I've often wondered about my future as a woman who wants a family and also wants to enter the profession of television news. I also wonder what one who works in morning news eats for breakfast and at what hour, but that's another blog post for another day. But truly, I do wonder about that aspect of my future. I've also recently wondered why mothers get maternity leave and paternity leave is not as widespread. Well, I get it, but I also feel like there is something to be said for a Daddy to be home with his baby for a bit. NBC seems to agree, being one of the companies that does offer paternity leave. Is this the most progressive blog post you've ever read on this page? Possibly. #EqualityForAll
Someone told me once I'd have to choose between a family and a career, and I never ever bought that. I don't think many young girls read this blog, but if you are reading this, I've not yet had a career or a child and I'm here to tell you that you do not, will not and should not have to choose between a family and a career. Well, I won't anyway. Some women actually don't even get to choose, needing to work to provide for their families, and having one over the other becomes a luxury and not a necessity. They prove while having both is challenging, it can be done. If you want both, have both, if you want one, choose one, and if you want neither, that is okay too... as long as you can pay your rent and everything.
Anyway, I woke up this morning and snoozed my alarm. But then, I rolled over and while checking Twitter (I am a perfectly normal person, it is okay to check Twitter first thing in the morning), I saw a photo from Savannah Guthrie's wedding this past weekend. Feeling a gut instinct that this was not the last I'd hear of it, I then decided to turn on Today instead of GMA.
When I did turn it on, I caught the fact that not only did Savannah get married this weekend, but oh, she's also four months pregnant! Yay, Savannah! And the best part? She told friends and family at the wedding after playing the NBC Special Report music. See the video of the special moment here.
Most people know that walking past racks of baby clothes in Target or the mall just is able to reduce me to tears. I do love love, and weddings and babies are really just the happiest of happy and the sweetest of sweet.
But there is something serious to be said about the sweetness that comes from a career, and finding and succeeding by doing something you love and care about each and every day. This can also be said about being a mother.
Which leads me back to my point of having a career and having a child. Little girls, read that again. You can have a career and a child. It does not have to be a career or a child. I am not denying the fact that I imagine the or becomes much more appealing after a career as demanding and consuming as that of television anchor is, and I believe this conversation happens in the lives of brain surgeons and district attorneys and even more professions. I am also not denying that having the and is probably quite challenging on some days. Maybe even most days.
But I am a strong advocate of wanting it all and having it all. Like when I applied for internships that might have been viewed as the most exclusive and desirable of them all, I felt, well, someone has to get it and fill the spot. Why couldn't it be me? Not that you are entitled to any of it, but if you work hard enough, you can have it. And of course I feel this way, but I think you should too. You can have a child and a job and you can have a wonderful house and live a life you've designed for yourself on Pinterest.
It will be hard some days. You will roll over on some mornings to a way-too-early alarm, and I imagine it will be hard to leave the house knowing your children and husband are still tucked away sleeping. It will be hard to miss each kiss goodbye before your kids get on the bus, but you will write into your contract that you are allowed off every first day and last day of school. You will miss barbeques and birthday picnics and you will cover stories you might not love to cover if it means missing these things. But you can do it.
Soon after the announcement(s) on Today, E! News and the rest of my Twitter feed erupted sharing the happy news. #SavannahSurprises is trending on Twitter, and Savannah Guthrie is trending on Facebook. To be quite blunt, one of my very first thoughts was, I wonder how big the news will be when I am pregnant. I wonder how the internet will embrace my future baby, and again, I was 15 years ahead of myself, living the Pinterest-designed life. If you're wondering, I was truly and genuinely happy in this dream scenario that all played out before I even brushed my teeth.
There is a strong dialogue that lives on the internet that argues trying to be superwoman or supermom is not a healthy lifestyle. There are accounts of women who bow their head as if in shame when they admit they have a cleaning woman every two weeks, and admit they truly, cannot do it all. And I'm not saying women should or can. I was raised in a family that truly did take a village. My mom did, and still does, more than her normal mom duties are, and more than we could ever ask or hope for as children. If you're wondering, she also has a career. Still, between carpools, who is taking who to what doctor's appointment and so on, I understand the power of asking for help. And I agree that that is quite valid.
But I'm going to try for the life of me to have the house, wedding, and life that I've designed for myself on Pinterest. Starting with the job. And ending with the babies.
So you might get a phone call in 10 years or so asking to help with a pre-school pick up.
Oh, and Savannah, if you need help with a fill-in shift or two along the way, give me a shout. We "want-it-all" girls gotta stick together!!
You heard it here first,
Jordan
Someone told me once I'd have to choose between a family and a career, and I never ever bought that. I don't think many young girls read this blog, but if you are reading this, I've not yet had a career or a child and I'm here to tell you that you do not, will not and should not have to choose between a family and a career. Well, I won't anyway. Some women actually don't even get to choose, needing to work to provide for their families, and having one over the other becomes a luxury and not a necessity. They prove while having both is challenging, it can be done. If you want both, have both, if you want one, choose one, and if you want neither, that is okay too... as long as you can pay your rent and everything.
Anyway, I woke up this morning and snoozed my alarm. But then, I rolled over and while checking Twitter (I am a perfectly normal person, it is okay to check Twitter first thing in the morning), I saw a photo from Savannah Guthrie's wedding this past weekend. Feeling a gut instinct that this was not the last I'd hear of it, I then decided to turn on Today instead of GMA.
When I did turn it on, I caught the fact that not only did Savannah get married this weekend, but oh, she's also four months pregnant! Yay, Savannah! And the best part? She told friends and family at the wedding after playing the NBC Special Report music. See the video of the special moment here.
Most people know that walking past racks of baby clothes in Target or the mall just is able to reduce me to tears. I do love love, and weddings and babies are really just the happiest of happy and the sweetest of sweet.
But there is something serious to be said about the sweetness that comes from a career, and finding and succeeding by doing something you love and care about each and every day. This can also be said about being a mother.
Which leads me back to my point of having a career and having a child. Little girls, read that again. You can have a career and a child. It does not have to be a career or a child. I am not denying the fact that I imagine the or becomes much more appealing after a career as demanding and consuming as that of television anchor is, and I believe this conversation happens in the lives of brain surgeons and district attorneys and even more professions. I am also not denying that having the and is probably quite challenging on some days. Maybe even most days.
But I am a strong advocate of wanting it all and having it all. Like when I applied for internships that might have been viewed as the most exclusive and desirable of them all, I felt, well, someone has to get it and fill the spot. Why couldn't it be me? Not that you are entitled to any of it, but if you work hard enough, you can have it. And of course I feel this way, but I think you should too. You can have a child and a job and you can have a wonderful house and live a life you've designed for yourself on Pinterest.
It will be hard some days. You will roll over on some mornings to a way-too-early alarm, and I imagine it will be hard to leave the house knowing your children and husband are still tucked away sleeping. It will be hard to miss each kiss goodbye before your kids get on the bus, but you will write into your contract that you are allowed off every first day and last day of school. You will miss barbeques and birthday picnics and you will cover stories you might not love to cover if it means missing these things. But you can do it.
Soon after the announcement(s) on Today, E! News and the rest of my Twitter feed erupted sharing the happy news. #SavannahSurprises is trending on Twitter, and Savannah Guthrie is trending on Facebook. To be quite blunt, one of my very first thoughts was, I wonder how big the news will be when I am pregnant. I wonder how the internet will embrace my future baby, and again, I was 15 years ahead of myself, living the Pinterest-designed life. If you're wondering, I was truly and genuinely happy in this dream scenario that all played out before I even brushed my teeth.
There is a strong dialogue that lives on the internet that argues trying to be superwoman or supermom is not a healthy lifestyle. There are accounts of women who bow their head as if in shame when they admit they have a cleaning woman every two weeks, and admit they truly, cannot do it all. And I'm not saying women should or can. I was raised in a family that truly did take a village. My mom did, and still does, more than her normal mom duties are, and more than we could ever ask or hope for as children. If you're wondering, she also has a career. Still, between carpools, who is taking who to what doctor's appointment and so on, I understand the power of asking for help. And I agree that that is quite valid.
But I'm going to try for the life of me to have the house, wedding, and life that I've designed for myself on Pinterest. Starting with the job. And ending with the babies.
So you might get a phone call in 10 years or so asking to help with a pre-school pick up.
Oh, and Savannah, if you need help with a fill-in shift or two along the way, give me a shout. We "want-it-all" girls gotta stick together!!
You heard it here first,
Jordan
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