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I am a total sucker for any book, story, article or exposé that shows us "how they do it all." Not because I think I will learn something, though I often do, but more because I want to see that my ricocheting lifestyle of careening from one duty to the next isn't so unique (it isn't, right?!). I take comfort in seeing other adults in action doing the ricochet, too. In fact, one of my favorite Mommy Matters columns that I've written, Dance of the Sugar Plum Mommies, was about this very topic. (Funny how that column was written four years ago, and here I am writing a variation on the same theme, again. Hmm, okay - maybe not that funny.)
Since I've added "running for local political office" to "freelance writing and blogging, parenting three kids, living through a home renovation, and..." probably a lot other things we wouldn't even enumerate but that I am managing as well (recovering from gum grafts, helping press Ohio legislators to not sink our statewide library system, etc.), I'm loving spreads like this one by EMILY's List called, "In Her Shoes: Spending Time with Senator (NY-D) Kirsten Gillibrand," about which EMILY's List says:
It's safe to say that the term "balancing act" takes on a whole new meaning when you look at the lives of our women in the Senate!
However, as cute, lovely and encouraging as the layout and content are, I do have a real problem with these peeks inside: they make the experience look too nice and uncomplicated by the reality that was John Lennon's philosophy: "life is what happens while you are making other plans."
Where's the photo where Gillibrand pokes her cheek with her mascara wand and has to start her makeup all over again and then starts running late because the faux pas will add on another crucial two minutes to her routine (I know you all know what I'm talking about!)?
Where's the narrative that describes how, upon arrival at her kids' school or daycare center, one of them realizes that they forgot [fill in the blank with the most needed and can't live without security object] and the battle ensues over whether someone will head home to retrieve the item while a child cries, or...the parent departs and the child still cries (only to stop moments after the child is in the classroom or playroom)?
Where's the depiction of what corners might be cut, the number of extra people it takes to get through the day or the list of what didn't get done and will have to wait until another day, if at all?
Because we know those things are there in every parent's day, even if not every single day.
And yet, there she is. And there are so many other challenges women lawmakers face - if it's not parenting, it might be caretaking other family members or friends, and if not caretaking, it may be any one (or more) of a number of other obstacles, be they systemic like discrimination or poverty, or related to a disability or other challenge to be overcome.
And when I start to think about the lifestyle of the elected and busy in this way, thanks to the exposés, what I come to realize is that working in an elected position is just like any other job, role or position that any of us take on in life: the more we realize that working as an elected lawmaker can be integrated into our lives just like any other job, role or position, the less we will treat it as this, "Oh, but I can't do that!" on a pedestal aspiration.
Because goodness knows, after all, how awful the fall looks when we do put politicians on a pedestal. Nothing like watching a mother try to get it all done to make us realize, it's all in a day's work.
For more about women in politics:
ElectWomen where you can find resources and articles; it started up at the beginning of this year.
Republican National Committee's Women's Group; the RNC Women's Program is scheduled to have its first Women's Summit this Thursday
Gloria Feldt on Sotomayor's Leadership Inspirations
