[valkyrie]

I think many times when women with children don't get promoted, it's not related to stress -- it's because they take time off of work, say, for several months after the baby is born. If you're not working during that time period and someone else is, that other person is more experienced if you both started working at the same time. Although I think employers should be sensitive to the needs of working mothers, I also don't think it's fair for working mothers who take time off to do things with their kids to expect that it will have no consequences at all.

Also, people without children sometimes have to pick up the slack for those who do -- if you have to take off early to go to Susie's soccer practice or pick up Billy because he's sick, it may be the people without kids who are covering for you. They don't get paid any extra for that.

No matter what you do, something is going to suck one way or another.