It’s a full-time job being a mother, as it is being a politician at the state level.
And now more and more women are doing double duty.
For generations, most women had to choose between having a family and having a career. Work-life balance can be a lot, especially when that work life presents Michigan residents with long nights and tough decisions.
“It’s very, very challenging while you’re a mother,” said Sen. Mallory McMorrow, R-Royal Oak. “I know a lot of people who decided not to go because of time constraints.”
Ask any politician about the stresses and struggles of their job and chances are they will always mention family.
“You miss your family and you want to be home, so you really want to come home at the end of the week,” said Sen. Michele Hoitenga, of Manton.
If and when starting a family is a big decision for every woman and then how to fit it into your career or lifestyle.
“When I first ran, there was a woman who asked me if I had kids, how many kids I was planning to have and when I was planning to have them,” McMorrow said. “She said I can’t vote for you because this is not a job for a mother, and that has really stuck with me ever since.”
McMorrow was only the second sitting senator to have a child while in office, the first being her colleague Senator Stephanie Chang. This is a very recent phenomenon.
“We didn’t have a leave policy when I was pregnant,” McMorrow said. “I took one anyway. I missed a lot of votes, but it’s a lot of long nights and balances.”
McMorrow’s daughter is now two years old and is starting to realize what her mother is up to.
“My daughter loves this building. She calls it ‘the beautiful tower,'” McMorrow said.
While the day-to-day pressure may be less, being a public figure with older children comes with a separate set of challenges. Hoitenga had two teenagers when he started his political career.
“It’s tough, it’s a tough gig right now and you really have to have that tough skin and be prepared and prepare your kids,” Hoitenga said. “They’re going to see negative things and they have to be prepared for that.”
The three main state offices are held by mothers. Governor Gretchen Whitmer has two daughters in college. Attorney General Dana Nessel has twin sons, also in college. Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson is in a different stage, she had her son just before running for office.
“Being the mother of a six-year-old boy means I have to juggle more, balance more, but really try to be constantly present,” Benson said.
She gets the benefit of bringing him to learn what he does at a crucial age.
“He’s excited to see what I do through the eyes of a six-year-old,” Benson said. “It’s been a lot of fun sharing, ultimately, this life of service with him.”
Each of these women says that becoming a mother changed her perspective and experience, and thus possibly her political stance.
“It’s opened my eyes to the child care crisis we’re facing right now,” McMorrow said. “If it’s so hard for me to find daycare, I can’t imagine how most people do it.”
“Knowing that they’re watching me, I want to be a good example for them, especially now that I’m a grandmother,” Hoitenga said. “I hope to be in a position where I can form a very good future.”
“It keeps you humble when you have to show up for a Zoom session and clean food off your clothes,” Benson said. “It reminds you of the human aspect of this work, and having a child in close contact with you at all times really helps bring that home on a regular basis.”
There is a current push for bills that would allow candidates to use campaign funds for child care expenses while running for office. The idea is that it would remove another hurdle for young mothers interested in the position.
