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Josina Morita was the first commissioner on Chicago’s Metropolitan Water Reclamation District to have a baby while in office and was told, at one point, to use an empty tech support office when she needed to pump breastmilk.

State Rep. Margaret Croke had a 2-month-old son during the 12th House District primary race and brought her son to work every day because Illinois, unlike several other states, doesn’t consider child care an allowable campaign expense. […]

The four women have joined forces, along with 18 other bipartisan elected officials — aldermen, county commissioners, state representatives — to form an Illinois Mamas Caucus. Their goal is to turn Illinois into the most mom-friendly state in the nation, through policies that support working families, protect female and maternal health, provide high-quality public education and make it easier for women to run for elected office.

“Women, especially mothers, are the ones who don’t crack under pressure,” Conyears-Ervin said. “We know how to have the baby on one hip and stand up to the microphone on the House floor, Senate floor, talk about our legislation, nurse our babies on Zoom calls, you name it. That’s why we’re doing this. Is it difficult? Yes. Do we have time for it? No. But it is so very important.”

The founding members of the Mamas Caucus are hosting a virtual town hall, where they’re inviting the public to share their stories of living and working and parenting through a pandemic.

* The Question: Your parenting/career stories? And since the above story is about the Mamas Caucus, let’s keep the responses to stories about moms and their careers. Thanks.

And I’m sorry this was posted so late on a Friday.

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Apr 23, 21 @ 3:20 pm

Comments

I had a boss tell me that it might be best for my chief of staff to take over my role given my “condition“, which was being pregnant in my third trimester. That was fun. And did I mention she was a woman? And the mamas caucus is a great idea!

Comment by Shytown Friday, Apr 23, 21 @ 3:30 pm
Thankfully, my stories are good. My kids are growing up at the Capitol and canvassing and phonebanking during campaign season. It’s a very supportive workplace and community. I’ve definitely turned the camera off to nurse on a Zoom call.

Comment by wildcat12 Friday, Apr 23, 21 @ 3:52 pm
I hope their future messaging makes a better effort to communicate that it is okay to crack under pressure and that it is okay to ask for help.

I have worked in an office where a member of the staff was permitted to bring their infant grandchild to work as their primary care giver. I think it improved the overall work environment for everyone and made everyone feel better about the organization because they knew that they too would be accommodated and supported if they needed to do the same.

Since then I find it difficult to understand why more employers wouldn’t allow for this practice in an office environment, but let me say this: if your coworker brings a infant to work because child care would run more than their mortgage and you nark on them, you’re a bad person.

Comment by Candy Dogood Friday, Apr 23, 21 @ 3:54 pm
Years ago, my school-aged kids sat politely in the states attorney’s office while I testified in the courtroom upstairs. I think it was a teachers institute day, and grandparents must’ve been traveling. I still don’t know how one can parent without lots of support.

Comment by Mamajama Friday, Apr 23, 21 @ 4:05 pm
As a reporter I brought my young child to a Gov. Blagojevich Capitol media stakeout knowing Rod couldn’t resist stopping and it would give all of us a chance to ask questions.

Comment by Michelle Flaherty Friday, Apr 23, 21 @ 4:12 pm
It’s impossible and yet we do it. I am so very in support of Illinois taking the lead on this.

Comment by SubRosa Friday, Apr 23, 21 @ 4:16 pm
yes, give them support. but the divide of who does or does not have children should not include “especially mothers.” people have no idea what other people go through.

Comment by Amalia Friday, Apr 23, 21 @ 4:33 pm
Upon returning to the office from maternity leave the room provided to pump breastmilk was an old AV closet. There were old televisions, stacked chairs, barely room for me and the pump. A few years later someone accidentally directed me to the “milking barn” when I needed put something in storage. They walked me right to the door of the AV closet.

Comment by Hosta Mom Friday, Apr 23, 21 @ 5:10 pm
As a member of staff, I spent many days pumping while sitting on the floor of a bathroom stall in the Capitol building. I also did the Chicago/Springfield commute so left my infant for the week while paying more than a 1/3 of my salary for childcare. I was jealous of the elected officials who had the option to bring their children to Springfield with them and have them in committees, etc. I was lucky to have a supportive partner as well. Hopefully advocacy includes all mothers who don’t have as many options.

Comment by Mommaof3 Friday, Apr 23, 21 @ 6:12 pm