SEATTLE NEWS ARCHIVES & FEATURES
A Washington congresswoman will be one of the few who…
May 2, 2013, 6:13 PM | Updated: May 3, 2013, 7:22 am
Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler, her husband Dan Beutler, and House Speaker John Boehner. The Beutlers announced this week they're expecting their first child in October. (Cliff Owen/AP Photo)
(Cliff Owen/AP Photo)
Representative Jaime Herrera Beutler announced this week that she is expecting her first child this fall.
The Washington politician will become one of the few congresswomen who have given birth during their term in office.
Another representative from Washington, Cathy McMorris Rodgers, has had two children while serving in office. In 1973, Yvonne Braithwaite Burke, from California, is believed to be the first woman in Congress to give birth while in office.
On her Facebook page, the 34-year-old Herrera Beutler posted:
A few years ago when I was newly married and recently elected to Congress, I remember fielding some speculation as to whether or not I was expecting. Well… my husband Dan and I are thrilled to announce that this fall, there will be yet another person in Southwest Washington who will — for their entire adult life — get to explain “No, no, it’s pronounced Butler.” That’s right – we’re expecting a baby!
She is a member of the Republican Party and is the second youngest female U.S. Representative.
The congresswoman is due in October and hopes to seek advice from other members of Congress who have given birth while in office.
Lately, there has been plenty of advice about how to juggle a family and career from top female executives.
Marissa Mayer, president and CEO of Yahoo, took a lot of flack when she banned telecommuting at the online company, yet built a private nursery for her own baby next to her office.
More recently she announced Yahoo is doubling paid maternity leave for mothers, from eight to 16 weeks, plus granting eight weeks for fathers.
Facebook Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg drew on her own experiences with advice for working women in her book “Lean In.”
For Sandberg leaning in means acting with boldness and confidence, sitting at the table where work decisions are made, choosing a life partner who supports their career, and most controversially – not putting careers on hold for marriage and babies before those things are a reality.
Huffington Post founder and editor Arianna Huffington says women should take the opposite approach and “lean back” a little.
In focusing entirely on career, she says women miss out on their children and end up feeling constantly out of balance.
“The world needs women to redefine success beyond money and power. We need a third metric, based on our well-being, our health, our ability to unplug and recharge and renew ourselves, and to find joy in both our job and the rest of our life,” Huffington wrote.
“Ultimately, success is not about money or position, but about living the life you want, not just the life you settle for.”
By LINDA THOMAS
