herself prioritizing work. This occurrence highlights the ongoing struggle between a mother's inherent instinct to protect her offspring and the stringent requirements of a career. It exemplifies the author's deep-seated commitment to her profession, even when faced with urgent family matters.

Other Perspectives

• The author's absence from the soccer games might have encouraged her sons to develop independence and resilience in her absence.
• The decision to prioritize work over personal events is a personal choice and not necessarily a struggle imposed by the job itself.
• The concept of significant occasions is culturally and personally variable, and what is considered a significant event can change over time, potentially altering the perceived conflict between work and personal life.
• The job's demands are not unique to news anchoring; many professions have rigid schedules or unexpected demands that could lead to similar conflicts, indicating a broader societal issue with work-life balance rather than a problem specific to this profession.
• The decision to focus on work might have been influenced by the belief that her professional role was contributing to a greater good, which can be a valid perspective in certain contexts.
• Maternal instincts are not universally defined by immediate presence in a child's life; they can also be expressed through long-term planning and ensuring the well-being of a child through career success and stability.
• It's possible that the author's situation could have been mitigated by seeking more flexible work arrangements or by setting clearer boundaries between work and personal life.

Striving for equilibrium between professional life and parenting responsibilities.

This subsection delves into the author's quest for a balance that better sustains her career aspirations alongside her maternal responsibilities.

Embracing the ephemeral essence of young adulthood and the aspiration to remain completely engaged in the moment.

Kelly underscores the fleeting essence of youth, recognizing that the cherished moments shared with her son, Will, won't last forever. She became determined to strengthen her connection with her children when she realized she hadn't been present during a crucial period of their development. The author recognizes a sense of regret for not fully appreciating the countless simple occasions that went unnoticed, such as the...

It. Goes. So. Fast. Summary Personal identity and the evolving viewpoints regarding females.

Kelly examines how her sense of self has been impacted by societal expectations and by the physical and emotional changes that accompany aging. This section focuses on the often subtle but significant shifts in her exterior world and how this reframed her internal sense of self.

The author's evolving sense of self as she transitions through life stages

This segment of the narrative delves into Kelly's introspective examination of her life's various stages, with particular emphasis on her transition into what may be termed the pivotal section of her existence.

She contends with the changing perceptions others have of her as time passes.

The author has recognized a newfound feeling of invisibility, connected to the societal emphasis on the allure of being young. She humorously shares instances where she's seen through a different lens, such as when cashiers no longer request her identification while purchasing wine, or when her hairdresser suggests blonde highlights to discreetly incorporate the emerging grey hairs. Kelly recognizes the diminishing allure of her previously familiar youthful language, a vernacular that once signified power and appeal. She poignantly...

It. Goes. So. Fast. Summary Overcoming adversity and traumatic experiences

This section dives into Kelly’s resilience and strength in dealing with significant life challenges. The story explores the initial medical struggles of her child, the loss of her paternal figure, and the end of her matrimonial union.

The writer chronicles the medical tribulations that her offspring endured.

The summary explores the author's journey through initial health challenges and the subsequent uncertainties her child encountered.

She confronted the challenging responsibility of managing her children's health issues.

Kelly narrates the harrowing experience of giving birth to her son Alexander, during which he needed to be resuscitated immediately after birth because he had no Apgar score. Furthermore, he suffered a small stroke shortly after birth, leading to a period of intensive care and extensive medical testing to diagnose the cause and extent of the damage.

Context

• Parents of children with health issues often need to make complex medical decisions, coordinate with healthcare providers, and advocate for their child's needs, which can be emotionally and physically demanding.
• Intensive care for newborns, often in a Neonatal Intensive Care...