New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has returned to work (running a goddamn country) six weeks after giving birth to her and partner Clarke Gayford’s beautiful baby, Neve Te Aroha Ardern-Gayford.
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Ardern is only the second sitting world leader to give birth while in office. The late Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto was the first leader to do so, when she gave birth to her daughter Baktawar in 1990.
In an interview with local radio network RNZ, Ardern said being back would be different:
“I’m a mum now. On a personal level, just from day to day – I’m a mum and need to meet all the responsibilities that come with being a mum. Making sure that Neve has the basics, that she’s fed, that she’s loved, that she sleeps as much as we’re able to get her to sleep. And we [Gayford] will do that together. That’s the practical reality of my new role.”
Despite being a world leader and a mother, Ardern’s not going to pretend she’s “superhuman” and she’s not going to pretend she “has the same lot as every other women”, either:
“I’m privileged, I’m very, very lucky.
“I have a partner who can be there alongside me, who’s taking up a huge part of that joint responsibility because he’s a parent too, he’s not a babysitter.
“I also have the ability to have [Neve] with me some of the time [at work] so that means that I’m privileged and I’m lucky, a lot of women don’t have that choice.”
The Prime Minister also discussed the current political climate in New Zealand.
Ardern will return to Wellington with the family to live in the Prime Minister’s residence, this Saturday.
“I might be at the odd press conference with a little bit of spill on me because I’m not going to hide the imperfections of parenting. I don’t think anybody needs that.”
What an absolute bloody legend.
Just yesterday, Ardern posted an Instagram celebrating one year on the job. She also thanked all the “amazing people” she’s been able to work alongside everyday.
You can watch the Prime Minister’s full interview with RNZ, below:
