Military Moms -- Michelle's Got Your Back

Prius Recall | Millionaire Mom Murder | Sexist Super Bowl Ads

Military Moms -- Michelle's Got Your Back

Monday, November 10, 2008

filed under: moms are talking about

Working moms will soon have a new advocate in the White House.

Michelle Obama plans to focus her attention as First Lady on the needs of working and military families.

"Women are struggling, families are struggling, but women bear that brunt," she told NPR.

Once she gets her daughters, Malia and Sasha, settled into their new lives, she plans to take on the cause of the working mother. It's a role she knows well. In Chicago, she juggled a $212,000 a year job at the University of Chicago while raising two young daughters. And for the past four years, her husband has been largely absent while he campaigned first for Senator and then soldiered through an endless presidential campaign. She jokingly says her White House title will be Chief Mom.

Her time on the campaign trail opened her eyes to the complicated lives of military families. In an op-ed she wrote for U.S. News and World Report, she sad, "It's even harder for military spouses.... they have to be Mom and Dad. They're working, checking in on their in-laws, helping with homework, and doling out discipline -- and every night, they're praying with all their hearts for their loved ones' safe return."

With the economy worsening -- one million jobs have been lost in the past 10 months -- families with kids at home are facing tougher months ahead. Michelle hasn't laid out any plans about what she will do to help moms. She's said that she doesn't care much for "policy." But she does have the ear of the President and having her as an advocate for working parents might help shape policies to come. Obama already plans to offer tax cuts to middle class Americans and offer health insurance coverage to more Americans. Maybe with Michelle focused on families, we'll see the Family and Medical Leave Act fattened up or see more tax breaks to help parents pay for childcare. Working moms and military moms out there, weigh in on this one.

What could the government do to help you through your days?

3 comments so far | Post a comment now >>

Call me crazy, buy doesn’t obama want to scale back on the military? Or have i just not been paying enough attention to this circus? My husband is on active duty, his job pays for our home, cars, bills, and our newborn daughter, if he loses his job because obama cuts back on military spending, how is that helping military families? That will just add to the unemployment numbers as well as foreclosures, bankruptcies, you name it. Don’t get me wrong, I could be wrong about his intentions regarding those who make the ultimate sacrifice for this country, but if i’m not, i have to pose the question.

- Anonymous

Posted 11/10/08 08:39 PM

Thanks, but no thanks. I think I’m good…..I make a little less than 1/4 of what she made, have 2 young children (which are both in excellerated classes) and I’m a great juggler. Please, instead, do something about the welfare moms that spend their money on drugs!

- Anonymous

Posted 11/10/08 10:20 PM

Balancing work and family can be incredibly challenging. Having an advocate in the white house will help all working families. If you are interested in ways other legislators have been advocating for work and family and specifically military families, check out the Sloan Network at www.bc.edu/wfnetwork.

- Dakota

Posted 11/12/08 11:39 AM