Wednesday May 11, 2011
Prominent working moms Maria Shriver and Meredith Vieira have been in the news this week. Maria Shriver and Arnold Schwarzenegger disclosed their separation after questions from the media. And Meredith Vieira announced she will step down from the Today Show in June, to be replaced by Ann Curry, also a working mother.
Maria Shriver has championed work-life balance and other causes close to my heart, both as first lady of California and now, through her annual women's conference and Web site. I've appreciated the opportunity to interview her and to write about the discussions she facilitated through her bully pulpit. I wish her and her family -- including four children -- strength through this tough time. Given that she's written honestly about her identity crisis in leaving journalism when Schwarzenegger won the California election, I'm sure the next chapter in her life will produce equally interesting and thoughtful reflections.
As for Meredith Vieira, she led the way for journalists balancing a demanding career with her family life. She left "60 Minutes" after becoming pregnant with her second child, and her success on the national stage serves as a role model for other working parents worried that the mommy track will end their careers. She's leaving the Today Show after five years as co-host.
"I've really had a great time, but time is one of those weird things; you can never get enough of it," she said. "And it just keeps ticking away, and I know that I want to spend more of mine with my husband, Richard, and my kids, Ben, Gabe and Lily."
What do you think of the life transitions ahead for Maria Shriver and Meredith Vieira? Please share your thoughts.
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Monday May 9, 2011
How was your Mother's Day? I spent the entire day on an airplane or in transit, but fortunately had my family to keep me company. So I had a happy Mother's Day even though I didn't get breakfast in bed or a champagne brunch.
In fact, my favorite Mother's Day celebrations are simple. Just kids, mothers and the rest of the family. Not that I would turn down a thoughtful Mother's Day gift, mind you, but it's not necessary.
Please share your Mother's Day stories, either from this year or your best experiences from the past. And remember to check out the All About Parenting Blog Carnival, hosted by Stay-at-Home Moms Guide Apryl Duncan, for more inspiring, useful and memorable ideas on mothers and daughters.
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Wednesday May 4, 2011
In this busy news week, it was easy to overlook an inspiring incident involving working mom Amy Poehler. At the Time 100 gala, Amy Poehler thanked her children's nannies, by name and country of origin, in her speech after being named one of Time's 100 most influential people, according to New York Magazine.
Am I the only one blown away by this? It's the kind of magnanimous gesture that makes you wonder why nobody had thought of it earlier. Because as working moms, we all owe a debt of gratitude to the caregivers whom we rely upon to tend our children while we pursue our careers. As I've written before, as long as you trust your child's caregiver, you can focus single-mindedly on work while you're at the office. If you have a niggling doubt about a caregiver's competence, it's the worst distraction imaginable from your career.
I know that most working moms thank their children's caregivers on a regular basis, with words and personal gestures. But how many of us would think to thank them on a public stage, in an awards ceremony?
That kind of action takes a certain self-confidence in yourself as a mother, and certainly having coming to terms with working moms guilt. We all should emulate Amy Poehler and not pretend we're doing everything all ourselves.
Photo credit: Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images
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Monday May 2, 2011
On Sunday night, CBS News journalist Lara Logan spoke on 60 Minutes about being attacked by a mob during the ousting of Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak in February. The television interview, her first since the assault, was a chilling reminder of the danger that journalists can encounter and the additional considerations any working mom must consider when facing a risky situation in the course of her career.
It was difficult to watch the frank and detailed description Lara Logan gave of being sexually assaulted and nearly killed, and how close she came to never seeing her children again. I admire her bravery in speaking openly, when many rape survivors -- quite understandably -- choose to remain anonymous. She talked about going public with the sexual assault as an act of solidarity with other female reporters in war zones or turbulent areas who have been raped.
Especially moving were Lara Logan's comments about fighting the 25-minute long assault because she wanted to stay alive for her daughter and son, who are just one and two years old. She mentioned the strength and healing she received in supportive letters from viewers and colleagues during her recuperation. "I wish people could truly understand that none of those letters went into a vacuum. It was such incredible thoughtfulness that really lifted me up," she said.
Did you see the interview? I admit I missed seeing it live amid the news of Osama bin Laden's death, but I watched it today online. What did you think?
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