Working Moms: Working for All of Us

When women are running for office they are often asked, “How can you campaign and still take care of your family?” This is a question few (if any) male candidates are asked. Being a working mom takes balance and the ability to multi-task and prioritize. The EMILY’s List women prove it every day. Just the other day, Working Mother released their list of the Most Powerful Moms in Washington, DC for 2011 and some familiar – and deserving – faces make the list.

First up is Senator Amy Klobuchar, who is not only a mom to her daughter Abigail, but also a champion for children in Congress. She worked to make public pools safer for children and also voted for the “Head Start School for Readiness Act” which provided $22 billion worth of funding to prepare young children for school.

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand provides a quintessential example of a working mom in Washington. In fact, only five months after being appointed to the Senate, Gillibrand became the sixth woman to give birth as a sitting member of Congress. Now the mom of two young boys, who is often described as “The Senator Mom,” Gillibrand recently introduced the “Every Child Deserves a Family Act” which would prevent discrimination against LGBT couples who want to adopt children.

And congratulations to our friends at BlogHer, founders Lisa Stone and new-mom Jory Des Jardins, who were named the Most Powerful Moms in Social Media! Though Stone acknowledged that a busy personal and professional life sometimes involves sacrifices, she said “what I do get is my family and my work, both of which I’m in love with; and both get 100 percent of my commitment.” Their blog network reaches more than 34 million people each month and serves as a fantastic community for women.

Having the perspective of working mothers in Congress and on the internet is more important than ever. As decision makers and opinion leaders, these women understand the issues that American families face every day because they are living them. They can provide a voice to millions of women across America where it counts.

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