NOT APOLOGETIC ABOUT BEING A WORKING MOTHER
She made it clear she would not be apologetic about being a mother. The first to take maternity leave (six weeks) while in office, Ardern famously made history by bringing her infant to the United Nations General Assembly as she was still breastfeeding at that time.
Nor would she let motherhood get in the way of doing her job. Her response to crises – from the 2019 Christchurch shootings to the COVID-19 pandemic – drew praise.
How many of us saw a little of ourselves in her, when Ardern’s then three-year-old interrupted her livestream about COVID-19 rules in November 2021? My toddler certainly had a knack for kicking up a fuss, right in the five-minute window when I had to speak during a regular hour-long meeting in a previous job.
She reminded us time and again, that the characteristics of a mother, a woman were compatible with those of a leader.
IT’S STILL EXHAUSTING
Trying to find a suitable work-life balance is tough for all parents. Imagine doing it while dealing with national crises, with lives and jobs at stake and with the world watching. It ratchets up the pressure.
Far be it from me to compare my responsibilities with those of a prime minister, but who among us hasn’t felt one time or another like we just didn’t have “enough in the tank” to press on at a certain pace at work?
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