1 00:00:00,920 --> 00:00:04,240 Speaker 1: Hi. This is Laura Vanderkam. I'm a mother of four, 2 00:00:04,600 --> 00:00:08,440 Speaker 1: an author, journalist, and speaker. And this is Sarah Hart Hunger. 3 00:00:08,800 --> 00:00:11,800 Speaker 1: I'm a mother of three, practicing physician and blogger. On 4 00:00:11,840 --> 00:00:14,600 Speaker 1: the side, we are two working parents who love our 5 00:00:14,640 --> 00:00:17,920 Speaker 1: careers and our families. Welcome to best of both worlds. 6 00:00:18,280 --> 00:00:21,520 Speaker 1: Here we talk about how real women manage work, family, 7 00:00:21,720 --> 00:00:25,360 Speaker 1: and time for fun, from figuring out childcare to mapping 8 00:00:25,360 --> 00:00:28,240 Speaker 1: out long term career goals. We want you to get 9 00:00:28,240 --> 00:00:33,120 Speaker 1: the most out of life. Welcome to best of both worlds. 10 00:00:33,200 --> 00:00:36,800 Speaker 1: This is Laura. This is episode sixty. Today will be 11 00:00:36,840 --> 00:00:40,159 Speaker 1: talking with Anne Johnson Landry on running for office as 12 00:00:40,200 --> 00:00:42,680 Speaker 1: a parent of small children. Not a whole lot of 13 00:00:42,720 --> 00:00:45,040 Speaker 1: people do that for various reasons that she will talk about. 14 00:00:45,120 --> 00:00:47,239 Speaker 1: But we are of course interested in all kinds of 15 00:00:47,240 --> 00:00:50,480 Speaker 1: ways that women in particular are making work in life 16 00:00:50,520 --> 00:00:53,000 Speaker 1: fit together. And she is showing that it is possible 17 00:00:53,040 --> 00:00:56,640 Speaker 1: to run for public office as a parent of small children. 18 00:00:57,360 --> 00:01:00,000 Speaker 1: One small going to get the president of New zeae 19 00:01:00,240 --> 00:01:02,200 Speaker 1: But yeah, the President of New Zealand is doing that here, 20 00:01:02,280 --> 00:01:05,759 Speaker 1: you know, thinking about various Next week on off over 21 00:01:05,880 --> 00:01:08,720 Speaker 1: the map and I say, we're you know, people have 22 00:01:08,760 --> 00:01:10,840 Speaker 1: their thoughts on on Sarah Palin what she's done with 23 00:01:10,880 --> 00:01:13,360 Speaker 1: her life, but she remember she was the governor of Alaska, 24 00:01:13,520 --> 00:01:16,360 Speaker 1: is the mom of five, including born, which is pretty 25 00:01:16,360 --> 00:01:19,080 Speaker 1: crazy too, and went with this, this is not a 26 00:01:19,120 --> 00:01:21,800 Speaker 1: political podcast, and and so of course this is neither 27 00:01:21,920 --> 00:01:25,520 Speaker 1: an endorsement or anything of Landry or her opponent or 28 00:01:25,560 --> 00:01:29,679 Speaker 1: anything like that. But we do think that you know, 29 00:01:29,800 --> 00:01:33,759 Speaker 1: the issues that pertain to women and you know, mothers 30 00:01:33,760 --> 00:01:36,320 Speaker 1: of small kids running for office are you know, can 31 00:01:36,360 --> 00:01:39,119 Speaker 1: cross party lines in many ways, and and so we're 32 00:01:39,160 --> 00:01:41,119 Speaker 1: interested in hearing from her. We're interested in hearing from 33 00:01:41,120 --> 00:01:44,679 Speaker 1: people in various parties. So you know, feel free to 34 00:01:44,680 --> 00:01:46,680 Speaker 1: write us about your own experiences. We'd love to have 35 00:01:46,720 --> 00:01:49,280 Speaker 1: more guests on and we'll be you know, she'll be 36 00:01:49,320 --> 00:01:51,840 Speaker 1: the main segment here for that and I believe her 37 00:01:51,840 --> 00:01:54,240 Speaker 1: election will be over by the time of years primary, 38 00:01:54,840 --> 00:01:56,960 Speaker 1: the time that this this will air. We'll see if 39 00:01:57,600 --> 00:02:03,200 Speaker 1: what happens after that. So we're recording this in August. 40 00:02:03,440 --> 00:02:06,640 Speaker 1: And Sarah just got back very late last night. She's 41 00:02:06,640 --> 00:02:11,000 Speaker 1: being such a trooper doing this this podcast today. You 42 00:02:11,040 --> 00:02:14,560 Speaker 1: got back late from your West coast trip, right, yes, 43 00:02:14,639 --> 00:02:19,600 Speaker 1: we did, so we spent ten days, flew from Miami 44 00:02:19,639 --> 00:02:23,080 Speaker 1: to Vancouver and then drove to Whistler, spent three days 45 00:02:23,080 --> 00:02:26,400 Speaker 1: there with friends, drove to Seattle, spent two days in 46 00:02:26,400 --> 00:02:28,720 Speaker 1: a hotel there and hanging out in Seattle, and then 47 00:02:29,040 --> 00:02:32,000 Speaker 1: like four more days after that in Portland with kind 48 00:02:32,040 --> 00:02:34,680 Speaker 1: of two sets of friends. And it was a lot. 49 00:02:34,960 --> 00:02:36,720 Speaker 1: There was at least one moment when I think I 50 00:02:36,800 --> 00:02:40,920 Speaker 1: made a joke. I was like, I'm gonna like, Laura's 51 00:02:40,919 --> 00:02:43,200 Speaker 1: gonna pay for this or something like that. I didn't 52 00:02:43,200 --> 00:02:45,320 Speaker 1: make you do it. Yeah you did your book did 53 00:02:45,520 --> 00:02:49,440 Speaker 1: I booked? Okay? But in the end, I'm actually super 54 00:02:49,480 --> 00:02:51,400 Speaker 1: glad we went. And I even made some comment that 55 00:02:51,480 --> 00:02:53,920 Speaker 1: like my my future self is going to thank me 56 00:02:54,120 --> 00:02:56,720 Speaker 1: for my present self. And during some of those moments, 57 00:02:57,160 --> 00:03:00,359 Speaker 1: and you know, truth be told, I will say it. 58 00:03:00,360 --> 00:03:03,440 Speaker 1: It was less hard than I feared, and some of 59 00:03:03,480 --> 00:03:07,640 Speaker 1: the challenges were different than I expected. Our baby was 60 00:03:07,800 --> 00:03:10,600 Speaker 1: Jennevie was very good nine eight months. Seems to be 61 00:03:10,639 --> 00:03:14,480 Speaker 1: a nice sweet spot for traveling, pretty easily occupiable, hung 62 00:03:14,480 --> 00:03:17,360 Speaker 1: out in the urgo like a champ. I mean, just 63 00:03:17,600 --> 00:03:19,680 Speaker 1: you know, no, we didn't have any plan naps, but 64 00:03:19,680 --> 00:03:22,200 Speaker 1: really she doesn't nap well at home either, so there 65 00:03:22,240 --> 00:03:24,160 Speaker 1: you go. And she did wake up at night, but 66 00:03:24,200 --> 00:03:26,120 Speaker 1: again she does that at home too, so it wasn't 67 00:03:26,160 --> 00:03:29,400 Speaker 1: really terribly different from our home routine, and then we 68 00:03:29,400 --> 00:03:32,080 Speaker 1: had lots of fun diversions during the day. The harder part, 69 00:03:32,120 --> 00:03:34,280 Speaker 1: I think was that about eight or nine days in, 70 00:03:34,400 --> 00:03:36,520 Speaker 1: the other two were starting to go bonkers, and I 71 00:03:36,600 --> 00:03:39,320 Speaker 1: was starting to go bonkers with them, as was my husband, 72 00:03:39,400 --> 00:03:41,960 Speaker 1: and we were like, maybe we like we've had prior 73 00:03:42,040 --> 00:03:44,880 Speaker 1: trips where we've taken a little adults only break where 74 00:03:44,920 --> 00:03:46,600 Speaker 1: Josh and I have like left the weekend and maybe 75 00:03:46,640 --> 00:03:48,760 Speaker 1: left them with my parents, and that's been so nice, 76 00:03:48,920 --> 00:03:51,280 Speaker 1: and I was missing that a little bit on this trip. 77 00:03:51,280 --> 00:03:52,640 Speaker 1: I would have liked to have a little bit more 78 00:03:52,680 --> 00:03:55,000 Speaker 1: couples time. But the truth is that, you know, with 79 00:03:55,040 --> 00:03:57,120 Speaker 1: Genevie's still nursing, I wasn't ready to leave all three 80 00:03:57,160 --> 00:03:59,360 Speaker 1: of them, and it didn't make sense to like bring 81 00:03:59,400 --> 00:04:01,760 Speaker 1: her along and not the other two for any part 82 00:04:01,760 --> 00:04:04,560 Speaker 1: of it. So we made it work and we made 83 00:04:04,600 --> 00:04:08,680 Speaker 1: a lot of really fun memories. We did a lot actually, 84 00:04:08,720 --> 00:04:12,880 Speaker 1: and I'm really really glad we went again. Good that's 85 00:04:12,920 --> 00:04:15,440 Speaker 1: good to hear. Yeah, No, this is the travel is 86 00:04:15,480 --> 00:04:19,640 Speaker 1: definitely one of those things of the anticipating and remembering selves, 87 00:04:19,760 --> 00:04:22,880 Speaker 1: needing to have some weighing in it, because otherwise, you know, 88 00:04:22,960 --> 00:04:26,480 Speaker 1: if it's just the experience of traveling with three small kids, 89 00:04:26,520 --> 00:04:30,160 Speaker 1: I'm not sure we'd ever do it, given the difficulties 90 00:04:30,160 --> 00:04:32,760 Speaker 1: that there can be in the moment. Although you know, 91 00:04:32,800 --> 00:04:34,800 Speaker 1: the funny thing is like the airport part and the 92 00:04:34,839 --> 00:04:37,080 Speaker 1: car parts, like they weren't that bad. Yeah, that's what 93 00:04:37,120 --> 00:04:39,600 Speaker 1: I was so nervous about. I think the harder part 94 00:04:39,800 --> 00:04:43,000 Speaker 1: was we stayed in some people's houses that like one 95 00:04:43,000 --> 00:04:45,599 Speaker 1: of our dear friends. Oh, they were the most amazing hosts, 96 00:04:45,600 --> 00:04:47,680 Speaker 1: but they're expecting their first so they didn't have like 97 00:04:47,680 --> 00:04:50,000 Speaker 1: a lot of baby stuff all over the place, so 98 00:04:50,080 --> 00:04:51,960 Speaker 1: it was sort of like, oh god, our kids are 99 00:04:51,960 --> 00:04:55,280 Speaker 1: going to break their glass table. And you know, like 100 00:04:55,800 --> 00:04:59,920 Speaker 1: having environments that weren't you know, quite suited to three 101 00:05:00,080 --> 00:05:03,720 Speaker 1: rambunctious children and a baby putting everything in her mouth 102 00:05:03,800 --> 00:05:05,600 Speaker 1: and made it a little bit more challenging the whole 103 00:05:05,640 --> 00:05:09,400 Speaker 1: like plane and car ride part. I mean, iPads are 104 00:05:09,600 --> 00:05:14,040 Speaker 1: amazing for any older kid. And again eight months, I 105 00:05:14,080 --> 00:05:16,680 Speaker 1: think under a year really is a nice sweet spot 106 00:05:16,760 --> 00:05:19,400 Speaker 1: because she was entertained by just like I would like 107 00:05:19,480 --> 00:05:21,560 Speaker 1: hand her puffs really slowly, one at a time, and 108 00:05:21,560 --> 00:05:24,080 Speaker 1: that was like sometimes she would crumple a page from 109 00:05:24,120 --> 00:05:28,040 Speaker 1: the airplane magazine and that was enough to keep her happy. 110 00:05:28,120 --> 00:05:31,320 Speaker 1: She like really didn't cry. She fell asleep a little bit. 111 00:05:32,120 --> 00:05:33,520 Speaker 1: I will say, I brought a book with me on 112 00:05:33,560 --> 00:05:37,080 Speaker 1: this trip, as mong page as I read zero zero, 113 00:05:38,000 --> 00:05:40,400 Speaker 1: so there wasn't a lot of downtime. But that's okay. 114 00:05:40,440 --> 00:05:42,040 Speaker 1: I wasn't really expecting it. Well, I was gonna say, 115 00:05:42,040 --> 00:05:43,680 Speaker 1: with the glass table, like you could have you know, 116 00:05:43,680 --> 00:05:45,479 Speaker 1: could have saved your friends the trouble of their own 117 00:05:45,480 --> 00:05:48,440 Speaker 1: baby breaking it, So I know, I definitely had that thought. 118 00:05:48,520 --> 00:05:50,800 Speaker 1: I was like, well, this will be a slow evolution 119 00:05:51,920 --> 00:05:54,840 Speaker 1: since they have one unborn child that's not mobile yet. 120 00:05:55,000 --> 00:05:57,880 Speaker 1: It'll take them a few we'll come back in a 121 00:05:57,880 --> 00:06:03,240 Speaker 1: few years everything exactly, and then you're good, Like you know, 122 00:06:03,400 --> 00:06:07,520 Speaker 1: I said, yeah, well that's uh, that's great, and people 123 00:06:07,680 --> 00:06:09,840 Speaker 1: slip it off over the next few days hopefully, and 124 00:06:10,040 --> 00:06:14,160 Speaker 1: you know, eventually you'll be back to normal more or less. Yes, yeah, 125 00:06:14,200 --> 00:06:16,080 Speaker 1: I'm not worried about that. The light, you know, it'll 126 00:06:16,080 --> 00:06:19,480 Speaker 1: do a reset. It'll be fine. It'll be fine. Well, 127 00:06:19,480 --> 00:06:22,680 Speaker 1: we're excited to welcome Anne Landry to the podcast today 128 00:06:22,880 --> 00:06:25,880 Speaker 1: and is running for office in the state of Massachusetts. 129 00:06:25,920 --> 00:06:27,920 Speaker 1: But we'll let her tell you about that. So, Ann, 130 00:06:27,920 --> 00:06:30,200 Speaker 1: why don't you go ahead and introduce yourself. Oh sure, 131 00:06:30,279 --> 00:06:32,479 Speaker 1: Thank you so much Laura and Sarah for having me 132 00:06:32,520 --> 00:06:35,560 Speaker 1: on the podcast today. I am an avid follower and 133 00:06:36,240 --> 00:06:39,760 Speaker 1: very much appreciate this opportunity. My name is Anne Landry, 134 00:06:39,800 --> 00:06:42,960 Speaker 1: and I'm running for state representative for the thirtieth Middlesex 135 00:06:43,160 --> 00:06:47,840 Speaker 1: District in Massachusetts, which consists of Precincts two through five 136 00:06:47,880 --> 00:06:51,160 Speaker 1: and Reading and Wards two through six in Wuburn. I'm 137 00:06:51,200 --> 00:06:53,680 Speaker 1: doing this as a mom of an almost two year 138 00:06:53,720 --> 00:06:57,279 Speaker 1: old child. My son turns to this week, but I 139 00:06:57,440 --> 00:07:00,520 Speaker 1: decided to jump in the race when he was eighteen 140 00:07:00,520 --> 00:07:04,200 Speaker 1: months old. And what, you have a job other than 141 00:07:04,279 --> 00:07:07,720 Speaker 1: running for office, right? You are also working in I do. 142 00:07:07,839 --> 00:07:11,120 Speaker 1: I work as chief counsel to Senator Brownsburger, who's the 143 00:07:11,200 --> 00:07:14,920 Speaker 1: chair of the Judiciary Committee in Massachusetts. I've worked on 144 00:07:14,920 --> 00:07:18,320 Speaker 1: actually both the House and Senate sides of the Massachusetts 145 00:07:18,360 --> 00:07:21,560 Speaker 1: State Legislature and have been in Senator Brownsburger's office as 146 00:07:21,640 --> 00:07:25,160 Speaker 1: counsel for the past six and a half years, and 147 00:07:25,280 --> 00:07:27,480 Speaker 1: did you need to scale down your hours in order 148 00:07:27,560 --> 00:07:29,920 Speaker 1: to take on running for office at the same time. 149 00:07:30,200 --> 00:07:33,880 Speaker 1: I did, and I don't regret that decision at all. 150 00:07:33,920 --> 00:07:38,600 Speaker 1: It has made it a manageable, if very intense experience. 151 00:07:38,800 --> 00:07:43,400 Speaker 1: I ended up when I was considering the run, talked 152 00:07:43,440 --> 00:07:47,440 Speaker 1: to my boss, the Senator, and he suggested he would 153 00:07:47,480 --> 00:07:51,120 Speaker 1: be entirely flexible as to how to approach my schedule 154 00:07:51,160 --> 00:07:54,920 Speaker 1: to make this doable. He was incredibly supportive of my 155 00:07:55,000 --> 00:07:58,280 Speaker 1: pursuing this opportunity, and so I've dropped to part time 156 00:07:58,480 --> 00:08:02,880 Speaker 1: half hours eighteen point seven five hours a week exactly, 157 00:08:03,480 --> 00:08:09,160 Speaker 1: which has made it a more feasible thing to do. Wonderful. 158 00:08:09,600 --> 00:08:12,520 Speaker 1: So what did you make you decide to throw your 159 00:08:12,560 --> 00:08:14,440 Speaker 1: hat in the ring a six months or so ago 160 00:08:14,520 --> 00:08:17,800 Speaker 1: when you decided to jump in? Sure, So I have 161 00:08:17,920 --> 00:08:21,080 Speaker 1: been interested in running for office for quite a while. 162 00:08:21,360 --> 00:08:27,120 Speaker 1: About four years ago, I participated in a training program 163 00:08:27,160 --> 00:08:30,120 Speaker 1: for democratic women who are interested in running for office 164 00:08:30,160 --> 00:08:34,480 Speaker 1: called Emerge. But I thought after having my son that 165 00:08:34,520 --> 00:08:37,320 Speaker 1: I would wait until I was out of the phase 166 00:08:37,360 --> 00:08:40,400 Speaker 1: of life of having a young child or young children, 167 00:08:40,480 --> 00:08:45,240 Speaker 1: knowing how all consuming it can be. But What transpired 168 00:08:45,360 --> 00:08:49,400 Speaker 1: was that our current state representative announced he would not 169 00:08:49,559 --> 00:08:52,920 Speaker 1: be running for reelection, and this was this meant that 170 00:08:52,920 --> 00:08:55,280 Speaker 1: there was an open seat, something that can come around 171 00:08:56,120 --> 00:08:59,120 Speaker 1: pretty rarely. And it became a matter of well, do 172 00:08:59,160 --> 00:09:01,520 Speaker 1: I run for office now or do I wait another 173 00:09:01,600 --> 00:09:07,480 Speaker 1: twenty years before before taking the plunge. And because it 174 00:09:07,679 --> 00:09:10,959 Speaker 1: became also became clear that I had the support at 175 00:09:10,960 --> 00:09:14,520 Speaker 1: home from my husband and the support at work from 176 00:09:14,559 --> 00:09:17,880 Speaker 1: my boss, I decided that I should do it now 177 00:09:18,000 --> 00:09:22,280 Speaker 1: and that that way I wouldn't have any regrets about it. Yeah, 178 00:09:22,320 --> 00:09:24,439 Speaker 1: and I'm sure that. I mean, obviously the logistics of 179 00:09:24,520 --> 00:09:28,080 Speaker 1: running for office, there's a lot that is involved in that. 180 00:09:28,600 --> 00:09:32,320 Speaker 1: What does make it particularly complicated for people with young 181 00:09:32,400 --> 00:09:35,360 Speaker 1: children because I know there aren't a whole lot of parents, 182 00:09:35,440 --> 00:09:38,880 Speaker 1: particularly mothers of young children, who do decide to run 183 00:09:38,880 --> 00:09:41,920 Speaker 1: for public office. That is true, and I do think 184 00:09:42,000 --> 00:09:45,920 Speaker 1: that that has implications at the policy in the policy 185 00:09:45,960 --> 00:09:52,040 Speaker 1: making arena, but I think that the lack of childcare 186 00:09:52,160 --> 00:09:56,280 Speaker 1: options can be a challenge for particularly for women and 187 00:09:56,280 --> 00:10:00,360 Speaker 1: people of color. Now, recently, at the federal LEFE level, 188 00:10:01,360 --> 00:10:04,440 Speaker 1: a new law has passed that allows candidates to use 189 00:10:04,480 --> 00:10:09,000 Speaker 1: campaign funds for childcare, which is just this year, I believe, 190 00:10:09,240 --> 00:10:12,679 Speaker 1: and a great a new opportunity that I hope will 191 00:10:12,720 --> 00:10:16,240 Speaker 1: lower the barrier barrier to entry for more women to 192 00:10:16,320 --> 00:10:19,400 Speaker 1: run for office. At the state level, there was legislation 193 00:10:19,520 --> 00:10:23,800 Speaker 1: introduced this year, but the end of the legislative session 194 00:10:23,800 --> 00:10:26,680 Speaker 1: formal legislative session has just come and gone and it 195 00:10:26,720 --> 00:10:29,000 Speaker 1: did not make it across the finish line, although I 196 00:10:29,040 --> 00:10:31,840 Speaker 1: have no doubt that it will be reintroduced in the 197 00:10:31,880 --> 00:10:34,160 Speaker 1: next legislative session, as there is quite a bit of 198 00:10:34,200 --> 00:10:38,199 Speaker 1: interest around this area. But it's not just the childcare. 199 00:10:38,240 --> 00:10:41,000 Speaker 1: I mean, it's or the funding for childcare. It's stuff 200 00:10:41,000 --> 00:10:43,600 Speaker 1: like you are meeting with tons of people in the evenings, 201 00:10:43,679 --> 00:10:46,600 Speaker 1: right like you're going to lots of community events, and 202 00:10:46,600 --> 00:10:49,040 Speaker 1: it sort of probably things come up that they'd like 203 00:10:49,120 --> 00:10:53,000 Speaker 1: your parents at, sort of not entirely planned. The things 204 00:10:53,000 --> 00:10:55,440 Speaker 1: that I mean. Are those logistics involved in it as well? 205 00:10:56,240 --> 00:11:00,840 Speaker 1: They certainly are. I think that it's interesting I knocked 206 00:11:00,880 --> 00:11:04,320 Speaker 1: on one of the logistical matters of running for office 207 00:11:04,360 --> 00:11:07,840 Speaker 1: at this level where there's a fine night, I'm not 208 00:11:07,920 --> 00:11:11,199 Speaker 1: running for president, where there's no way you can knock 209 00:11:11,480 --> 00:11:15,120 Speaker 1: on the door of every possible voter, But at the 210 00:11:16,280 --> 00:11:18,959 Speaker 1: level where you're running for state representative. That is the 211 00:11:19,000 --> 00:11:22,520 Speaker 1: work that the main work of running for office, but 212 00:11:22,600 --> 00:11:25,400 Speaker 1: you can do quite a bit of that work before bedtime, 213 00:11:25,760 --> 00:11:28,960 Speaker 1: and then you can take additional meetings after bedtime. And 214 00:11:29,000 --> 00:11:34,400 Speaker 1: so I have found that, ironically, there is some benefit 215 00:11:34,520 --> 00:11:37,960 Speaker 1: to running for office being the parent of a young 216 00:11:38,080 --> 00:11:42,400 Speaker 1: child who has a seven to seven thirty bedtime, because 217 00:11:42,480 --> 00:11:45,360 Speaker 1: it's possible to go to meetings thereafter. It's also possible 218 00:11:45,400 --> 00:11:47,400 Speaker 1: to do a lot of the work of running for 219 00:11:47,480 --> 00:11:51,880 Speaker 1: office in the afternoons. And csay, you also had a 220 00:11:51,920 --> 00:11:54,520 Speaker 1: lot of support from your husband. What does that mean 221 00:11:54,600 --> 00:11:58,760 Speaker 1: on a practical level, So let me count the ways. 222 00:11:58,800 --> 00:12:02,320 Speaker 1: So he has acted as my campaign manager. He was 223 00:12:02,320 --> 00:12:06,640 Speaker 1: originally supposed to start off as interim campaign manager, but 224 00:12:06,840 --> 00:12:11,559 Speaker 1: that has He continues as campaign manager with three weeks 225 00:12:11,600 --> 00:12:15,080 Speaker 1: to go until the primary. He also he is a 226 00:12:15,080 --> 00:12:20,120 Speaker 1: public school elementary elementary school teacher, and so he with 227 00:12:20,280 --> 00:12:25,839 Speaker 1: the having the summer off, has dedicated himself to both 228 00:12:25,920 --> 00:12:29,319 Speaker 1: parenting and campaign management. So he and he does all 229 00:12:29,360 --> 00:12:33,040 Speaker 1: of the grocery shopping and the cooking. He has been 230 00:12:33,080 --> 00:12:36,959 Speaker 1: a tremendous partner in every aspect of the word, and 231 00:12:37,240 --> 00:12:39,680 Speaker 1: so that made it more possible for you to, like 232 00:12:39,679 --> 00:12:41,480 Speaker 1: I said, go to a meeting at seven thirty p's 233 00:12:41,520 --> 00:12:47,000 Speaker 1: there exactly and by the way, like i'd say that 234 00:12:47,120 --> 00:12:50,439 Speaker 1: the idea you were still nursing when you declared your candidacy, right, 235 00:12:50,679 --> 00:12:54,360 Speaker 1: I did. I did. I think it would have been 236 00:12:54,400 --> 00:12:58,959 Speaker 1: really difficult for me to have launched this run while 237 00:12:59,000 --> 00:13:01,280 Speaker 1: my child was in the first year of his life, 238 00:13:01,320 --> 00:13:05,280 Speaker 1: when he had recurrent ear infections. He wasn't sleeping well 239 00:13:05,320 --> 00:13:07,880 Speaker 1: at night. We weren't sleeping well at night. And I 240 00:13:07,920 --> 00:13:13,640 Speaker 1: think that having an uninterrupted sleep is an important piece 241 00:13:13,640 --> 00:13:16,640 Speaker 1: of running for running for office, to make it manageable. 242 00:13:17,760 --> 00:13:22,080 Speaker 1: And I am no longer nursing, and that tapered off 243 00:13:22,160 --> 00:13:25,240 Speaker 1: very soon after I announced that I was running, And 244 00:13:25,280 --> 00:13:29,040 Speaker 1: I think that that has made made it easier as well. 245 00:13:29,520 --> 00:13:33,920 Speaker 1: Not that I'm sure it can't be done. Women you 246 00:13:33,960 --> 00:13:38,200 Speaker 1: know pump and are able, as you know, as you 247 00:13:38,280 --> 00:13:40,960 Speaker 1: well know, able to do a lot wehle breastfeeding and 248 00:13:41,400 --> 00:13:45,880 Speaker 1: having fulfilling professional lives. But for me, I have found 249 00:13:45,880 --> 00:13:52,720 Speaker 1: that I am grateful that that sweet but often draining 250 00:13:53,679 --> 00:13:57,560 Speaker 1: part of our relationship has come to an end. I 251 00:13:57,600 --> 00:14:00,679 Speaker 1: will time in here. I've been very quiet. I'm just 252 00:14:00,760 --> 00:14:03,640 Speaker 1: joking to Laura. I'm very jet lagged and maybe taking 253 00:14:03,760 --> 00:14:05,800 Speaker 1: not this is fascinating, So I'm definitely not taking the 254 00:14:05,880 --> 00:14:09,320 Speaker 1: nap that I desperately need right now. But I'm with you. 255 00:14:09,760 --> 00:14:12,720 Speaker 1: It is if you're all into nursing, which for me, 256 00:14:12,800 --> 00:14:14,760 Speaker 1: it's sort of like I feel like it's going to 257 00:14:14,800 --> 00:14:16,480 Speaker 1: be all in and then it's gonna be it's going 258 00:14:16,559 --> 00:14:19,280 Speaker 1: to be all out, and when I'm ready, that'll definitely 259 00:14:19,360 --> 00:14:21,600 Speaker 1: be a wonderful thing. It's hard to do a lot 260 00:14:21,800 --> 00:14:25,000 Speaker 1: of other things. I mean, it's just kind of physically 261 00:14:25,840 --> 00:14:29,160 Speaker 1: a lot. The sleep takes a toll, especially if you're 262 00:14:29,200 --> 00:14:32,680 Speaker 1: away during the day. Sleep training or you know, trying 263 00:14:32,720 --> 00:14:35,720 Speaker 1: to get your night straight is a lot harder. And 264 00:14:35,840 --> 00:14:38,400 Speaker 1: I love that relationship, but it can also I was 265 00:14:38,480 --> 00:14:41,400 Speaker 1: using the term ball and chain during your vacation, which 266 00:14:41,400 --> 00:14:43,640 Speaker 1: is terrible. It's the sweetest ball and chain ever and 267 00:14:43,640 --> 00:14:45,680 Speaker 1: it's lovely, but it's lovely to be done as well. 268 00:14:45,760 --> 00:14:48,320 Speaker 1: So thank you for that reminder. And it's good to 269 00:14:48,320 --> 00:14:50,600 Speaker 1: be real about it, because you know what, you can 270 00:14:50,760 --> 00:14:53,680 Speaker 1: also feel kind of superhuman if I remember correctly from before, 271 00:14:53,880 --> 00:14:55,840 Speaker 1: when all of a sudden that's gone, You're like, oh 272 00:14:55,920 --> 00:14:58,960 Speaker 1: my god, all this time, this is amazing. I may 273 00:14:59,000 --> 00:15:03,400 Speaker 1: as well run for off exactly exactly so, And I 274 00:15:03,480 --> 00:15:05,440 Speaker 1: wonder if you could talk us through a day on 275 00:15:05,480 --> 00:15:08,080 Speaker 1: the campaign track, like what does a day look like 276 00:15:08,160 --> 00:15:11,360 Speaker 1: for you? Sure is a thick of it right now, 277 00:15:12,200 --> 00:15:14,600 Speaker 1: we're recording this in late summer, where your primary is 278 00:15:14,640 --> 00:15:17,480 Speaker 1: in early September. Right it is September fourth, the day 279 00:15:17,480 --> 00:15:20,320 Speaker 1: after Labor Day, So it's too excuse me, it's three 280 00:15:20,360 --> 00:15:24,080 Speaker 1: weeks from tomorrow. I spent the morning before recording the 281 00:15:24,120 --> 00:15:26,800 Speaker 1: podcast knocking on doors. I'll go out again to do 282 00:15:27,440 --> 00:15:30,640 Speaker 1: some more afterwards, although first I might work a little 283 00:15:30,680 --> 00:15:33,240 Speaker 1: bit more on a press release that will be going out. 284 00:15:33,400 --> 00:15:36,160 Speaker 1: I do have this This isn't so much of a 285 00:15:36,240 --> 00:15:40,360 Speaker 1: day as a week in the life. Upcoming this week, 286 00:15:40,400 --> 00:15:44,560 Speaker 1: I have a couple of evening events of what we're 287 00:15:44,560 --> 00:15:48,000 Speaker 1: calling meat and griefs that different neighbors and members of 288 00:15:48,040 --> 00:15:50,240 Speaker 1: the community host for people to come and hear my 289 00:15:50,280 --> 00:15:54,520 Speaker 1: stump speech and ask me questions. So there are number 290 00:15:54,520 --> 00:15:58,240 Speaker 1: of evening events. But then at the level that I'm running, 291 00:15:58,240 --> 00:16:01,600 Speaker 1: where you're running for state representative, which is where i'd 292 00:16:01,600 --> 00:16:07,200 Speaker 1: be running to serve a community of forty thousand people, 293 00:16:07,280 --> 00:16:11,440 Speaker 1: but where they're probably going to be only a handful 294 00:16:11,480 --> 00:16:15,400 Speaker 1: of thousands. Probably, I think they're predicting maybe a four 295 00:16:15,440 --> 00:16:19,480 Speaker 1: thousand person turnout in the primary. It is what you 296 00:16:19,560 --> 00:16:22,760 Speaker 1: might call a door knockable universe of like the voters. 297 00:16:23,120 --> 00:16:28,000 Speaker 1: So that's how I'm spending much of my time. We're also, 298 00:16:28,080 --> 00:16:30,640 Speaker 1: you know, going back and forth with the printer to 299 00:16:30,720 --> 00:16:34,120 Speaker 1: make sure that we're getting the design for the graphic 300 00:16:34,200 --> 00:16:36,960 Speaker 1: design for the mailers that are going out on target. 301 00:16:37,320 --> 00:16:41,240 Speaker 1: So there's that kind of correspondence as well when you're 302 00:16:41,320 --> 00:16:43,720 Speaker 1: knocking on doors, like what do you I'm curious how 303 00:16:43,760 --> 00:16:46,440 Speaker 1: that works. Is it just you walk it up to 304 00:16:46,480 --> 00:16:49,120 Speaker 1: the door like the dog is out barking at you. 305 00:16:49,920 --> 00:16:51,680 Speaker 1: Do they not have that where you live? Because we 306 00:16:51,720 --> 00:16:54,720 Speaker 1: get a lot of doorknockers here. Oh yeah, we're running 307 00:16:54,760 --> 00:16:57,440 Speaker 1: for the commissioner. Yeah, I mean, and I definitely have. 308 00:16:57,720 --> 00:17:00,000 Speaker 1: I have come into contact with quite a few dogs, 309 00:17:01,320 --> 00:17:04,200 Speaker 1: and fortunately I am a dog person, so I think 310 00:17:04,240 --> 00:17:06,399 Speaker 1: if I wasn't a dog person, it could be pretty 311 00:17:06,440 --> 00:17:10,800 Speaker 1: terrifying experience. But and I do you know, approach with 312 00:17:10,960 --> 00:17:16,080 Speaker 1: caution absolutely, and you know there's no door worth knocking. 313 00:17:16,080 --> 00:17:21,720 Speaker 1: That's worth a dog bite. But it is you do 314 00:17:22,560 --> 00:17:28,119 Speaker 1: surprise people. It is something where you're inherently making people 315 00:17:28,280 --> 00:17:32,040 Speaker 1: slightly and uncomfortable because you're they're not expecting you at 316 00:17:32,080 --> 00:17:36,040 Speaker 1: the door. But it is, it is. It is a 317 00:17:36,119 --> 00:17:40,280 Speaker 1: memorable experience for voters, is what I What I have 318 00:17:40,359 --> 00:17:43,479 Speaker 1: heard at least is that the no, it totally is. 319 00:17:43,560 --> 00:17:46,080 Speaker 1: I mean, and I've had some nice conversation, but well, 320 00:17:46,400 --> 00:17:48,680 Speaker 1: I mean, especially if it's somebody local, and then a 321 00:17:48,720 --> 00:17:50,399 Speaker 1: lot of times you can kind of make connections with 322 00:17:50,400 --> 00:17:53,160 Speaker 1: that person and it's as long as no one's sleeping 323 00:17:53,160 --> 00:17:54,880 Speaker 1: in our house. I think it's I think it's really nice. 324 00:17:54,920 --> 00:17:57,920 Speaker 1: There is. There have definitely been times where there where 325 00:17:58,160 --> 00:18:00,919 Speaker 1: a parent of a young child has has open the 326 00:18:00,960 --> 00:18:08,560 Speaker 1: door like this time, go away, please leave, and you're like, 327 00:18:08,720 --> 00:18:11,280 Speaker 1: I totally get it, and then they love the exactly 328 00:18:11,320 --> 00:18:14,120 Speaker 1: and if I totally get it, and oh dear, because 329 00:18:14,119 --> 00:18:16,919 Speaker 1: you would be such a likely voter for up for me. 330 00:18:17,119 --> 00:18:19,320 Speaker 1: But I hope that I haven't messed it up. But 331 00:18:19,359 --> 00:18:24,040 Speaker 1: by interrupting Knaftime, which I know is so precious. Yeah, 332 00:18:24,200 --> 00:18:26,119 Speaker 1: we all know that that's precious. Yes, Now, I was 333 00:18:26,160 --> 00:18:28,080 Speaker 1: really annoyed last night when the phone rang at like 334 00:18:28,200 --> 00:18:30,760 Speaker 1: nine o'clock. I've just gotten a three year old whose 335 00:18:30,840 --> 00:18:35,119 Speaker 1: kai is? You know, telemarketing. I got to get myself 336 00:18:35,160 --> 00:18:37,160 Speaker 1: off the list of these places. I don't know how 337 00:18:37,160 --> 00:18:40,119 Speaker 1: they have me, but no, So you just talk about 338 00:18:40,320 --> 00:18:43,439 Speaker 1: I mean, the the issues that you're running on, asking them, 339 00:18:43,760 --> 00:18:46,399 Speaker 1: you know what they're interested and I'm curious how those Yeah, Well, 340 00:18:46,480 --> 00:18:49,719 Speaker 1: I will knock and I will let people know that 341 00:18:49,800 --> 00:18:54,960 Speaker 1: I'm running. I'll give them a you know, a thirty second. 342 00:18:54,960 --> 00:18:57,320 Speaker 1: If they seem like they're receptive to this length of time, 343 00:18:57,359 --> 00:18:59,520 Speaker 1: I'll give them kind of a twenty to thirty second 344 00:18:59,640 --> 00:19:01,719 Speaker 1: intro to who I am, what I stand for. I 345 00:19:01,720 --> 00:19:05,959 Speaker 1: give them a pamphlet of information about me, and then 346 00:19:06,000 --> 00:19:09,480 Speaker 1: I invite them to ask me any questions they might have, 347 00:19:09,760 --> 00:19:12,360 Speaker 1: or if there are any concerns they'd like our next 348 00:19:12,359 --> 00:19:15,560 Speaker 1: state rep to address. I say that I'm happy to listen, 349 00:19:16,080 --> 00:19:19,399 Speaker 1: and sometimes people are interested in talking more about the 350 00:19:19,880 --> 00:19:21,840 Speaker 1: concerns and the issues on their mind. And I do 351 00:19:21,880 --> 00:19:25,879 Speaker 1: think that that in and of itself has allowed me 352 00:19:26,040 --> 00:19:28,159 Speaker 1: to learn a lot about the community in which I 353 00:19:28,200 --> 00:19:31,040 Speaker 1: live and to feel very connected to that community in 354 00:19:31,040 --> 00:19:33,160 Speaker 1: a way that I think will serve me well. As 355 00:19:33,280 --> 00:19:37,320 Speaker 1: the next state representative. I hope, but oftentimes people don't 356 00:19:37,840 --> 00:19:41,080 Speaker 1: have a question off the top of their head, particularly 357 00:19:41,119 --> 00:19:45,479 Speaker 1: because I've surprised them at the door. But I always 358 00:19:45,520 --> 00:19:47,600 Speaker 1: tell people that they're welcome to call me on my 359 00:19:47,680 --> 00:19:50,359 Speaker 1: personal cell phone with questions that they might have later, 360 00:19:50,880 --> 00:19:53,240 Speaker 1: acknowledging that I have put them a bit on the 361 00:19:53,280 --> 00:19:56,840 Speaker 1: spot asking if they might have any questions. That's great. 362 00:19:57,600 --> 00:20:00,639 Speaker 1: And so you're doing the door knocking in the days 363 00:20:00,760 --> 00:20:04,440 Speaker 1: and you know, talking at events at night, I'm curious 364 00:20:04,480 --> 00:20:07,360 Speaker 1: if you've been surprised by anything that's come up a lot, 365 00:20:07,640 --> 00:20:13,240 Speaker 1: that's a good question. One thing that some folks who 366 00:20:13,640 --> 00:20:17,199 Speaker 1: were advising me had different kinds of opinions on was 367 00:20:17,280 --> 00:20:21,199 Speaker 1: how much to talk about being a parent of a 368 00:20:21,240 --> 00:20:23,600 Speaker 1: young child, and whether that would hurt me in the 369 00:20:23,640 --> 00:20:26,919 Speaker 1: campaign that people would say, oh, she can't possibly do 370 00:20:27,040 --> 00:20:30,440 Speaker 1: this being a parent of a young child, or whether 371 00:20:30,520 --> 00:20:35,200 Speaker 1: I should highlight that because because it sets me apart, 372 00:20:35,359 --> 00:20:39,000 Speaker 1: it makes me different, it makes me memorable, and I 373 00:20:39,000 --> 00:20:41,119 Speaker 1: think at the end of the day, I've come to 374 00:20:41,160 --> 00:20:43,000 Speaker 1: realize I need to talk about it in a way 375 00:20:43,000 --> 00:20:46,280 Speaker 1: that is genuine and authentic to who I am, because 376 00:20:46,280 --> 00:20:48,520 Speaker 1: that is people will see right through that. If you're 377 00:20:48,520 --> 00:20:53,959 Speaker 1: trying to use your child or your parenting as a 378 00:20:54,000 --> 00:20:56,639 Speaker 1: political tool, people will see right through that. Or but 379 00:20:56,680 --> 00:20:59,440 Speaker 1: if you try to hide that you're a parent because 380 00:20:59,440 --> 00:21:01,920 Speaker 1: you're afraid people will doubt you, people will notice that too. 381 00:21:02,040 --> 00:21:05,000 Speaker 1: I think you just have to be authentic and true 382 00:21:05,040 --> 00:21:07,000 Speaker 1: to who you are. And I do think being a 383 00:21:07,040 --> 00:21:09,600 Speaker 1: parent of a young child does shape my perspective and 384 00:21:09,640 --> 00:21:13,440 Speaker 1: will bring will allow me to bring the concerns of 385 00:21:14,240 --> 00:21:18,080 Speaker 1: working families and parents of young children who are trying 386 00:21:18,119 --> 00:21:21,680 Speaker 1: to manage their jobs and their their lives. I think 387 00:21:21,720 --> 00:21:25,240 Speaker 1: that that will allow me to bring that perspective to 388 00:21:25,720 --> 00:21:29,400 Speaker 1: the job that I'm seeking. But I think that it's 389 00:21:29,440 --> 00:21:32,560 Speaker 1: not because I'm trying to use that so that that 390 00:21:32,600 --> 00:21:35,560 Speaker 1: has been interesting. I've had people, I've had people say 391 00:21:35,600 --> 00:21:38,119 Speaker 1: I had one person say I will vote for you, 392 00:21:38,200 --> 00:21:41,640 Speaker 1: but I hope that you lose so that you can 393 00:21:41,680 --> 00:21:44,880 Speaker 1: spend more time with your husband than your baby, which 394 00:21:44,960 --> 00:21:47,680 Speaker 1: was an interesting Okay, well, thank you for your thank 395 00:21:47,720 --> 00:21:51,720 Speaker 1: you for the vote. Yeah, I think that's the thing 396 00:21:51,720 --> 00:21:53,640 Speaker 1: that would drive me nuts why I will never run 397 00:21:53,680 --> 00:21:56,360 Speaker 1: for public office, and I wouldn't be sitting there being like, yeah, 398 00:21:56,400 --> 00:22:01,440 Speaker 1: thank you for your votes, vote, and that people don't 399 00:22:01,480 --> 00:22:06,400 Speaker 1: necessarily think about is that both being a candidate and 400 00:22:06,480 --> 00:22:11,040 Speaker 1: being an elected official are both very time consuming and 401 00:22:11,160 --> 00:22:14,480 Speaker 1: intense endeavors, but they are also ones in which you 402 00:22:14,680 --> 00:22:17,760 Speaker 1: effectively act as your own boss and have a lot 403 00:22:17,840 --> 00:22:21,320 Speaker 1: of flexibility over your schedule in a way that is 404 00:22:21,359 --> 00:22:27,280 Speaker 1: actually very conducive to working parenthood. In my day job, 405 00:22:27,600 --> 00:22:30,159 Speaker 1: I have a wonderful boss, but I do have a boss. 406 00:22:30,200 --> 00:22:35,399 Speaker 1: So when when the Senator is interested in getting a 407 00:22:35,440 --> 00:22:38,320 Speaker 1: project done at four o'clock, then sometimes I need to 408 00:22:38,320 --> 00:22:40,560 Speaker 1: stay late. And it wasn't something that I was counting 409 00:22:40,560 --> 00:22:43,560 Speaker 1: on or planning on. In my role as a candidate, 410 00:22:43,600 --> 00:22:47,800 Speaker 1: there is an infinite number of things to do and 411 00:22:49,280 --> 00:22:53,840 Speaker 1: infinite numbers of community events. I could be at, infinite 412 00:22:53,920 --> 00:22:56,399 Speaker 1: numbers of people that I could be talking to, But 413 00:22:56,520 --> 00:22:59,639 Speaker 1: at the end of the day, I have the flexibility 414 00:23:00,320 --> 00:23:03,359 Speaker 1: to decide and prioritize and decide where I want to 415 00:23:03,400 --> 00:23:06,040 Speaker 1: be and when I want to be there. And one 416 00:23:06,040 --> 00:23:10,080 Speaker 1: thing that I do prioritize personally is being able to 417 00:23:10,119 --> 00:23:12,719 Speaker 1: be home for my son's bedtime. And I don't manage 418 00:23:12,720 --> 00:23:15,800 Speaker 1: it every night, but it is something that I personally 419 00:23:15,960 --> 00:23:21,480 Speaker 1: value and I absolutely buy into the things I've heard 420 00:23:21,600 --> 00:23:24,240 Speaker 1: Laura say about you don't have to be home for 421 00:23:24,320 --> 00:23:28,240 Speaker 1: every meal or for every dinner. That's not necessary. That's 422 00:23:28,240 --> 00:23:30,600 Speaker 1: not necessary to be a good parent. But for me personally, 423 00:23:30,680 --> 00:23:33,159 Speaker 1: I just enjoy being there for my son's bedtime, and 424 00:23:33,200 --> 00:23:35,520 Speaker 1: so I like to be able to do that. But 425 00:23:36,160 --> 00:23:38,880 Speaker 1: I do have quite a bit of flexibility as a candidate, 426 00:23:39,240 --> 00:23:42,480 Speaker 1: and I expect I would, as well as a state representative, 427 00:23:42,600 --> 00:23:45,560 Speaker 1: to decide that I want to be home for bedtime, 428 00:23:45,720 --> 00:23:49,560 Speaker 1: but that I'm going out afterwards for meetings and I'll 429 00:23:49,560 --> 00:23:55,240 Speaker 1: be at various locations throughout the day. Well there you good. Yeah, 430 00:23:55,359 --> 00:23:57,720 Speaker 1: maybe kind of a patchwork, kind of a schedule. Wis 431 00:23:57,760 --> 00:24:00,560 Speaker 1: in some ways that would work really well. And you're 432 00:24:00,600 --> 00:24:02,920 Speaker 1: so right to point out the whole like, even if 433 00:24:02,920 --> 00:24:05,160 Speaker 1: I want to be home for bed time, being home 434 00:24:05,320 --> 00:24:08,199 Speaker 1: five nights is pretty great, you know, it doesn't have 435 00:24:08,280 --> 00:24:10,440 Speaker 1: to be seven out of seven. When I was talking 436 00:24:10,440 --> 00:24:12,920 Speaker 1: about the ball and chain, like that's that's where I'm like, oh, 437 00:24:12,960 --> 00:24:15,439 Speaker 1: there really is. No I'm really looking forward to having 438 00:24:15,520 --> 00:24:18,800 Speaker 1: a little bit of that flexity. Yeah. One thing, and 439 00:24:18,840 --> 00:24:21,120 Speaker 1: I think that you as a key and actually one 440 00:24:21,240 --> 00:24:24,560 Speaker 1: area that I haven't mentioned yet about running for office. 441 00:24:25,400 --> 00:24:28,320 Speaker 1: That takes up some amount of time is filling out 442 00:24:28,560 --> 00:24:34,640 Speaker 1: these endorsement questionnaires that candidates received from different organizations. And 443 00:24:36,080 --> 00:24:39,000 Speaker 1: if you're seeking their endorsement and you get so many 444 00:24:39,040 --> 00:24:41,240 Speaker 1: of them, they take up so much time. And then 445 00:24:41,320 --> 00:24:44,600 Speaker 1: some of them ask you ask you for interviews, and 446 00:24:44,640 --> 00:24:48,080 Speaker 1: so that I've found actually has has taken up more 447 00:24:48,119 --> 00:24:50,640 Speaker 1: time than I than I would like, because I would 448 00:24:50,680 --> 00:24:54,000 Speaker 1: prefer to be spend the spending the time interacting with voters. 449 00:24:54,440 --> 00:24:58,199 Speaker 1: And then sometimes they will schedule interviews at times that 450 00:24:58,280 --> 00:25:01,040 Speaker 1: I don't really have any control over. But other than that, 451 00:25:01,200 --> 00:25:02,800 Speaker 1: and but that is also the kind of thing I 452 00:25:02,800 --> 00:25:05,520 Speaker 1: could say yes or no too. But for the most part, 453 00:25:05,520 --> 00:25:08,440 Speaker 1: I'm able to schedule events as I see fit, which 454 00:25:08,440 --> 00:25:11,480 Speaker 1: is really nice. So interesting. See these are these sort 455 00:25:11,480 --> 00:25:14,240 Speaker 1: of like back end of the politicians think about. Very 456 00:25:14,240 --> 00:25:16,440 Speaker 1: interesting about the surveys. I would never have like come 457 00:25:16,520 --> 00:25:19,879 Speaker 1: up with that as a responsibility. There are a lot 458 00:25:19,880 --> 00:25:22,280 Speaker 1: of organizations out there, and I don't know. I guess 459 00:25:23,720 --> 00:25:25,720 Speaker 1: I can they get you two thousand of the four 460 00:25:25,720 --> 00:25:29,880 Speaker 1: thousand votes right right right? And unlikely that anyone could. 461 00:25:30,359 --> 00:25:31,880 Speaker 1: But then you don't want it to You don't want 462 00:25:31,920 --> 00:25:36,000 Speaker 1: to uh, you don't want to give them the cold 463 00:25:36,040 --> 00:25:39,320 Speaker 1: shoulder and have them endorse someone else or have them 464 00:25:39,600 --> 00:25:42,639 Speaker 1: encourage their members to vote for someone else. So I 465 00:25:42,680 --> 00:25:45,199 Speaker 1: remember there was one evening where I went to an 466 00:25:45,200 --> 00:25:48,560 Speaker 1: event where an endorsement interview, where effectively all I had 467 00:25:48,560 --> 00:25:50,800 Speaker 1: to do was speak to the room for two minutes, 468 00:25:50,800 --> 00:25:54,239 Speaker 1: and it was an hour drive to get there, in 469 00:25:54,280 --> 00:25:56,399 Speaker 1: an hour drive to get home, and it just felt 470 00:25:56,440 --> 00:26:00,000 Speaker 1: like such an inefficient use of time. It was very frustrated. 471 00:26:00,200 --> 00:26:03,480 Speaker 1: But for the most part, I don't have that's really 472 00:26:03,520 --> 00:26:06,960 Speaker 1: more of the exception than the rule. So you know, 473 00:26:07,240 --> 00:26:10,480 Speaker 1: we've talked about that for various logistical reasons. There are 474 00:26:10,840 --> 00:26:14,600 Speaker 1: not so many parents and particularly mothers of young kids 475 00:26:14,960 --> 00:26:17,000 Speaker 1: running for office, and because they don't run for office, 476 00:26:17,040 --> 00:26:19,400 Speaker 1: then they're not in public office. That's right, And I'm 477 00:26:19,440 --> 00:26:22,560 Speaker 1: curious what you think are sort of the policy implications 478 00:26:22,600 --> 00:26:25,560 Speaker 1: of that, I mean, what winds up happening because we 479 00:26:25,640 --> 00:26:31,600 Speaker 1: don't see this group of people represented in our legislative bodies. Absolutely. 480 00:26:31,640 --> 00:26:35,239 Speaker 1: I think one of the most obvious areas where we 481 00:26:35,280 --> 00:26:38,560 Speaker 1: see the implications of there being few moms, especially of 482 00:26:38,600 --> 00:26:41,479 Speaker 1: young children at the table, is in the area of 483 00:26:41,480 --> 00:26:45,280 Speaker 1: paid family and medical leave. Now, Massachusetts actually did just 484 00:26:45,560 --> 00:26:49,480 Speaker 1: pass in recent months paid family and medical leave, although 485 00:26:49,480 --> 00:26:52,560 Speaker 1: it has yet to go into effect, and it is 486 00:26:52,760 --> 00:26:56,240 Speaker 1: considered and lauded by many to be the strongest or 487 00:26:56,280 --> 00:26:59,119 Speaker 1: one of the strongest programs in the nation, although still 488 00:26:59,160 --> 00:27:03,760 Speaker 1: falling far fall far short of what other countries offer, 489 00:27:04,600 --> 00:27:06,840 Speaker 1: and it will be interesting to see how it plays 490 00:27:06,880 --> 00:27:10,439 Speaker 1: out in terms of whether it provides enough resources for 491 00:27:10,480 --> 00:27:14,359 Speaker 1: people to actually take a paid leave, and whether it 492 00:27:14,480 --> 00:27:18,960 Speaker 1: is accessible to people regardless of their of their work structure. 493 00:27:19,520 --> 00:27:23,200 Speaker 1: I think another area is in terms of the fact 494 00:27:23,200 --> 00:27:28,920 Speaker 1: that childcare and early education is barely subsidized in the 495 00:27:29,040 --> 00:27:32,800 Speaker 1: United States of America in a way where the cost 496 00:27:32,320 --> 00:27:36,919 Speaker 1: of childcare are very high and unaffordable for many families, 497 00:27:37,600 --> 00:27:42,280 Speaker 1: and at the same time, childcare providers are woefully underpaid. 498 00:27:42,680 --> 00:27:46,160 Speaker 1: And we see that at this level of our education 499 00:27:46,359 --> 00:27:51,920 Speaker 1: system because it's so under subsidized or unsubsidized effectively, whereas 500 00:27:52,040 --> 00:27:54,800 Speaker 1: the K twelve education system and even the higher education 501 00:27:54,880 --> 00:27:58,560 Speaker 1: system are funded funded at a greater level, whereas it's 502 00:27:58,760 --> 00:28:04,800 Speaker 1: affordable for families and even free for families, and teachers 503 00:28:04,880 --> 00:28:09,360 Speaker 1: are are paid more adequately. I think it's also interesting 504 00:28:09,480 --> 00:28:11,840 Speaker 1: just to look at in terms of the at least 505 00:28:11,920 --> 00:28:17,320 Speaker 1: the Massachusetts state budget that the if you look at 506 00:28:17,320 --> 00:28:20,360 Speaker 1: the numbers of children under the age of five, and 507 00:28:20,560 --> 00:28:22,880 Speaker 1: but the percent and then the percentage of the state 508 00:28:22,880 --> 00:28:25,640 Speaker 1: budget that goes towards services for children under the age 509 00:28:25,640 --> 00:28:28,760 Speaker 1: of five, they're just disproportionate and out of whack. And 510 00:28:28,800 --> 00:28:31,560 Speaker 1: I think we should be investing more in the early 511 00:28:31,680 --> 00:28:35,480 Speaker 1: years of kids' lives with our with our priorities, and 512 00:28:35,480 --> 00:28:38,440 Speaker 1: with our dollars. And so if you if there are 513 00:28:38,520 --> 00:28:41,880 Speaker 1: other you know, parents listening to this podcast for thinking, well, 514 00:28:41,920 --> 00:28:43,800 Speaker 1: I've been thinking about, you know, throwing my hat in 515 00:28:43,800 --> 00:28:45,680 Speaker 1: the ring. I you know, someday I would like to 516 00:28:45,760 --> 00:28:49,160 Speaker 1: run for office, you know, and particularly on a local 517 00:28:49,280 --> 00:28:53,640 Speaker 1: level like yours. What would you advise them to do? 518 00:28:53,720 --> 00:28:57,000 Speaker 1: Are there things that you really need to have available 519 00:28:57,040 --> 00:29:00,560 Speaker 1: to you, things you've learned along the way you'd have 520 00:29:00,640 --> 00:29:05,280 Speaker 1: would be great. Sure, I would recommend you investing some 521 00:29:05,560 --> 00:29:10,720 Speaker 1: time and resources before you decide to launch your campaign, 522 00:29:10,880 --> 00:29:15,360 Speaker 1: if possible. Now, I've been thinking broadly about running and 523 00:29:15,400 --> 00:29:20,400 Speaker 1: didn't and ended up jumping in without really having a 524 00:29:20,520 --> 00:29:25,440 Speaker 1: formulated plan or having put aside enough resources. But it 525 00:29:25,520 --> 00:29:29,760 Speaker 1: is true that it is I do feel like the 526 00:29:30,000 --> 00:29:34,320 Speaker 1: politics game is stacked against people who are struggling to 527 00:29:34,360 --> 00:29:38,760 Speaker 1: make ends meet and you need some amount of Until 528 00:29:38,800 --> 00:29:44,080 Speaker 1: we have publicly financed, entirely publicly financed elections, I feel 529 00:29:44,080 --> 00:29:47,680 Speaker 1: like people who are independently wealthy are at an advantage. 530 00:29:48,200 --> 00:29:51,840 Speaker 1: My husband and I we almost made the decision for 531 00:29:51,880 --> 00:29:55,200 Speaker 1: me not to run based on financial resources, because we 532 00:29:55,200 --> 00:29:57,760 Speaker 1: weren't sure that we could afford for me to work 533 00:29:57,800 --> 00:30:00,880 Speaker 1: part time for six months. But at the end of 534 00:30:00,880 --> 00:30:04,200 Speaker 1: the day we decided, well, we can do it. We 535 00:30:04,200 --> 00:30:07,200 Speaker 1: we can have We have enough buffers if so that 536 00:30:07,320 --> 00:30:11,520 Speaker 1: one pipe can burst, but only one this winter, and 537 00:30:11,640 --> 00:30:14,640 Speaker 1: so so we made we made it work. But I 538 00:30:14,640 --> 00:30:17,320 Speaker 1: would advise folks who are who are serious about this 539 00:30:17,400 --> 00:30:20,840 Speaker 1: to think about perhaps setting some money aside in advance. 540 00:30:21,440 --> 00:30:25,520 Speaker 1: Another thing that we ended up Another possibility would have 541 00:30:25,560 --> 00:30:28,000 Speaker 1: been me for me to take a six month leave 542 00:30:28,000 --> 00:30:30,520 Speaker 1: of absence, in which case I would have actually been 543 00:30:30,560 --> 00:30:33,400 Speaker 1: able to do some of the fundraising work in running 544 00:30:33,400 --> 00:30:37,000 Speaker 1: for office. But as a public employee, I cannot ask 545 00:30:37,120 --> 00:30:41,080 Speaker 1: for money, and so that does create a bit of 546 00:30:41,120 --> 00:30:44,000 Speaker 1: a barrier and hurdle. Although my fund raising team, who 547 00:30:44,000 --> 00:30:48,360 Speaker 1: has been organized to do the work of raising money 548 00:30:48,400 --> 00:30:50,960 Speaker 1: for my campaign on my behalf has done a tremendous 549 00:30:51,040 --> 00:30:53,960 Speaker 1: job and I'm so grateful to them. But it's it's 550 00:30:54,040 --> 00:30:57,680 Speaker 1: not it's it's a barrier, although not an insurmountable barrier, 551 00:30:58,400 --> 00:31:01,920 Speaker 1: but it is. It has been striking to me how 552 00:31:02,080 --> 00:31:06,960 Speaker 1: very much money does, unfortunately matter in politics and in 553 00:31:07,040 --> 00:31:09,600 Speaker 1: running for office, and it makes me want to see 554 00:31:09,960 --> 00:31:14,840 Speaker 1: some changes within that respect with respect to policies as well. 555 00:31:14,880 --> 00:31:18,840 Speaker 1: But before that happens, I would advise anyone interested to 556 00:31:18,880 --> 00:31:23,800 Speaker 1: probably think about about setting some money aside in preparation, 557 00:31:23,920 --> 00:31:26,720 Speaker 1: and also to do the work of serving in your 558 00:31:26,720 --> 00:31:34,320 Speaker 1: communities right now, to connect with your local party committees, 559 00:31:34,480 --> 00:31:40,120 Speaker 1: to connect with your local government officials, to volunteer your 560 00:31:40,160 --> 00:31:43,959 Speaker 1: time with your community where you'll get to it can 561 00:31:44,000 --> 00:31:45,880 Speaker 1: be very rewarding, and you'll get to know quite a 562 00:31:45,880 --> 00:31:49,160 Speaker 1: few people who are involved as well, which'll set you 563 00:31:49,240 --> 00:31:51,640 Speaker 1: up great for other things in the future too, because 564 00:31:51,920 --> 00:31:56,040 Speaker 1: regardless of how the campaign itself turns out, like knowing 565 00:31:56,040 --> 00:31:59,920 Speaker 1: more people in your community is great for many reasons. 566 00:31:59,360 --> 00:32:03,640 Speaker 1: I actual and personal networking. Absolutely, I feel incredibly connected 567 00:32:03,640 --> 00:32:06,120 Speaker 1: to my community as a result of running for office, 568 00:32:06,440 --> 00:32:09,040 Speaker 1: and have made so many new friends and the concept 569 00:32:09,080 --> 00:32:12,240 Speaker 1: of who my neighbors are has just expanded exponentially, and 570 00:32:12,280 --> 00:32:15,160 Speaker 1: that in and of itself has been really rewarding. And 571 00:32:15,160 --> 00:32:18,000 Speaker 1: I'm really grateful for the opportunity regardless of the outcome 572 00:32:18,040 --> 00:32:20,520 Speaker 1: of the election. Oh, that's really probably a lot better 573 00:32:20,520 --> 00:32:28,880 Speaker 1: at handling dogs, exactly so, and this is wonderful. We 574 00:32:28,920 --> 00:32:31,400 Speaker 1: always ender our segments with a love of the week 575 00:32:31,440 --> 00:32:34,480 Speaker 1: as a podcast listener, you you know, so I guess 576 00:32:34,480 --> 00:32:36,240 Speaker 1: Sarah and I will go first, and then you can 577 00:32:36,280 --> 00:32:38,719 Speaker 1: tell us something that is really you know, exciting for 578 00:32:38,760 --> 00:32:43,400 Speaker 1: you excellent. So for me, this is, you know, we're 579 00:32:43,560 --> 00:32:48,080 Speaker 1: going completely away from the politics party. I have a 580 00:32:48,120 --> 00:32:50,800 Speaker 1: couple of you know, clothing items that I wear over 581 00:32:50,840 --> 00:32:53,000 Speaker 1: and over again, and of course they wear out at 582 00:32:53,040 --> 00:32:54,840 Speaker 1: some point. And by the time they wear out, the 583 00:32:54,840 --> 00:32:57,320 Speaker 1: people who make them aren't putting them on the market anymore. Right. 584 00:32:57,360 --> 00:33:00,880 Speaker 1: Those companies have new you know, new season and whatever stuff. 585 00:33:01,320 --> 00:33:04,040 Speaker 1: So I found I just started searching online by the 586 00:33:04,120 --> 00:33:06,680 Speaker 1: name of these products, and I found a pair of 587 00:33:06,720 --> 00:33:10,000 Speaker 1: shoes that I really wanted to get on eBay, so 588 00:33:10,080 --> 00:33:14,000 Speaker 1: I bought them, replacing my old pair. And I found 589 00:33:14,120 --> 00:33:17,520 Speaker 1: a cardigan like wrap that I was also falling apart 590 00:33:17,560 --> 00:33:20,480 Speaker 1: that I really wanted to replace. I found on thread up, 591 00:33:21,040 --> 00:33:24,680 Speaker 1: the second secondhand clothing market, so I'm like, wow, this 592 00:33:24,720 --> 00:33:26,400 Speaker 1: is really cool. I'm going to keep looking for, you know, 593 00:33:26,480 --> 00:33:29,320 Speaker 1: items that I know are you no longer being sold 594 00:33:29,360 --> 00:33:31,760 Speaker 1: by the first people, but that I really like and 595 00:33:31,800 --> 00:33:34,480 Speaker 1: I can probably find them pretty close to new. Both 596 00:33:34,520 --> 00:33:36,680 Speaker 1: of these things were pretty much a new condition on 597 00:33:36,960 --> 00:33:38,840 Speaker 1: the secondary market, so that was very exciting for me. 598 00:33:38,920 --> 00:33:42,000 Speaker 1: That was my love of the week. Sarah, that's great. 599 00:33:42,080 --> 00:33:43,960 Speaker 1: That's super smart. I would like to do more of that. 600 00:33:44,360 --> 00:33:47,160 Speaker 1: Especially Actually, I have a few like designers that I'm 601 00:33:47,200 --> 00:33:49,200 Speaker 1: following on thread ups, so I'll get like cause I 602 00:33:49,200 --> 00:33:51,640 Speaker 1: don't want to pay full price for like Diane von Furstenberg, 603 00:33:51,680 --> 00:33:53,520 Speaker 1: but I get there like alerts and every once in 604 00:33:53,560 --> 00:33:56,560 Speaker 1: a while I'll be like hmmm, so that's a great one. No, 605 00:33:56,680 --> 00:33:59,640 Speaker 1: my love of the week is the Ergo that I 606 00:33:59,680 --> 00:34:03,160 Speaker 1: mentioned in the intro. But we did not take a stroller. Well, 607 00:34:03,320 --> 00:34:04,800 Speaker 1: I take it back. We took the little like car 608 00:34:04,840 --> 00:34:07,120 Speaker 1: seat attachment to the stroller, mostly just for like going 609 00:34:07,200 --> 00:34:09,160 Speaker 1: through the airport, but that's not like a real stroller 610 00:34:09,880 --> 00:34:12,480 Speaker 1: on the trip. But I carried Genevieve around in the 611 00:34:12,560 --> 00:34:16,600 Speaker 1: ergo basically the whole time, and it was great, so efficient, 612 00:34:16,680 --> 00:34:18,960 Speaker 1: so much easier to get around on city streets compared 613 00:34:18,960 --> 00:34:22,520 Speaker 1: to a stroller or even like walking through the narrow 614 00:34:22,560 --> 00:34:24,959 Speaker 1: aisles of the airplane. And if I had to hold 615 00:34:24,960 --> 00:34:28,960 Speaker 1: her twenty pound self up for all that time, my 616 00:34:29,000 --> 00:34:31,719 Speaker 1: back would be broken. So that thing is amazing, and 617 00:34:31,760 --> 00:34:34,600 Speaker 1: it's actually lasted since it's actually ergonomical enough that you 618 00:34:34,640 --> 00:34:37,920 Speaker 1: didn't have like back pain from doing this. No, I 619 00:34:37,960 --> 00:34:40,480 Speaker 1: really didn't, you know if I one day, I think 620 00:34:40,480 --> 00:34:41,920 Speaker 1: I had it on for like eight hours and I 621 00:34:41,960 --> 00:34:44,560 Speaker 1: was like, okay, I think, like versus my limit, that's 622 00:34:44,560 --> 00:34:47,520 Speaker 1: pretty good. Well, especially since it was like ninety grades 623 00:34:47,560 --> 00:34:49,200 Speaker 1: in Portland for part of the time, right like you 624 00:34:49,239 --> 00:34:52,880 Speaker 1: were to have this baby strip view. The Portland ninety 625 00:34:53,200 --> 00:34:56,520 Speaker 1: has nothing on the Miami eighty nine I learned on 626 00:34:56,560 --> 00:34:58,400 Speaker 1: this trip. It was like, I was like, it's lovely, 627 00:34:58,440 --> 00:35:00,239 Speaker 1: what is it? Because there's like no humidity and it 628 00:35:00,239 --> 00:35:02,160 Speaker 1: doesn't get it gets to ninety for like five minutes 629 00:35:02,200 --> 00:35:04,600 Speaker 1: and then it goes straight back down again. That's all right, 630 00:35:04,640 --> 00:35:06,720 Speaker 1: and what do you have for us? So I would 631 00:35:06,719 --> 00:35:10,600 Speaker 1: say that my love of the week is unplugging before 632 00:35:10,800 --> 00:35:15,799 Speaker 1: bed because although I no longer have a child who 633 00:35:15,800 --> 00:35:18,200 Speaker 1: I'm breastfeeding, who's keeping me up all night long, or 634 00:35:18,239 --> 00:35:20,600 Speaker 1: who is keeping me up all night long because the 635 00:35:20,640 --> 00:35:25,080 Speaker 1: poor thing has ear infections, the campaign stress can keep 636 00:35:25,120 --> 00:35:27,759 Speaker 1: me up a little bit at nights. But I've discovered 637 00:35:28,280 --> 00:35:31,920 Speaker 1: that leaving my cell phone downstairs when I go up 638 00:35:31,920 --> 00:35:34,200 Speaker 1: to bed and giving myself a little bit of space 639 00:35:34,360 --> 00:35:37,920 Speaker 1: between sending campaign emails or doing campaign work on the 640 00:35:37,960 --> 00:35:41,920 Speaker 1: computer and going to bed has been really beneficial to 641 00:35:42,080 --> 00:35:44,680 Speaker 1: allow me to get the sleep that I need to 642 00:35:44,760 --> 00:35:47,800 Speaker 1: hit the ground running the next day. Excellent. We should 643 00:35:47,800 --> 00:35:51,920 Speaker 1: probably all do more of that a bit as a 644 00:35:51,960 --> 00:35:54,439 Speaker 1: reminder to myself of what I need to be doing 645 00:35:54,760 --> 00:36:00,960 Speaker 1: every night between now and the and the election. Exactly. Well. Wonderful, Well, 646 00:36:00,960 --> 00:36:02,600 Speaker 1: thank you and so much for coming on. We really 647 00:36:02,640 --> 00:36:05,480 Speaker 1: appreciate it. Thank you both so much. This has been 648 00:36:05,520 --> 00:36:09,120 Speaker 1: such a pleasure for me, and I really appreciate the 649 00:36:09,120 --> 00:36:12,399 Speaker 1: work that you do in delivering this podcast to the world. 650 00:36:12,480 --> 00:36:15,160 Speaker 1: I really enjoy it and it's an honor to be 651 00:36:15,600 --> 00:36:20,080 Speaker 1: a participant this week. Excellent, Thank you so much. Well. 652 00:36:20,120 --> 00:36:22,120 Speaker 1: This brings us to our Q and a part of 653 00:36:22,160 --> 00:36:25,640 Speaker 1: the podcast. This one is about mommy brain. So our 654 00:36:25,680 --> 00:36:28,120 Speaker 1: listener wrote and said, hello, Lauren Sarah, I love listening 655 00:36:28,160 --> 00:36:30,560 Speaker 1: to you. Awesome, Thank you. I have a question. Do 656 00:36:30,560 --> 00:36:33,120 Speaker 1: you have any tips for dealing with mommy brain, which 657 00:36:33,160 --> 00:36:36,080 Speaker 1: is really just chronically not getting enough sleep when you're 658 00:36:36,120 --> 00:36:39,439 Speaker 1: at work. Sorry, that's dealing with mommy brain at work, 659 00:36:39,480 --> 00:36:42,560 Speaker 1: which mommy brain, being defined here in her words, is 660 00:36:42,600 --> 00:36:45,600 Speaker 1: not getting enough sleep. For some context, she works as 661 00:36:45,680 --> 00:36:49,960 Speaker 1: a clinical research manager. She's project managing about twelve to 662 00:36:50,000 --> 00:36:54,120 Speaker 1: fifteen different studies at any given time. Obviously, this requires 663 00:36:54,200 --> 00:36:59,080 Speaker 1: a lot of intense work, attention to detail managing teams. 664 00:36:59,400 --> 00:37:01,720 Speaker 1: She's been doing for over ten years and it fits 665 00:37:01,719 --> 00:37:03,879 Speaker 1: her strengths well. But she is now also the mom 666 00:37:03,960 --> 00:37:06,719 Speaker 1: of twin one and a half year old girls. As 667 00:37:06,760 --> 00:37:08,879 Speaker 1: any twin mom can attest to, the first six months 668 00:37:08,920 --> 00:37:11,080 Speaker 1: are crazy blur. But we've made it through that she's 669 00:37:11,120 --> 00:37:13,520 Speaker 1: back at work. She loves her work, she loves her family. 670 00:37:13,520 --> 00:37:15,480 Speaker 1: How the thing I've noticed is, even now that I'm 671 00:37:15,480 --> 00:37:18,360 Speaker 1: out of the baby face and have toddlers, I still 672 00:37:18,520 --> 00:37:21,479 Speaker 1: seem to have what she calls mommy brain. I'm usually 673 00:37:21,600 --> 00:37:24,279 Speaker 1: very organized, detailed, checkless planner person. Do I find that 674 00:37:24,320 --> 00:37:26,160 Speaker 1: I'm just not as on as I used to be. 675 00:37:26,600 --> 00:37:28,840 Speaker 1: I'll blank on a coworker's name who I've known for 676 00:37:28,920 --> 00:37:32,000 Speaker 1: five years. I totally just missed a conference call last week, 677 00:37:32,040 --> 00:37:35,120 Speaker 1: despite the calendar reminders I had about it fifteen minutes beforehand, 678 00:37:36,080 --> 00:37:37,880 Speaker 1: so she says. I checked my sleep since I went 679 00:37:37,920 --> 00:37:39,960 Speaker 1: back to work, and while it's better than the newborn stage, 680 00:37:40,000 --> 00:37:42,160 Speaker 1: I should still usually only get an average of five 681 00:37:42,160 --> 00:37:44,359 Speaker 1: and a half to six hours of interrupted sleep a night. 682 00:37:44,400 --> 00:37:47,120 Speaker 1: My girls are just not good sleepers. Sometimes they can 683 00:37:47,160 --> 00:37:49,439 Speaker 1: fall back asleep themselves. Sometimes I can get to them 684 00:37:49,600 --> 00:37:52,040 Speaker 1: get them right back, but sometimes it takes an hour 685 00:37:52,120 --> 00:37:54,960 Speaker 1: or two. My husband and I take turns getting up, 686 00:37:55,000 --> 00:37:56,600 Speaker 1: but even when he's the one getting out of bed 687 00:37:56,640 --> 00:37:58,640 Speaker 1: to check on them, I still wake up every time 688 00:37:58,680 --> 00:38:01,520 Speaker 1: they do. I have a really good track record at work, 689 00:38:01,600 --> 00:38:04,040 Speaker 1: so one or two mistakes can be excused as one offs. 690 00:38:04,400 --> 00:38:06,520 Speaker 1: So far, I haven't made any huge mistakes, but my 691 00:38:06,560 --> 00:38:08,239 Speaker 1: work does need to be done at a high level 692 00:38:08,239 --> 00:38:10,600 Speaker 1: of quality, and I'm worried it might. It bugs me 693 00:38:10,680 --> 00:38:12,400 Speaker 1: also that I'm not as sharp as I used to be. 694 00:38:12,800 --> 00:38:14,880 Speaker 1: I wonder if this is the new normal, or if 695 00:38:14,920 --> 00:38:17,200 Speaker 1: it will ever get back to where it was, and 696 00:38:17,200 --> 00:38:19,919 Speaker 1: I'll be my usual organized self. Any tips on working 697 00:38:20,000 --> 00:38:23,719 Speaker 1: long term on less than adequate sleep, well, Sarah, as 698 00:38:23,719 --> 00:38:26,320 Speaker 1: somebody who has been working on less than adequate sleep, 699 00:38:26,960 --> 00:38:29,640 Speaker 1: what can you tell us? Yeah? Well, and you know 700 00:38:30,080 --> 00:38:32,400 Speaker 1: she made some joke. I can't remember if you've answered 701 00:38:32,400 --> 00:38:34,480 Speaker 1: a similar question already on this podcast. I think we 702 00:38:34,600 --> 00:38:37,120 Speaker 1: actually kind of did, but not quite with the same angle, 703 00:38:37,160 --> 00:38:40,279 Speaker 1: So I think it's worth revisiting. And to that end, 704 00:38:40,719 --> 00:38:42,760 Speaker 1: if we can't keep track of our own podcast questions, 705 00:38:42,760 --> 00:38:44,680 Speaker 1: we certainly can't expect you to. So what I'm saying 706 00:38:44,680 --> 00:38:47,960 Speaker 1: with that is maybe you have really high standards for yourself, 707 00:38:48,000 --> 00:38:50,520 Speaker 1: so I bet you're doing better than you think already. 708 00:38:51,160 --> 00:38:53,480 Speaker 1: But I will say that there are probably a few 709 00:38:53,520 --> 00:38:57,120 Speaker 1: survival things that might help you. And I'm wondering if 710 00:38:57,160 --> 00:39:00,800 Speaker 1: perhaps there's a way that you you might need to 711 00:39:00,840 --> 00:39:03,960 Speaker 1: have some sterile nights, like where you just put your 712 00:39:04,040 --> 00:39:05,759 Speaker 1: husband in charge and then you could kind of pay 713 00:39:05,840 --> 00:39:08,000 Speaker 1: him back. Maybe maybe it's just two weeknights and he 714 00:39:08,000 --> 00:39:10,560 Speaker 1: does two weeknights and you go in another room with 715 00:39:10,600 --> 00:39:12,239 Speaker 1: white noise so you can't hear me. And if they 716 00:39:12,280 --> 00:39:13,840 Speaker 1: need you now, I don't know if you're still nursing 717 00:39:13,880 --> 00:39:15,719 Speaker 1: them at night. If that's the case, then oh god, 718 00:39:15,760 --> 00:39:18,719 Speaker 1: I don't have a great answer for you. But if 719 00:39:18,719 --> 00:39:20,719 Speaker 1: it's just more like soothing them, which is that's kind 720 00:39:20,719 --> 00:39:22,600 Speaker 1: of what it sounded like that could be, and it's 721 00:39:22,600 --> 00:39:24,680 Speaker 1: probably better for you to each have like two terrible 722 00:39:24,760 --> 00:39:26,920 Speaker 1: nights and then two like amazing nights of nine hours 723 00:39:26,920 --> 00:39:30,040 Speaker 1: of sleep rather than kind of like especially if you're 724 00:39:30,080 --> 00:39:33,640 Speaker 1: hearing them every time, being both kind of partially awoken 725 00:39:34,440 --> 00:39:36,480 Speaker 1: most of the nights. So that's that's I mean, I 726 00:39:36,480 --> 00:39:38,640 Speaker 1: would really think about trying to do that. And if 727 00:39:38,680 --> 00:39:40,279 Speaker 1: you really can't manage doing that in the week, then 728 00:39:40,280 --> 00:39:42,360 Speaker 1: maybe at least on the weekend, like one of you 729 00:39:42,400 --> 00:39:44,799 Speaker 1: get Saturday night, one of you get Sunday, something like that. 730 00:39:45,440 --> 00:39:50,239 Speaker 1: I also would say, you know, I think that you're 731 00:39:50,280 --> 00:39:53,200 Speaker 1: probably already doing this, but you are absolutely right to 732 00:39:53,800 --> 00:39:56,279 Speaker 1: realize that it's it's the sleep. It's not like quote 733 00:39:56,320 --> 00:39:58,759 Speaker 1: unquote mommy brain. It's it's sleep deprivation brain, which is 734 00:39:58,800 --> 00:40:00,719 Speaker 1: a real thing. I mean, there's study the show when 735 00:40:00,760 --> 00:40:03,400 Speaker 1: you're operating on significantly less sleep than you need, that 736 00:40:03,440 --> 00:40:06,960 Speaker 1: you lose that sort of frontal functioning, You are slower, 737 00:40:07,040 --> 00:40:10,760 Speaker 1: your reaction time is impaired, you know, similar to having 738 00:40:10,800 --> 00:40:13,160 Speaker 1: some sort of blood alcohol limit that's above the legal 739 00:40:13,200 --> 00:40:16,200 Speaker 1: limit in some cases if the sleep deprivation is severe enough. 740 00:40:16,600 --> 00:40:18,640 Speaker 1: So I mean, make sure you're getting rid of any 741 00:40:18,680 --> 00:40:22,440 Speaker 1: other things that are not essentials that are possibly blocking 742 00:40:22,480 --> 00:40:24,960 Speaker 1: or sleep. Like if you are watching a show to 743 00:40:25,000 --> 00:40:26,680 Speaker 1: wind down and you end up going to bed at ten, 744 00:40:27,120 --> 00:40:28,839 Speaker 1: you may need to cut that out. I'm not saying 745 00:40:28,880 --> 00:40:31,120 Speaker 1: you're doing that. You may already be not doing that, 746 00:40:31,200 --> 00:40:33,000 Speaker 1: but you know, you may need to go to bed 747 00:40:33,040 --> 00:40:35,319 Speaker 1: some nights at some obscene hour, like right after the 748 00:40:35,360 --> 00:40:37,360 Speaker 1: twins are in bed at eight thirty, in order to 749 00:40:37,760 --> 00:40:40,880 Speaker 1: get that first good block. Maybe that they sleep until 750 00:40:40,920 --> 00:40:44,040 Speaker 1: midnight so you can get that restorative part of the night. 751 00:40:44,520 --> 00:40:46,879 Speaker 1: And then finally, well two more things, save your most 752 00:40:46,880 --> 00:40:49,839 Speaker 1: important tasks, like those really detail oriented tasks from when 753 00:40:49,840 --> 00:40:51,880 Speaker 1: you're freshest. Again. You may already be doing that, but 754 00:40:51,920 --> 00:40:54,120 Speaker 1: you can kind of answer emails in the afternoon, but 755 00:40:54,520 --> 00:40:57,880 Speaker 1: know that you're sort of super sharp. Stuff could happen 756 00:40:57,880 --> 00:41:00,440 Speaker 1: in the morning, perhaps after coffee. If you are a 757 00:41:00,480 --> 00:41:03,320 Speaker 1: caffeine drinker, you may have that sort of period of 758 00:41:03,400 --> 00:41:06,919 Speaker 1: lucidity before the fatigues that's back in and finally, cut 759 00:41:06,920 --> 00:41:09,239 Speaker 1: yourself some slack because it most likely is going to 760 00:41:09,320 --> 00:41:13,319 Speaker 1: get better. And I as I haven't had twins, but 761 00:41:13,480 --> 00:41:16,840 Speaker 1: I mean I still can't totally wrap my head around 762 00:41:16,840 --> 00:41:19,080 Speaker 1: how people deal with that, because there is a special 763 00:41:19,200 --> 00:41:22,000 Speaker 1: challenge in dealing with two that have the same kinds 764 00:41:22,000 --> 00:41:23,400 Speaker 1: of needs at once. I mean, in some ways, I 765 00:41:23,400 --> 00:41:27,080 Speaker 1: guess there's the economy of scale, like you would only 766 00:41:27,120 --> 00:41:29,279 Speaker 1: have to order diapers for a certain number of years 767 00:41:29,280 --> 00:41:30,800 Speaker 1: and then you could not think about it or something 768 00:41:30,840 --> 00:41:33,080 Speaker 1: like that. But really, I think that in general, it 769 00:41:33,080 --> 00:41:35,880 Speaker 1: makes things a lot tougher and you're in kind of 770 00:41:35,880 --> 00:41:39,600 Speaker 1: the hardest part. I find towler's more challenging than babies personally. 771 00:41:39,719 --> 00:41:42,600 Speaker 1: So cut yourself some slack because I think that probably 772 00:41:42,680 --> 00:41:44,359 Speaker 1: things are going to get better and brighter as they 773 00:41:44,360 --> 00:41:46,719 Speaker 1: get older. Yeah, I totally agree with that, and I 774 00:41:46,760 --> 00:41:48,560 Speaker 1: would say that, you know, one of the reasons I 775 00:41:48,560 --> 00:41:51,719 Speaker 1: love reading Sarah Sara's blog and her Instagram post. She's 776 00:41:51,840 --> 00:41:55,640 Speaker 1: very you know, real and authentic about what she's been 777 00:41:55,719 --> 00:41:59,000 Speaker 1: going through. And read these posts of Sarah, you're like, oh, 778 00:41:59,080 --> 00:42:02,680 Speaker 1: I haven't you know, done the best I could possibly 779 00:42:02,760 --> 00:42:04,480 Speaker 1: do this year at work or something like, you know, 780 00:42:04,520 --> 00:42:08,560 Speaker 1: what you consider bad. I think it's what a normal 781 00:42:08,600 --> 00:42:12,560 Speaker 1: person would consider like firing on all cylinders, and I 782 00:42:12,600 --> 00:42:15,160 Speaker 1: suspect it is the same thing for our listener here 783 00:42:15,680 --> 00:42:18,919 Speaker 1: that you know, she's like, I missed a conference call. 784 00:42:19,560 --> 00:42:23,840 Speaker 1: Oh my goodness, right, Like yeah, and she people didn't 785 00:42:23,880 --> 00:42:28,880 Speaker 1: miss like nine thousand other conference calls. Forgotten about stuff. 786 00:42:28,880 --> 00:42:31,800 Speaker 1: Not because they are mommies with toddler twins. They've forgotten 787 00:42:31,840 --> 00:42:36,279 Speaker 1: of stuff because like they just forgot, or like you know, 788 00:42:36,920 --> 00:42:40,960 Speaker 1: they were in traffic and they forgot, and they you know, 789 00:42:41,000 --> 00:42:43,799 Speaker 1: were on another call and they forgot, or you know, 790 00:42:44,200 --> 00:42:46,320 Speaker 1: I don't know. There's all kinds of reasons that people 791 00:42:46,880 --> 00:42:51,200 Speaker 1: let things slide, and again it's small things. Might help 792 00:42:51,280 --> 00:42:55,480 Speaker 1: to just realize that you are probably doing great. What 793 00:42:55,520 --> 00:42:59,920 Speaker 1: you consider as being subpar is probably not subpar for 794 00:43:00,080 --> 00:43:03,919 Speaker 1: anyone who is actually working with you. So it's gonna 795 00:43:03,920 --> 00:43:06,920 Speaker 1: get better and you're doing great already. So this has 796 00:43:06,960 --> 00:43:10,880 Speaker 1: been best of both worlds. This has been episode sixty. 797 00:43:10,960 --> 00:43:13,840 Speaker 1: We have been talking with Anne Johnson Landry on running 798 00:43:13,840 --> 00:43:16,160 Speaker 1: for office, and we will be back next week with 799 00:43:16,239 --> 00:43:22,360 Speaker 1: more on making work and life fit together. Thanks for listening. 800 00:43:22,600 --> 00:43:25,680 Speaker 1: You can find me Sarah at the shoebox dot com 801 00:43:25,800 --> 00:43:29,560 Speaker 1: or at the Underscore Shoebox on Instagram, and you can 802 00:43:29,600 --> 00:43:33,879 Speaker 1: find me Laura at Laura vandercam dot com. This has 803 00:43:33,920 --> 00:43:37,200 Speaker 1: been the best of both worlds podcasts. Please join us 804 00:43:37,200 --> 00:43:40,600 Speaker 1: next time for more on making work and life work together.