I found the quotes in this article about Kellyanne Conway turning down a top White House appointment very interesting.
Now, no doubt Conway has been working non-stop for the past year plus. She has a super quick wit, a resolve of steel, unwavering loyalty to her candidate, she’s tenacious as a bulldog, obviously driven, passionate about her beliefs, and doesn’t back down when the media attacks. She broke through the “glass ceiling” by becoming the first female campaign manager for a presidential candidate. And her candidate won, to boot.
One would think she’d jump at the chance to be a central figure in the new administration, after all she has done. She’s certainly earned it. But no. Why? As she puts it:
“And when I was discussing my role with other senior campaign folks, they would say, “I know you have four kids, but…” I said, “There’s nothing that comes after the ‘but’ that makes any sense to me, so don’t even try.” Like, what is the “but”? But they’ll eat Cheerios for the rest of life? Like, nobody will brush their teeth again until I get home? I mean, it just—what is the “but”?
No doubt she’s missed a lot of her children’s lives this past year. And she recognizes that.
And she continues:
“And I do politely mention to them that the question isn’t, would you take the job? The male sitting across from me who’s going to take a big job in the White House. The question is, would you want your wife to? And you really see their whole—would you want the mother of your children do that? You really see their entire visage change. It’s like, oh no, they wouldn’t want their wife to take that job. So, it’s all good.”
Good for her for recognizing her children will only be young for a short time, and that being their mom during those critical years is also a very important job. And that she is the only person in the world that can do it.
Sure she could hire childcare, have family watch them, or even employ personal nannies. But none of those people would be her children’s mom, and she knows it.
It seems rather than viewing her decision as, “throwing it all away” she seems to get there are seasons in a woman’s life. Politics will be there when her children are grown (maybe she will be the first female president?) but her children’s childhood will never come again.
Imagine having Kellyanne Conway as your mom, pouring all that into you. What child wouldn’t want a mom like her in their corner?
she’s having it all. just not at the same time. good decision.
“Just not at the same time”
Exactly!
and living/working/commuting in the DC area is tough enough to begin with. add all the stress from political life, and she would have hardly anytime left to enjoy sitting with her kids in the 55 gallon barrel…
I can see her surrounded by her family in the end, children, grandchildren… Not alone, with cats.
There were so many times during the past year I could see she was absolutely exhausted. I wonder if thinking about a better future for her children and their children was what kept her going?
3…..2…..1…..
I mean, think how many times we’ve heard, “for the first time, this generation will be less well off than their parents.” And how people were just resigned to that idea. Heck no! I personally am very excited now for the future for my children, and their children. And I am thankful to Kellyanne for working so hard to make that possible. The American fire is re-lit! Heck yes! We can do this! MAGA!!!
So what the right balance it would be?
She must have had a taste of it during the campaign. The idea of four solid years of it must have been too much. It is good that she didn’t go with ambition and went home.
That is the million dollar question, Yoda. Each situation is different. I know many women who work because their family needs the money. Kellyanne is blessed to be able to (and has made life choices to set up) make that choice. I doubt she will quit work entirely (or maybe she will), hopefully it will be not nearly so much. But she certainly is a capable woman, there is no question of that. She’s making her life matter, and that is inspiring!
Fuzzy I don’t know how she, or Trump, or any of that team kept up the full court press like they did the whole time.
And that I think was a big selling point of that team — they worked hard. They were in it to win it. I didn’t see that same energy on the other side. I think people noticed, even though I have not seen this in the MSM analysis of the outcome.
Wouldn’t that be wild if Kellyanne was our dear Liz? Lol, unlikely but I kinda picture Liz somewhat like her!
I miss Liz. I hope that she is doing well supporting her husband in his career.
I miss her, too! She said she’d be back when she could!
She did say it was a two year commitment. Let’s hope that all is well with her.
She did say it was a two year commitment
That is more safe than a three hour tour
When Liz does return, I predict she will be bursting at the seams to break it all down, again. I imagine she must be completely beside herself NOT to have been discussing this last 8+ months with us!
Kelly Anne went nuclear she did.
Used the “cats” word she did
She did! She did! She did say “cats”!
She pointed out there is a big difference between normal, married women and single women. They have much different political aspirations.
“cats as their twitter pictures”
BOOM!
MEOW!
FNU MNU LNUsaid:December 15, 2016 at 10:05 pm
she’s having it all. just not at the same time. good decision.
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yes.